Hmm. I have a sad history with my words of the year. I love choosing them, and get all excited about my new word, but by February I’ve forgotten all about it. As the year goes on and other people refer to their words, I’m constantly thinking “WHAT was my word, again?”
Maybe I’m just not a “word of the year” person? But… it’s time for Tuesday Topics (which I host with Jenn from Runs With Pugs) and today’s topic is, What’s your word or intention for 2026? Guess I better come up with something!
I started by thinking about my intention for the year. As I’ve mentioned, I’ve been ruminating a lot lately, to the detriment of my sleep, and brooding about things that are beyond my control, such as choices my kids are making. Maybe my phrase for the year could be the amazingly original “Let It Go.”
But… this is a big year for me! I turn 60, and I kind of want to do more than just let things go. Is there a word that means both “Let it Go” and “Make it Happen?” Um… no.
As I pondered this, I thought of the serenity prayer, “the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” Is there a word that embodies serenity, courage, AND wisdom all at the same time? There’s only one way to find out… I put the question to ChatGPT.
Meh. It gave me some words, but none I liked- “Fortitude”, “Stoic”- they gave off the wrong vibe, kind of like “things are bad but I’ll get through it somehow.” Not the intention I want to set for the year.
I thought about it some more, and then asked ChatGPT “Is there a word for ‘acceptance’ that’s less passive?”
There were several suggestions! My favorite was “embrace.” I looked up the dictionary definition of the word: 1) hold close in one’s arms, and 2) accept or support a belief, theory or change willingly and enthusiastically.” I HAVE MY WORD!
EMBRACE
First of all, I’ll have a brand new family member to hold close in my arms. When I wrote about my son’s engagement, Engie wrote a beautiful comment all about her mother-in-law, and what a wonderful person she was. I want my daughter-in-law to feel the same way about me, and to feel welcomed and embraced into the family.
There will be a lot of changes coming up- not only my son’s wedding, but with my daughter as well. She’ll go to college (in the fall of 2027) and it will be the biggest shakeup of the family structure since she was born. My intention will be to “accept change willingly and enthusiastically.”
I had a lot of fun choosing my word- I love words and taking a deep dive into their meanings. Now I just need to remember my word throughout the year! I’m writing it on each monthly page of my planner, so I’ll revisit it often.
Join us next week —> How do you reset your routine after the holidays?
Link Up With Tuesday Topics
Welcome back to Tuesday Topics, as Jenny, from Runners Fly joins Jenn at Runs With Pugs to co-host this link-up! Please join us every week for a new topic! Write on our weekly prompt or choose your own topic! Make sure to add your post to the link up, link back to your hosts, and comment on the other shared posts!
Top photo by Glen Carrie on Unsplash
38 Responses
With so many changes coming your way, I think embrace is a fantastic word for you for 2026! I look forward to watching as the year unfolds and seeing how you embrace the events as they unfold.
Thank you Debbie! I think the word will serve me well.
Embracing change can be really difficult, but I like that you made it an active word rather than passive. In yoga there is a lot of talk of surrender, and it’s the same thing…letting go of that which no longer serves you. I struggle with that a lot, usually surrounding grief. I am better with anger or bitterness or resentment, though certainly not perfect. How would I use Embrace in these situations? Embrace the joy my memories give me? Embrace the fact that most people don’t piss me off and there are beautiful days out there? I’m not sure. I’m going to ruminate on this one a bit.
It’s going to be a big year for you, and I’m excited for it. Also, I saw Engie’s comment about her MIL, and it touched me so deeply. I adore my MIL, but she is somewhat narcissistic and can be cruel, and I came along at a difficult time in her life. She was not great to me when I first came around. Look at me, holding a grudge…I need to embrace the fact that she’s not like that anymore, right? Hmmm.
Yes- I like “acceptance” and “surrender” but wanted a more proactive feel for the year.
I’m glad you saw Engie’s comment! It really made me aware of how I want to start off my relationship with a new DIL. I’m glad to hear you “adore” your MIL in spite of the rocky start! It sounds like you’ve forgiven her, or at least you can see where she’s coming from.
Embrace! I love that you’ve chosen this as your word, Jenny!
Writing it in your planner is such a smart way to keep it front and centre. I usually don’t choose a word myself because I know I’d forget it within two weeks! Instead, I’ve started to keep a note in my journal with 15 questions I want to answer by year’s end. Seeing that note every day keeps me focused.
Wishing you a wonderful 2026 – it’s going to be exciting!
Thank you Catrina- I think it’s going to be an exciting year for all of us! And I read your post. I love the 15 questions and am going to use them myself.
Embrace is a cool word- seems like you have a good start to the new year!
I think my word for 2025 was untangle, and despite high hopes early on, I forgot about it. However, I like the word fortitude ( which some people use as courage, but it’s really more about withstanding and moving forward in difficulty. Endurance?). Maybe I’ll use that in to inspire me in the tough months ahead.
Fortitude and Endurace are good words if you have tough times coming up. I’m sorry the months ahead are looking tough for you!
I’ve never chosen a word for the year but I think embrace is a perfect one for you for 2026! Change is never easy but life goes more smoothly when we embrace the changes that happen instead of fighting them.
True, very true. I mean change is going to happen- why make life harder by fighting against it?
I love the word Embrace. I had a hard 2023, with the move and all. A few months before the move, I was on the Peloton and the song “Unwritten” played and I just started crying. Crying and sweating. But it became my song, and I thought of it all the time “Live your life with arms wide open.” “Embrace” is the same thing. Embrace what the world brings to you. We cannot control so many things. But what we focus on is what we see more of. By embracing change, we are making our lives richer. And sometimes change is so very scary, but if we can embrace the change, we can enrich ourselves. xo
I love this, Nicole! Somehow you took my word and made it even better.
With all the changes to come I think you’ve picked a great word – great reminder that we always have a choice with how we approach all that life sends our way. Wishing you a very happy 2026!
Thank you Michelle! Wishing you the best in 2026 as well!
That is a great word. I’ll have to keep it in mind for another year.
Change is good but often hard.
I bet you will be an wonderful MIL. (Mine is not!!!!) I think I am so-so MIL but a stepson relationship can be different than with your blood son.
Can’t wait to see what you have planned for all your free time when your daughter graduates… A Move? Visit to NYC?
Darlene, WHO KNOWS? I’ve been so focused on the negatives (I’ll miss my daughter, the house will feel empty) that I haven’t given enough thought to new possibilities that will open up. Luckily she has one more year of high school after this, and I’m going to soak in every moment of it.
I know the MIL relationship can be challenging. Luckily my future DIL seems like a wonderful person (it’s a two-way street, after all!) so I think we’ll make it work beautifully.
YES!! Things are always changing and I always start from a place that change is going to be negative (because I am a pessimist), but I have worked so hard to force myself into the idea that change can be GOOD and can make things BETTER. Your family is going to be bigger and better. I love the idea that you’re here to embrace the change.
And, shoutout again to Mary Anne. She was the woman I aspire to be and I learned a lot from her about what family means and how to show love in little ways that add up. I’m happy that hearing about her gave you some inspiration.
I think it’s most people’s default to view change negatively. I consider myself an optimist and I still resist change!
I think your story probably touched a lot of people. Thank you.
On my drive to my parents house last weekend, I listened to an Ezra Klein podcast episode where he talked to a Buddhist Monk. It was a really interesting episode and one thing the Buddhist said was to try replacing “let it go” with “let it be.” I liked that gentle shift in the sentiment. Because letting it go kind of makes it feel like it should not bother you, but sometimes we have to accept things that do bother us, and let it be is a better way to summarizing that feeling, I think.
Ok, onto your word of the year! I love embrace! That is a hard work to embody at times because sometimes you have to embrace things you don’t want to happen, but it’s better than fighting them tooth and nail.
I have not settled on my word of the year yet. Light was a so so word for me last year. I did some regular reflections on it, and it was kind of helpful, but not exactly a guiding force in my life. This year I thought about “resistance” – it could mean a few things from resistance training (which I want to focus on in 2026), resisting the impact of unhealthy people/relationships, and finding ways to resist what is happening in our world. But I think I’m honestly too tired and worn down for such an active word… My energy stores are depleted, so I’m still thinking about what word makes the most sense…
Maybe you should have a phrase of the year, “Let it Be!” I really like that. It might fit your mood right now if you feel tired and worn down. I agree it’s better than “Let it Go.”
I don’t pick a word for the year (I think I’m too verbose for that?) but I do pick mantras. This year I have:
It costs what it costs.
Aim for a few enjoyable moments.
Make it easy.
Laugh easily.
I love your word of Embrace and I think there are so many wonderful, life-enhancing ways you can channel this word into your life.
Ooh, I like your mantras! I’m especially drawn to “laugh easily.” Life would be so much better if we could just laugh more!
Jenny, you landed on the perfect word for 2026! There are going to be a lot of changes in your world, but all good ones and I think “embracing” what is to come is a wonderful tone to set for the year!
I haven’t picked a world yet… maybe I will, maybe I won’t… let’s see if one comes to me 😉
Embrace sounds good for right now- let’s see if I can make it mean something as the year goes on (I think I’ll be able to). I kind of had to force a word for this year- as you can see I had to put some thought into it- but the process was kind of fun.
Embrace is a great word of the year! It’s hard when the little birdies start flapping their wings, but I promise that they know how to fly. Stand by for a continuous round of amazement with a little disappointment now and then as they figure out their flight path.
Here is to the year of letting them go while you make it happen!
Birchie, you are the best commenter in the world! You somehow manage to put everything in such a way that it all makes sense. And you leave me thinking “I wish I had said that!”
I like embrace! That is part of my plan for 2026 as well. Instead of fighting changes, I’m embracing them and rolling with things more. Happy 2026
Thanks Deborah! We’ll embrace the changes together.
I love this for you so much, Jenny. What a warm, welcoming, and empowering word!
Thank you Maya! And thanks to ChapGPT for making it all possible ; )
I am VERY anti-ChatGPT because generative AI is so, so, so bad for the environment :/ (and steals from writers and artists).
I love how you got to your word — it gives it more meaning, and it’s a great word. I really should play with ChatGPT more.
Shall I tell you it makes me think of “embrace the suck”? Maybe not the vibe you’re looking for in 2026 but maybe it will make you smile on a tough trail run.
I love your choice! I had it in my em race last year due to the upcoming changes. It freed up expectations and allowed for surprises.
Embrace is an amazing word! And OMG yes… about our kids’ choices! Some great, some bad! Some make you say whhhhhaaaaattttt? But a new direction and a new path, right?
I also found that my words were all about things being awful and having to plow through regardless, and it’s nice that we are on the same page with that!
When A chooses to get married, I also want my daughter in law to feel incredibly welcomed. We’ve got this!
Embrace is a fantastic word, Jenny. Especially in a year of so many major and exciting changes. I also love the idea of you aiming to be the MIL GOAT. That sounds doable and your soon-to-be daughter-in-law is very lucky to have you.
Whoa, stop the bus, your son got engaged?!! Darn it, I go on a brief blogging hiatus and I MISS STUFF! brb, going back to catch up… I knew about the girlfriend, but not the engagement! I love the word embrace.
Embrace is a great word for 2026, especially with all of the big changes happening in your life this year and to your family structure. And I will get to EMBRACE YOU in just a few days – YAYAYYAY
I don’t have a word for the year, but if I had to choose something it would be related to my health. I just want this to be the first year in MANY years where I’m not consumed with health conditions, argh.
Jenny! You know I am loving Word of the years. And yours is amazing. I love it. I need to put it down on my list of contenders for future years. I think it sounds like it could be a perfect word for you.
And I obviously missed the big announcement of the wedding happening. Yeah. So many things happening. Good things. We need those.
If you need a little reminder for your year make sure to enter my give-away.