After an extremely long 2025, I am so incredibly grateful that we have made our way into 2026. It feels like it has been an extremely long journey to get to this point, but we’ve finally made it, and I couldn’t be anymore delighted. As I sit here in my favorite café, embracing the warmth and appreciating the unexpected snow just outside the large windows, I find myself reflecting on what the past year has been, and the thing I hope for moving forward. I also find myself on the quest to figure out what my One Little Word for 2026 will be.
The entirety of last year was a journey that I wasn’t expecting to go on. Between long stretches of being unable to talk to my best friend, every little thing that came up during Lucas’s last hitch, and everything that happened just with life, it was safe to say I was completely over everything and checked out in the first half of the year. 2025 was difficult and challenging in so many different ways, and I am so ready for a fresh start.
It took me a lot longer than usual to figure out what word I wanted to use for this year. Typically I have an idea of what I want my word to be and have written this blog post well in advance, but I found myself at a loss.
Determination was not the right word for last year, although, I suppose, in a lot of ways it had to fit. I had to have the determination to get through what the year was, but the message I needed it to have wasn’t there. But with realizing that it wasn’t the correct word, it felt like there was a lot more pressure to try and figure out what I wanted and needed my word to be for this year.
After some debating, some researching, and some extra help, I think that I finally have the correct word (with another smaller one to go with it).
My one little word for 2026 is: Reclaim. And along for the ride is its little sister, restore.
I need 2026 to be the year of reclaiming the person that I know I am. This means living more authentically, finding the joys in the things I used to do, and protecting my peace. This year, my priorities will be on my mental health and working towards stability and making sure that my relationship and friendships are as amazing as they could be. But I also need to work on getting myself back to what I consider my “base line” to feel like I’m making progress.
So – reclaim and restore.
I have no idea what that will look like at this exact moment, but I know that it’s something that I need to do for myself.
I know that the holidays and New Years can be difficult for some people, but I sincerely hope that your 2026 goes well. I am glad that you are here, and I hope that you continue to join me on this journey.
The question for this post is: do you have a word to take you through 2026? If you do, what is the word?
And another question for you all: what is your goal for this year?
I’ll talk more about my goals in another post, but I would love to hear what your plans are!
Until next time.
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