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Word of the Year: 2026

I’m generally a person who enjoys the energy a new year brings. I find it helpful that the new year prompts me to reflect on life as it is now and any changes I hope to make. However, since having my younger daughter, I haven’t set annual goals or a word of the year. I did use a planner and would sometimes set monthly goals and overviews, but a year seemed like such a long time to imagine with two little kids, and I got out of the habit.

As 2025 came to a close, I found myself listening to many of the year-in-review episodes and feeling inspired. I always love the Happier podcast’s end of year episodes, and the Girl Next Door reflection episode is often one of my favorites of the year. Then I read the first few chapters of Best Laid Plans, and felt inspired to delve into annual planning since it hasn’t been part of my routine the last few years.

So, this year I decided to pick a word of the year and set goals. My word of the year this year is place. I have a couple of associations with this word--the first one being the geographical space you are in. I absolutely love where I live and want to spend this year very connected to the place I live in, whether that’s neighborhood walks, our favorite regional park, visiting the beach year round, or exploring new places. I want to increase my familiarity with plants and birds I see on the trails and feel connected to the natural world near where I live.

I also want to find a place for everything as I focus on decluttering our home and making the space work well for the season of life we are in. A phrase I want to hold onto is “This must be the place.” I want to focus on living well with my kids at these ages, with Joel this year, with this season of being a stay-at-home parent. I want to see and recognize all the joy that is here right now in this place, both physically and metaphorically.

Lastly, I want to focus on being in “a good place,” in my relationships. We are celebrating 10 years of marriage this year, and I want to put more energy into time together this year now that the girls are a little older. I want to intentionally spend time with some of my closest friends this year through travel or time together. Later this week, I will write more about specific goals and intentions, but many of them connect back to the theme of place.

Do you ever select a word of the year? If so, what is yours this year, or a past favorite? Some words I have chosen in the past include presence, connect, and gather.
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Comments

  1. Mom of childrenJanuary 7, 2026 at 2:36 AM

    Hi Sam, thanks for a great reflection.
    As you may have read on my blog, I’ve been struggling with finding the word of the year. Last year my word was FOCUS, a nice, strong word that pulled me in when I was not my best self. As in “focus on what matters” I don’t want to reuse the same word twice but a few friends suggested determination or mindfulness.
    I am kiiiiind of leaning toward “delight” - I feel a need for a lighter word this year.
    Delight in little things, pay attention, be present. All of that connects.
    As for goals, no goals here just a wish list of things that I need/want done.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SamJanuary 7, 2026 at 1:30 PM

      I love the word delight. It does have a mindfulness component, but feels very joyful as well!

      Delete
  2. Lisa's YarnsJanuary 7, 2026 at 4:21 AM

    Have you read ‘This Must Be the Place’? You should consider it if you haven’t! It’s my decide Maggie O’Farrell book (I prefer her books set in modern times like this one is).

    I love the word you selected. And like you, I went many years without setting goals. And I still don’t really set goals. My 25 in ‘26 is more of a to do list of sorts. I have a complicated relationship with goals. I’m the person Sarah refers to in her books when she talks about people struggling with goals (I haven’t read it yet but someone texted me a screenshot and said - it’s you!! Ha!). I am planning to read her book soonish so look forward to absorbing her message around goals as she is a fellow upholder.

    Our lives are quite similar as we will hit 9 years of marriage and our kids are fairly close in age, too, I think! I think yours might be a bit younger (mine are 5 and almost 8).

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    Replies
    1. SamJanuary 7, 2026 at 1:29 PM

      I love that book, and I feel like most people prefer her books set further back in time, but I can't get as into them! I think that is where I originally found the phrase, and then there is also the Talking Heads song. Yes, our kids are in the same range. Mine are 6 and 2, so my oldest is right between your two in age.

      Delete
  3. NicoleJanuary 7, 2026 at 4:56 AM

    Oooh what a great word for the year. It's so grounding! And can be used on so many levels. You are really smart to put effort into your relationship; marriages can take a beating with small children involved. Sometimes it felt like my husband and I were just amiable roommates, or zookeepers.

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    Replies
    1. SamJanuary 7, 2026 at 1:26 PM

      Your comment about zookeepers made me last--it really does feel like that some days.

      Delete

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