This was one of those years where I had an idea for what my word would be for 2026 and it stuck with me for the last few months. I didn’t realize that the last few years have been a progression of each other until I sat down to think about the word.

Two years ago, I was turning 50 so I picked “explore” as a way to do major inner-exploration. I wanted to spend time deeply getting to know myself, my tastes, my preferences, my choices. I wanted to shed a lot of the “outside in” stuff I had been exposed to all my life and see what I noticed when I went inwards to do the work of “inside out” stuff. It was a life-changing year with lots of revelations and lots of affirmation. Even though the word didn’t stick with me all that much, the work I did that year was exceptional. One of the best, ever.

In 2025, I picked the year “Home” as a way to practice coming home to myself again and again. Now that I was learning to understand what it meant to be me and what my essence was, how could I practice coming back to myself again and again? How could I find ways to check in with myself? I practiced this all year long. It was another excellent year for learning to truly get comfortable in my own skin and build a deep well of contentment.

So when 2026 was coming, it made sense that the word that spoke to me was “onward.” Now that I knew what I liked, who I was and how to listen to myself, it makes sense that I’d want to make some changes in my life. It’s been five tumultuous years for me and I have done some significant work and also some solid cocooning. This is my attempt at taking some action to align my new life with my self. Make some of the major changes I’ve been thinking about but not taking action on. Unlike the last two years, this is an action word, but I am also aware of two things: I took a lot of action in the last two years so reflection words can be active (for me) and I am not ready to feel “pressure” to take action so I am willing to have this year be small a and not capital A action. Every step counts. It’s ok. I trust myself to take just as much (or as little) action as I need to take.

Also it’s not just about doing but it’s also about not doing. Saying no to things that I don’t want to do or don’t serve me anymore is just as much about moving onward as doing things is. So is changing my thoughts. So is sitting with things so I can move through them. They are all part of moving on.

Some of the themes I want to honor:

• Rebuild: Things that I had built a certain way that now I want differently but there’s a lot of work involved in changing them. REquires an upfront investment of time, money, and/or effort.
• Release: Things that no longer serve me and that I have to let go if I want to be able to move onward. They weigh me down and keep me anchored in place.
• Research: Things I want to understand better before I can figure out what moving forward means in those spaces.   
• Build: Areas where I don’t currently have a way of being or doing but I want to establish one. So this is further along than research but I have not done the work of incorporating it into my life. 
• Brave: This is for things that I either know I have to do or I really want to do but they will require a lot of bravery.
• Help: These are areas where I am committed to help others in my life move onward in their dreams and goals.  
• Seek: These are areas that will force me outside my comfort zone and require me to actively seek others to help realize my goals. 
• Grow: These are areas where onward is purely to learn more about an areas where I already commit to going deeper.  
• Tend: These are areas that require establishing a routine and some regular upkeep. So it’s about requiring investment. 
• Finish/Settle: These are areas where I strongly desire to do what needs to be done this year. Finish in 2026.
• Plant: These are areas of growth where I want to plant some roots and see what grows. Almost the opposite of finish. Maybe new things I start but I know will take time to grow. 
• Reclaim: Ideas that were others’ that I’ve been holding on to that I want to take back.

So here’s to forward motion in 2026. Onward we go.

As always, I want to start by saying that this is going to be a long post. These reflective posts are how I make sure to live my life intentionally. They matter to me and I love being able to look back on them in future years. I know that this might not be interesting to many (if not any) of you, so please feel free to skip it. If some of you find it interesting, all the better.

This particular exercise is following Susannah Conway’s Unraveling 2026 sheet. You can download it right here. I split the reflective questions looking back on 2025 in and the questions to help clarify goals/dreams for 2026 into two posts. This is part I, part II comes next week. All questions are Susannah’s and are copyrighted to her.

Describe 2025 in three words:  unplanned, grateful, content 

Were there any unexpected plot twists this year? So many, both good and bad ones. I had not planned for this year to be as active as it was. I had intended for it to be more of a still and go inward year. But alas, plans changed and I met the moments where they came. I stepped up and did what needed to be done. And I am proud of myself. And I am grateful.

If the events of 2025 were made into a film or a book, what would it be called? Here you are. I think 2025 might be the year I finally got closest to living inside my own skin and being really proud of and grateful for who I am. Finally starting to really step into being me. 

Did you have a word, words or a phrase for 2025? home.

If you did, how have they guided and supported you through the last 12 months?  After all the work I did in 2024, it was really wonderful to have 2025 be the year where I became more and more comfortable being myself. Really living in my own skin.  Being able to go inward and trust myself and trust that I can tell what I need and want for myself has been a tremendous help this year. It has helped me really honor myself. And get closer to the peace that comes from that. It’s been a great word.

How have you evolved over the last 12 months? What feels different now?  I think what’s changed the most is that I am finally growing into myself. I feel more at peace. I feel like I own who I am. I feel less of a need to apologize for who I am. In fact,, I feel like I’m doing my work and am proud of how hard I work to be the best person I can be. 

When were you able to advocate for yourself in 2025?  Several times. Again and again. Not just me but also for my kiddos.  For my team. But also for myself. Part of stepping into my own skin has been not feeling the need to defend my choices. When I don’t feel the need to defend myself, apologize for my choices, or explain myself, it becomes much easier to advocate. 

What’s supported you most in 2025? What’s really helped?  My manager Ruth who always supports and sees me, my friend Jess who always sees the best of me and shows me how she sees me regularly. My therapist, who encourages me to advocate for myself. My kids who love me and have my back. Sadie who never tires of snuggling and is always always by my side. Having more people see me and being able to truly hear their words and let myself accept and internalize it has made all the difference. How lucky am I?  

What drained your energy in 2025? Did you notice at the time? Interestingly, I noticed that there are things that drain me in “invisible” ways in that I don’t notice them daily, or they don’t feel big enough that I do something about it. But then when I finally did resolve them, I felt a big weight lift. So in fact, it was draining me tiny bits all the time. So I am planning to pay more attention to that in 2026. Also big drains too: people taking me for granted, people unwilling to take accountability or responsibility, trying to solve all possible outcomes of something that I fear might happen, the news, living with the fear of “what if.” 

What did you let go of this year? And how do you feel about this? I let go of holding on to the past. I let go of what wasn’t working. I let go of controlling what doesn’t belong to me. I let go of having the answers. 

What new priorities have you uncovered in 2025? Big or small. My kids and Sadie continue to be my top priority. This year, I started putting myself on that list. I continued to invest at work both in people and in projects. I continued to paint. I continued with Korean. I took a class at Stanford. I continued to read. But most importantly I decided I am happy to be me. I am far from perfect but I try hard and work hard and I am proud of who I am. 

Which connections have you cherished the most in 2025? I think my list is pretty similar to last year: My kiddos. Sadie. My parents. Ruth and Ellen. Beth and Angela and Evelyn. Jess and Audrey and Michelle. My team at work. I am so grateful for everyone who cared about me and checked in on me and showed up and held space. In all ways big and small. I am so lucky.

What ambushed you in 2025? How did you deal with it? I wasn’t expecting to do some of the things I did in 2025. But not all ambush was bad. I also wasn’t expecting some of the great things that happened. I tried to move through it all with grace and speed. I took care of my mental health along the way and did what needed to be done. I am grateful to be mostly on the other side of it now. There are other areas where we’re still in the middle of the journey and I have little to no control over the outcomes but I will keep doing what needs to be done and unyieldingly protect my people.  

If your body could talk, what has it been saying this year? I know you’re paying attention now. You’ll get there.

How have you taken care of yourself physically? What’s worked? What needs work? Nope. I am Still not doing anything physically for my body. I need to do a better job. Let’s hope 2026 is the year. 

How have you taken care of yourself mentally? What’s worked? What needs work? I took a class at Stanford, and I painted a lot. I continued with Korean. I took on more at work both as a manager and as an individual contributor. I’ve learned a lot and worked hard. 

How have you taken care of yourself emotionally? What’s worked? What needs work? I did a lot of therapy and work on myself this year. I did a lot of journaling. I fell asleep to meditation often. Since Fall, I listened to Salt than Sour then Sweet on repeat because it grounded me and I sat with my feelings and let myself feel them. 

Did anything happen in 2025 that needs to be forgiven, perhaps?  I forgive myself for every time I was less generous than I wanted to be. I forgive myself for times I chose myself selfishly. I forgive myself for when I was short with my kids. I forgive myself for when I was short with Sadie. I forgive myself for when I could have done better but I didn’t. I forgive myself for all the times I didn’t reply to emails, text, check in on friends. I forgive myself for falling short. I truly forgive myself. 

Big things, little things, the profound and the everyday. What are you grateful for? I am so grateful for my kids. I am so so grateful for Sadie. For everyone who has had my back and has checked in on me. For therapy. For my pink Christmas tree. For a promotion I never anticipated.  For still being employed in this climate. For my kids having good friends who see them and love them. For giving myself the endless grace I need right now. For finally getting comfortable in my own skin. To be healthy and loved. I am grateful to be here and to get to do this with people I love so much. 

What are you proud of yourself for in 2025? I am proud of showing up for my kids and Sadie. Always growing and trying to be a better version of myself. I am proud of getting Sadie after wanting a dog for so many years. I am proud of working on doing a good job at work. I am proud of how much effort and time I am putting into painting. I am proud of how much I care and how hard I am working to be the kindest and most generous version of myself. I am proud of who I am trying to be and how much I continue to do my work and grow.

In which areas of your life do you feel you levelled up this year? I think I’ve grown more and more into being who I am and owning that it might be a good thing.

When did you feel most like yourself this year? I think I am feeling more and more like myself each day. I’ve had more days feeling most like myself this year than ever before. 

What have you healed this year (or identified needs healing)? I am healing so much of what I’ve been carrying for years now. Finding ways to forgive people and finding ways to forgive myself for carrying it all for so long. 

What questions and explorations are you taking with you into 2026? I spent 2024 exploring who I am, 2025 coming home to myself more and more so my plan for 2026 is taking more action. Designing more of what I want in my life. Let’s see what that turns out to be.

What’s deepened in your life? What’s changing in ways that delight you? I think stepping into who I am is changing my whole life in positive ways.

Who are you becoming? Does it excite or scare you? I am so excited to be more of who I am. I’m ready to let go of all that I’ve let weigh me down. I’m ready to experiment and see what I’m capable of, see what I like, see even more of who I am.

Before we finish with 2025, take a few minutes to write out anything else you want to say to the old year. You might like to say some final goodbyes and thank yous…

Dear 2025, well unfortunately you didn’t end up being as uneventful as I had hoped. This was a hard year to be alive in the world. While it wasn’t the same kind of shock and grief like 2024, you sucked in your own way. I would really like a little more hope and joy in the world in 2026. Please. Even with all that, I am so deeply grateful for where I am, where my family is and I do not take it for granted for a moment that we are so incredibly lucky and loved and here. We are still here. I promise I will continue to work hard in 2026 and do my part. Thank you 2025, you are now complete.