Every year around this time, we hear the same question: What’s your word for the new year?
Usually, I have mine ready—thought through, settled, and waiting patiently by early November. It’s something I carry with intention into the new year, guiding my first quarter and beyond.
But 2026 felt different.
If I’m being honest, I didn’t know what my word was going to be. I thought about it, turned it over in my mind, and still… nothing felt quite right. And instead of forcing an answer, I did something that has always served me well when I feel stuck, conflicted, or rushed by my own thoughts—I paused.
When I notice myself wanting to hurry through a decision or feeling mentally cluttered, I’ve learned to catch that habit and step back. That pause is a gift we don’t give ourselves often enough. And this time, I rested.
The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. The holidays arrived, bringing space to breathe. I spent time with my family, enjoyed my home, and allowed myself to truly slow down. And then—softly, gently, almost unexpectedly—it came to me.
Like a butterfly landing quietly, my word appeared: Rejuvenation.
Because that’s what I need. And maybe, just maybe, it’s what many of us need.
Over the past several years—especially post-pandemic—it feels like we’ve all been trying to do everything. Build the business. Show up for family. Chase goals. Hold it all together. Life seemed to hit all at once, and we responded by pushing harder.
But what if now is the time to rejuvenate?
Not just our homes or schedules—but ourselves. Our routines. Our priorities. Every category of our lives. When we rejuvenate something, we don’t abandon it—we tend to it. We nurture it. We allow it the care it needs to continue growing.
Just like we do.
Rejuvenation requires stillness. It asks us to pause long enough to restore what’s been depleted. And as I reflected, I realized how quickly the past five years have come and gone. In another five years, they’ll pass just as fast—an entire decade slipping by.
I’ve lived enough decades to ask this honestly: Did I truly enjoy them? Did I embrace them fully?
So maybe, right here in the middle of it all, is the perfect time to rejuvenate. To refresh our energy, our spaces, our mindset, and our lives—so we can move forward feeling lighter, clearer, and more present.
This year, I’m choosing rejuvenation.
And if it resonates, I invite you to choose it with me.