brother and dad
Do you listen to The Happier podcast? I’ve heard every episode! One thing that Gretchen Rubin and her sister Elizabeth Craft do every year is choose a word of the year. I usually don’t do this yearly practice because most years, I don’t really have something I want to focus on specifically so the practice has seemed arbitrary to me (a true questioner! If you don’t know your tendency, you can take the quiz here).
This year, I actually have something I want to focus on, so I’ve chosen a word for this year-
“Words”
This word of the year has many meanings.
One of my goals is to write five days a week on this blog for the entire year of 2026- So “words” to remind me of the work I want to accomplish this year.
Another goal is to be listening to a fiction book on audio one after another. I don’t usually listen to fiction, only non- fiction but it’s my goal to incorporate this so I have something to enjoy every day for leisure. I’m somebody who has a hard time with leisure. I find myself antsy and not knowing what to do with myself on the days that I take a weekly sabbath or at the end of a long day. It’s easier for me to stay busy and check things off my to do list and have a routine than it it is to sit and enjoy leisure, so I want to get into the habit of having a good book to listen to at all times that isn’t another self help book- So “words” to remind me of what I want to do in my leisure time.
And lastly, I want to be mindful of the words I speak to my kids, my husband, my family, and my friends. I want to remind myself just how powerful words can be, and be mindful that I choose encouraging, life affirming words.
Here are some verses in the Bible in reflecting on-
Proverbs 16:24 — “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”
Ephesians 4:29 — “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up…”
Colossians 4:6 — “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt.”
How about you?? Do you have a word of the year? Any fiction book recommendations? I’d love to know!