2026 ~ Word of the Year

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness.” –Desmond Tutu

In my annual tradition of choosing a word for the year, I found myself this morning reflecting on last year's word: Well. Unfortunately, last year (yesterday and the 364 yesterdays before that) was a bit of a train wreck.  In a brief review and update of some of the goals and ambitions I put forth last January:

• We did not go to Vietnam or Alaska. Neither of those were real goals, more manifestations for the future. 
• We did focus on the house. We updated my office, installed new HVAC for the house, painted the living room, and we are in the process of redoing the downstairs bathroom to practice for the upstairs bathroom. When I say, 'we,' I mean Nic. I have stood by and nodded throughout these projects and consulted on colors. Nic has done all of the work.
• I worked hard on getting back to running my usual mileage. I improved my overall health. I am proud of the work I have done physically and mentally in 2025.
• I aspired to be well in every aspect of my life. I really did write more, knit more, read more, and exercise more. I tried to be the best mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend, and teacher I could be. I wobbled into December feeling very much like 2025 was a dumpster fire and I failed at everything I ever set out to be or do. (To be clear, my family is healthy and well. We are housed and fed. I have had a very hard emotional and personal year). 

As I sit here on January First of 2026, with the smoke of last year still rising from my slumped shoulders, I am setting out with a far less ambitious word than, "Well." Instead, I am hoping to "Twinkle" in 2026. To twinkle seems much more manageable. I only have to sparkle now and then, instead of being well all of the time. As I told Nic, "To twinkle is to lower my expectations for myself drastically. All I want from this year is to not feel like the universe ran me over."

Twinkling is quiet sparkle in the darkness. Twinkling is hope for the future. Everyone loves twinkle lights. No one has high expectations for a twinkle. We are excited and thrilled when we get a twinkle. It is a surprise! 

This year, in addition to twinkling, I hope to:

• Take my mom to France to see the Louvre and some other things too, but this is her bucket list request. Since she turns 80 this year, we are all in to make dreams come true! (I am calling this "The Blind Leading the Blind Tour" because all of my siblings and I are going. All of us kids, except my sister, have the same degenerative eye disease as my mom. Literally five blind people and their partners are going to France together - with my sister. It is going to be an adventure. We all know how I feel about adventures! There will be more on this later, I promise. (Vietnam and Alaska are on the shelf for another day or year).
• Finish the bathrooms. We (Nic) has done a great job with the house. Now that he is 'retired,' or Doged (Thank you, Elon), the house is his hobby.
• I have some personal goals around work that I am formulating.
• I hope to twinkle in the lives of my children and family. 
• I hope to twinkle in my classroom.
• I am back to rehabbing my hips due to another injury in the Fall, but I hope to back running and lifting the way I was this Fall. I am trying to be patient,
• I want my inner artist to twinkle through writing, creating and making.
• I want to be a little more gentle, a little kinder to myself because the world is dark and filled with terrors. If I can be a tiny light for myself and those I love, I'll take it.

With that, a much smaller, humbler me, looks to the future and the upcoming year with a twinkle in my eye.