You’ve seen Pantone’s color of the year for 2026 by now. It’s called Cloud Dancer. It’s described as “billowy… and imbued with a feeling of serenity.” It was designed to soothe as well as inspire us to make a fresh start.
And while we have the opportunity to make a fresh start each day, there’s something about January 1st that gives our resolve an extra boost.
It’s time to choose your word of the year if you haven’t already.
For 2025, my word was health. About a year and a half ago, I had COVID and it left my legs exceptionally weak. That led to other issues. All I wanted was to feel strong again. Having the word health as my focus allowed me to accomplish my goal.
But somewhere along the way, I lost my sense of lightheartedness. Of playfulness. Of fun. I had become a serious goose.
I’d like to recapture my sense of whimsy. I want to be able to allow myself to be silly. I want to find my sense of childlike curiosity.
I’ve been toying with synonyms because silly seems, so, well, silly. No one takes a silly person seriously. But that’s the problem. I’ve been too focused on being taken seriously. I’ve been taking myself too seriously. So, as much as I like the sound of whimsy, I’m choosing silly.
There are so may good words to choose as your word for 2026. Astrologer Yasmin Boland chose wild because she sees in the stars that we’re in for a wild ride. A quick look online turned up lean in to encourage facing challenges, who for a year of self-discovery, and overabundance for focusing on receiving and giving.
What word will your 2026 self thank you for choosing at the end of 2025? Maybe something as simple as yes. Or something fancy like my friend Michelle’s conviviality. Rest if you’ve been burning yourself out. Or flexibility. Maybe there’s something that will only make sense to you, like gray wolf, wonderland, or luminous.
Whatever it is, write it down and put it somewhere you’ll be sure to see it, like inside the door of a cupboard or on your bathroom mirror. Then, move it somewhere new every week so that you continue to see it.
Here’s to growth in the new year!
