Tiny Habits, Big Goals

I’ve carried a “not flexible” story since I was six years old. In 2026, I’m changing it, one tiny habit at a time. This is what I’m doing, why I believe plant-based living makes it possible, and how you can follow along inside the community.

Tiny Habits, Big Goals

Why I’m starting with touching my toes

When I was young, my mom signed me up for all the sports. I played tee ball, soccer, basketball, field hockey, and even football. I was a running back for three years, but around age 14, I wasn’t growing like my peers. They turned into giants. I didn’t. Football lost its appeal.

But the story I want to tell you today isn’t about football. It’s about flexibility, and a limiting belief I’ve carried for most of my life.

When I was much younger, around six, I told my mom I wanted to do the splits. She put me in gymnastics. On the first day, I could barely touch my toes, while the kids around me casually rested their heads on their knees.

When it came time to do the splits, they all dropped into position and I was basically half standing, looking around like I had wandered into the wrong room.

I was embarrassed. I felt like I didn’t belong in that world. I begged my mom not to send me back. She didn’t.

And I spent the rest of my life believing I wasn’t flexible.

The belief I’m done carrying

Now that I’m in my late forties, I’ve decided it’s time to revisit that old story.

2026 is the year I want to do the splits.

So where do you begin when your goal feels both exciting and unrealistic?

You begin with something so small you can’t argue with it.

I hired an online coach to help me craft a stretching plan, because I’m serious about doing this the right way. But I also know the real key is going to be daily consistency. Not the kind of consistency that only happens when life is easy. The kind that still happens on the days that are busy, stressful, or just not your best.

Over the years, I’ve learned to commit to tiny daily habits, the kind you can do even when everything else falls apart.

So my commitment is simple:

Touch my toes every day.

That’s it. Not “stretch for 30 minutes.” Not “master the splits.” Just touch my toes. It’s small enough to be doable, and specific enough to count.

Where plant-based living fits into this

When people talk about goals like flexibility, strength, or endurance, they usually jump straight to training plans. But the foundation is your day-to-day health, and that’s where plant-based living has changed my life.

A plant-based lifestyle supports the things that make consistency possible, including more energy, better recovery, and daily nutrition that helps your body feel good enough to keep going.

For me, eating plant-based isn’t about being perfect. It’s about building a body and a life that can handle goals. It’s about reducing the friction that makes healthy habits feel hard.

Because when you feel better, consistency is easier, and big goals stop being dreams and start becoming projects.

Why tiny habits work

Big goals can be inspiring, but they can also feel heavy. Tiny habits do the opposite. They build self-trust. They give you a win you can repeat. They keep you in motion.

Tiny habits also do something sneaky in the best way: they help you become the type of person who follows through.

And once you’re that kind of person, you can build almost anything.

Want to follow the journey?

I’ll be posting daily updates on my splits goal inside the Plantbased.com community, along with the tiny habit I’m focusing on each day. Members are welcome to post their habits too, and use the community for accountability and encouragement.

If you have a big goal for 2026, here’s my challenge for you:

1. Pick the goal.
2. Shrink it into a daily habit so small you can do it even on your hardest day.

If you want to follow along, join the membership and come do this with us.