2026 Word of the Year

Happy New Year! It’s time to unveil my 2026 word of the year and reflect on the intentions set for the year ahead. 

In my Through The Rainbow post, I shared one of the hardest transitions of my life — moving out of the home I lived in for 11 years, separating from someone I still very much cared about, and stepping into a version of myself that had been quietly waiting to be reborn. Saying that out loud — and feeling the truth of it — felt like standing in the middle of a storm while the sun tried to break through. (Hence the rainbow theme!)

I am normally not a woo person, but this fall I started to see a lot of reels describing the cosmic shift that happened at the end of 2025. Apparently, it was the end of a nine year karmic cycle and the Year of the Snake. The snake year combined with the karmic cycle end brought deep completion, transformation, and renewal, shedding and unraveling things that no longer felt aligned. Read through these slides and these and this set to understand more. I’m not sure I “believe” in all this, but it sure makes sense with the timing of my life. Everything the woo people are saying about 2026 has really good vibes!

2026

It also feels cool that I am stepping into 2026 – the year I have been waiting my ENTIRE LIFE for – at this point in time (My birthday is October 26 and I’ve been number obsessed since I was young). 2026 feels like a very “me” year, and I am here for it! I can’t wait to see the number everywhere.

Now let’s get to the word of the year!

Past Words

This has been a tradition I’ve done for a decade now! When you look down the list, it feels like a time stamp diary to how I felt at the beginning of each year.

2016 – PRESENT

2017 – INTENTIONAL

2018 – VULNERABLE

2019 – PURPOSE

2020 – VISION

2021 – FOUNDATION

2022 – FRESH

2023 – CREATIVE

2024 – EXPAND

2025 – RELAX

2026 Word of the Year

P E A C E.

Here’s what peace means to me right now:

P — Pause and listen.

2025 forced me to stop, breathe, and really hear the story my life was trying to tell me. When you’re moving fast through schedules and routines and roles, it’s easy to miss the quiet voice asking, “Is this your peace?” That question was the hardest and the most important of the year.

E — Embrace change with curiosity, not fear.

Change is not just disruption. It’s an invitation to create something new. In unpacking boxes and rebuilding a home of my own, I also unpacked old beliefs about what home should look like and rebuilt my definition of it from the inside out. Peace isn’t the absence of struggle — it’s the presence of acceptance.

A — Allow yourself to evolve.

I’ve always believed that life should feel expansive, that we’re meant to grow into the fullest versions of ourselves. As I wrote before, I feel like I’m shedding old layers and reconnecting with who I am on a soul level.

C — Choose connection over perfection.

One thing that brought me immense peace this year was community. Old friends, new friends, supportive readers — your notes, comments, and messages grounded me. They reminded me that even when we walk hard paths, we are not alone. The bonds we nurture — family, friendship, compassion — are what make transitions truly transformative.

E — Expect hope and surprise.

2026 already feels like a year of possibility. I’m finding rhythm in my new routines, appreciating the gift of a bit more time, and aligning my goals with my actions. Looking ahead, I’m hopeful — not because everything is perfect, but because with alignment comes peace.

2026 Priorities

• Quality over quantity, especially when it comes to being with the boys.
• Return to passion for cooking in the Kath Eats style 😉
• Continue building deep connections with other humans. I love good conversation.
• Focus on living in the present (which has always been hard for me).
• Enjoy my alone time: walks, reading, maybe starting a new show.
• More plays, high school musicals, orchestras, and concerts. Experiences are priceless.

So here’s my wish for all of us in 2026: in this messy, chaotic world, may we find peace not as a distant destination but as something woven through our daily lives — in how we choose ourselves, build our communities, and honor the stories that brought us here.

Love,

Kath