Every year, I choose a word.
Not a resolution. Not a long list of goals that gets forgotten after a few weeks. Just one word that becomes a guide for the year ahead. A word that helps shape my decisions, mindset, and direction.
For 2026, my word is Courage.
Courage: The strength to move forward with purpose, to create, to heal, and to grow into the next version of myself. It is choosing bold action while staying true to who I am, trusting that every step carries me toward the life I’m building.
For me, this isn’t just a word. It represents a new season of life.
Why I Choose a Word of the Year
I have been choosing a Word of the Year for many years because a single word gives me something to return to throughout the year.
A word can become:
- A reminder of your priorities
- A filter for decision-making
- A source of motivation
- A way to stay grounded when life changes
- A guide for personal growth
My past words have reflected different seasons of my life:
- 2025: Ignite
- 2024: Dare, Dream, Do
- 2023: Resolve
- 2022: Create
- 2021: Achieve
Each word represented what I needed most at that point in my journey.
For 2026, I kept coming back to one thing: Strength.
And strength led me to Courage.
A Year of Big Change
The past year brought one of the biggest transitions of my professional life.
After more than ten years of being self-employed and building my own business, I stepped into a completely different season.
I made the decision to take a job.
That decision was not about walking away from my dreams. It was about making space for something that needed my attention: My health.
That choice came with a lot of emotions.
- Uncertainty
- Excitement
- Change
- Growth
- Questions about identity
- New opportunities
And if I am being honest, it took courage.
Courage Means More Than Being Fearless
People often think courage means having no fear.
I see it differently.
For me, courage means moving forward even when things feel uncertain.
Courage means:
- Taking bold steps into new chapters
- Continuing to create and share ideas
- Prioritizing health and well-being
- Showing up authentically
- Trusting the process, even when I cannot see the full path ahead
- Choosing progress over perfection
I Am Still a Creator
One thing I realized during this transition is that changing direction does not mean losing yourself.
I may have stepped into a different season professionally, but there are parts of me that are still deeply important:
- Storytelling
- Writing
- Community building
- Creative projects
- Sharing ideas and experiences
Those things did not disappear.
I am still a creator.
If anything, I want to nurture those parts of myself even more.
My Hope for 2026
This year, I want courage to show up in both the big moments and the small ones.
I want courage in:
- The big decisions
- The first steps
- The creative risks
- The difficult days
- The quiet moments no one else sees
Because sometimes courage is not loud.
Sometimes courage looks like simply continuing.
Welcome to my Year of Courage.
