A consistent theme I noticed from myself this year was using a phrase something like “Wow, I can’t believe it’s already (insert day, week, month)” or “Is it already (insert day, week, month), I’m still in (insert day, week, month, maybe even year).”

Suffice to say, as I write this in December, with 2026 right around the corner, this year got away from me. I really do feel like we should still be somewhere snuggled between the months of June, July, and August, the promise of fall still a way away. 

But here we are, and because I have finally had to accept that I’ll soon be writing 2026 (with many scratched-out 2025s), I decided to put my notifications on silent and write a few words. It’s the holiday season, so I’m making this one short, sweet, and hopefully thoughtful.

I’ve heard that time flies when you’re having fun, but I also feel it can be the same when you’re under immense stress. And the government fleet space has seen its fair share of stress: Budget constraints, employee shortages, administrative changes, new policies, government shutdowns, severe weather, you get the picture. 

In this industry, there isn’t much luxury for “seeing where things go” and then planning accordingly. Fleets are planning years ahead while still balancing the icy shock when a change comes out of nowhere.

You all know the challenges and changes I’m referring to, so I won’t go all glum; it is the holiday season after all. Instead, I’d like to applaud the public sector fleets for their dedication, fortitude, and can-do attitude. I imagine there were plenty of times it felt hopeless, but still, you persevered, and you can see that when things like Leading Fleets rolls around and we get to hear about all you’ve done in the past year.

I also admire how this fleet sector works so hard to stay connected with each other. The number of times I’ve heard of a fleet manager stopping their work to provide assistance to another fleet  has been more than I can count. I’ve heard it said that the government fleet community is like one big family, and I couldn’t agree more. Yes, people come and go, but that spirit of camaraderie lives on.

Finally, I would like to simply say “thank you” to everyone who has been a part of what we do here. Whether you’re one of our readers or you’ve just sent me an email with a suggestion or led a session at GFX, thank you for being along for the ride. And hopefully, 2026 will promise a chance of getting off the metaphorical highway, finding a side road, and taking a slow cruise to just enjoy the journey.