2026: GRATITUDE IS ALWAYS IN SEASON

2026: THE YEAR OF GRATITUDE

I blinked and it’s almost February of 2026 but I’m not complaining!  In fact, my gratitude for the year so far is enormous.  My family and I spent the first 20 days of the year in beautiful Cape Town, South Africa which, if you’re new here, that is where I’m from.  The time spent with family and friends was priceless and a bonus was that it was the first time in 27 years that my parents and I were there together!  And to think, it was a last-minute decision to go which turned out to be the break we didn’t know we needed.

BRAAI (BBQ) VIBES WITH THE PARENTALS@

My heart is full and I’m so grateful – I already said that but let’s talk about it.  GRATITUDE – a.k.a. my 2026 word of the year.

Do you pick a word of the year?  Fourth year for me and I think everyone should try it at least once.  Whether you share it or not, it will keep you focused on your goals, remind you of what’s important to you and during the hard times or like I say: “character building days or moments” you can refer back to it to help ground or calm you.  We live in a fast paced, high-energy society, and it can get overwhelming.  We may lose focus, stray from our goals – because we’re human – but having a word of the year can help get us back on track.  For me it certainly has.

This year, for me, it’s GRATITUDE and it’s for all the highs, lows and priceless lessons from the past year and for all that the new year has to offer.  Gratitude for being here another year and immense gratitude for being able to make the trip home to Cape Town.  Gratitude for my health, my family both near and far and the ability to get up every day and chase my dreams.  Gratitude for dear friends and especially those connections that were re-ignited on this trip – celebrating 40+ years of friendship with childhood girlfriends!  Gratitude for a strong body, and the ability to move this body daily as well as for a strong mind so, practicing daily gratitude is a no brainer for the action that goes along with this year’s word of the year.

MAKING MEMORIES – Gordon’s Bay

Practicing daily gratitude has many physical and mental benefits which include, but are not limited to, reduced stress & anxiety, improved sleep, better relationships and improved physical health like lower blood pressure.  It trains your brain to see good and have appreciation for the small things which, at today’s pace, can be challenging.  There are different ways to practice  daily – journaling in the morning or reflecting at the end of the day.  Express it verbally – I do it while driving and yes, I’m alone when I’m saying it out loud AND a goal of mine is to say it to people more often.  “I’m grateful for you” – simple, but I know the recipient will have a feel good moment.

COUSINS – Grateful for the time Acacia got to spend with them.

How did I land on this word?  The signs started around November 2025 and it’s around the time I usually start thinking about the new year and what I’d like to achieve and so on.   Moments of thanks and appreciation started to present itself almost daily.  It came in the form of family events, milestones (myself, my daughter, my marriage), and just small acts of kindness from people around me that really touched me more than usual.  Realizing that there are people who choose me and advocate for me even when I’m not in the room and for someone who has a hard time asking for help, this particular one hit hard and in all the right ways.   The best was one of many quotes that kept coming up in my feeds: “Gratitude is always in season.”  So, by Christmas last year I was sold and this process is similar each year.

Talking to friends and colleagues, everyone is hyper-focused on their goals for the year and they’re crushing it, which I love to see.  I like to remind folks (and myself of course) to take it one day at a time and more importantly, make sure you’re loving what you are doing because otherwise, what is the point?

It takes strength to make changes, start something new, move away from what no longer serves you and to just be different.  That’s okay!  In fact, it’s a beautiful thing.

Stay strong and stay beautiful fam.  We’ve got this!

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