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| Photo by Guy Basabose on Unsplash |
On the first day of this month’s writing challenge, a few of you shared your word or theme for the new year. Was that the official prompt, by the way? I thought I signed up, but I haven’t been getting any emails. No big deal, though; I usually decide on the spot what I want to write about anyway.
So today, I want to follow up on this idea of a “motto for 2026.”
Kebba chose Vitality, emphasizing that health really is the foundation of everything.
Elisa's motto is: “Time is a gift that is not to be wasted.” A good reminder to spend the limited hours we have wisely.
Amanda explains that while Create is her overarching theme, she broke it down into six components that guide her: Connect, Root, Explore, Artful, Tell, Expand.
And what about me?
If I had to pick one word, it would probably be Priorities, meaning, don’t scatter your energy in a dozen different directions. Focus on the most important things.
This goes back to a visit to a career counselor when I was 15. Based on her tests and interviews, she concluded that I was the coachman of my own life, and my carriage should be pulled by ten or twelve horses; a lot of horsepower.
But I didn’t seem to want to commit to a single direction. So, I let almost every horse pull in a different direction, each toward something that interested me.
The result? I never reached one main goal—if such a goal even existed—and I ended up using up all my energy, along with that of my horses, just trying to keep moving.
This image has stayed with me. I wouldn’t say I go through life without direction, but I do struggle with committing to specific goals. I like to go with the flow, and honestly, that flow has brought me to some really good places, and I’ve contributed to it with enthusiasm and determination.
Still, especially in everyday life, I have to remind myself to tame my wild horses and focus on priorities. One trick that helps: writing down daily goals. Seeing them in black and white not only clarifies what I want to achieve but also gives me a little thrill when I check them off. And yes, that even includes “drink coffee” on the list—it counts!
How about you? Do you have a word or motto for 2026? Do you struggle with committing to priorities? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
I remember taking a quiz like that in high school, the results were Flight Attendant or Cruise Attendant, I remember my guidance counselor telling me he did not see me going to college (I did). I, like you, have a hard time committing to one direction and very rarely see things through. So, this year my word is mastery (my word is the focus of today's blog, lol), it is a reminder that I am capable of finishing things and gaining new skills. Coffee is on my daily to-do list too!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing words of the year. Priorities is a great word for the year. Similar to second choice for word of the year which is focus.
ReplyDeleteWow! Your words definitely resonated with me! I need to tame my wild horses too. Thanks for the inspo!
ReplyDeleteSo far I have never made a NY resolution or picked a word or motto. What I have done this year is to make a few plans for 2026. I will blog about it in the coming days.
ReplyDeleteYour word 'Priority' is quite a nice one. Coming to think of it, it's a very important aspect in over well-being. Everything boils down proper prioritization, is it not?
Love this - and I can relate to all the feeling of having all those horses, each pulling their own direction!
ReplyDeleteI thought of my mother-in love, who lived to 103, and was a true Renaissance Woman!
A biologist/ botanist/ artist / gardener/ mother/ cook/ voracious reader / walking 'encyclopedia' with an amazing memory ...
Dorty studied and wrote about our native earthworms - and another oligochetologist (male) wrote that she would "accomplish more" if she bothered to focus, and didn't do silly things like raise sheep (they made more from selling the sheep ticks to a biological supply company, than on selling the wool!) ... or having those kids ...
Having a 'single focus' is a more yang / linear/ Europatricene way of being in the world - my own is more like my own mom and mother in law's, and the many generations of women who needed many skills and interests to survive and thrive!
I'll lead a collage practice for discovering our Word of the Year' next Sunday afternoon, letting the images inspire ✨️
Last years card and word are Connect/ Connected
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Nadya
Tamara, I think of you as a light-hearted free spirit, a consummate creative, an aesthete, and a woman devoted to her family. I don't really get the horses-and-carriage idea. But I could definitely see your creative brain running rampant, leaving focus lonely and abandoned. My brain loves to read and to consider many millions of ideas; it also wants me to write and to create art. I use a calendar with long-term goals (ex: literary contest = June, therefore new book must be drafted by April. Ex: 2026, overall goal vitality) and weekly and daily lists, to keep me on track. I always have more little goals than time for them. That's OK, some get to carry over to the next day or week. I am so glad you are keeping a daily list, including "drink coffee"! That's probably just the tool you need. Aside from the coffee itself, which keeps many hyperactive minds calm and focused. You are awesome!
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