For the second year in a row, I’m choosing a word of the year that reflects my real life. It’s not a highlight reel or a goal list filled with pressure. It reflects the season I’m actually in. As I move into 2026, my word is intentional.

This word didn’t come from a trend or a list of “popular words for the year.” It came from lived experience. From lessons learned the hard way. From moments where I realized that being busy doesn’t always mean being fulfilled. Doing more doesn’t always mean moving forward.

Why Intentional, and Why Now

Intentional means choosing with purpose. It means slowing down long enough to ask why before saying yes. It means aligning my actions with my values instead of running on autopilot.

At this stage of my life, I’m learning that growth as an adult often looks quieter than we expect. It looks like discernment. It looks like boundaries. It looks like honoring your energy instead of giving it away freely.

In 2026, I’m no longer interested in pouring from an empty cup. I want to live in ways that support the woman I’m becoming. I want to move and create in ways that support her as well. I will not support the version of me that felt obligated to do it all.

Being Intentional With My Fitness

Fitness has been a constant in my life, but my relationship with it continues to evolve. In 2026, I’m choosing intentional fitness—not punishment, not extremes, not chasing quick results.

• Strength that supports my body as I age
• Consistency over intensity
• Movement that feels sustainable and empowering
• Fueling my body with care instead of restriction

Every workout is a choice to invest in my future self. Strength training, cardio, rest days, and nourishment all have a place—and none of them require guilt. Being intentional means listening to my body and respecting what it needs in each season.

Being Intentional With My Sewing

Sewing has always been more than a creative outlet for me—it’s a form of self-expression, problem-solving, and confidence-building. In 2026, I’m being intentional about what I sew and why.

That means:

• Choosing projects that challenge my skills and support my growth
• Sewing garments that fit my body and my real life
• Letting go of perfectionism and embracing progress
• Creating with joy instead of pressure

Each stitch reminds me that learning takes time, mistakes are part of the process, and finished is better than perfect. Sewing teaches patience—and patience is something I’m intentionally practicing this year.

Putting Myself First Without Apology

One of the biggest shifts for me has been understanding that putting myself first doesn’t mean neglecting others. It means showing up whole. It means protecting my time. It means safeguarding my energy and my creativity. This way, I can give from a place of fullness instead of depletion.

Intentional living means:

• Saying no without over explaining
• Resting without feeling like I need to earn it
• Choosing peace over performance
• Allowing myself to grow out of what no longer fits

This year, I’m honoring my needs without guilt and trusting myself enough to follow my own rhythm.

What I Hope 2026 Brings

I’m not chasing perfection in 2026. I’m choosing alignment. I’m choosing thoughtful decisions, steady progress, and a life that feels good from the inside out.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that intention changes everything. It shapes how we move, how we create, and how we show up for ourselves day after day.

Here’s to a year of living on purpose.
Here’s to a year of intentional choices.
Here’s to 2026.

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