Word of the Year

I don’t make big New Year’s Resolutions, but for the past 8 years, I have chosen a guiding word for the year.

Some years that word is constantly on my mind, other years I don’t remember it until late in the year. Such was this year. 

My word for 2025 was “action.” When I “dug it up” (I literally scrolled through my Instagram posts), I realized right away that there hadn’t been much action in the year. At least not at first glance.

2025 was a tough year – very painful and full of loss, serious health issues, annoying problems and more. It felt like I was re-acting, if anything. 

But upon further reflection, I think I did a lot more than I gave myself credit for. I grieved. I processed. I cried. I dug deep to find joy every day. 

And, finally, towards the end of the year I took action in several areas of my life. I think I grew the most this year, and there is much more growth to come. A lot of this growth has  been quietly unfolding for years.

And 2025 provided several catalysts to propel me forward. Would I have willingly chosen these events? Probably not. But I now know they were necessary.

My word for 2026 will be joy because it has made such a difference for me this year and literally kept me going when I thought I couldn’t. And where there is joy, there has to be gratitude. I look forward to making the most of the new year!