As the end of December draws near with Christmas and New Year activities, hope you are finding peace and joy.
My word for 2026 has come later than normal, but with a good and timely measure of excitement. One way I know a word is ‘right’ is the enthusiasm, inspiration and ideas it catalyzes. The word for 2026 is multifaceted with factual and personal meaning that reflects and at the same time grows, full of change expressed in a multitude of ways.
Looking back at 2025
2025 had a word and theme of ‘sanctuary.’ I was a fitting word, a quiet word settling into a home inside myself and my physical location, my house being a home for soul and body. It was a fitting additional word since we had moved into a new house the year prior and were doing projects to make it more personalized. Even though there was not a lot of outward evidence of my word in journaling this year, there has been a quiet inner work that is ongoing and provides a good base for the new word for 2026 to take root.
New in 2025 - Adding Meaningful Music
One of my favorite things I did last year was make a playlist on Spotify based on my word for the year. It brought such comfort throughout the year, and I plan to make another one for this new year.
The Music notation stencil, designed for StencilGirl Products® (shown above) helped me easily add the notes and clefs in pencil and colored pencil as I wrote the song lyrics in the journal. My favorite journals are from Archer & Olive. I am an affiliate, and you can use the code ‘Valerie10’ at checkout to receive 10% off your purchase.
Looking forward to 2026
Notebook Changes
This year, I’m approaching the word of the year definitions, quotes, poetry, and Scripture in a new way.
For the past 15 years I look up on the internet, and put quotes, poetry and Scripture in a Word of the Year journal, where I also included writing, doodles etc. I did not fill up my journal from 2025, and with years of so many journals, I thought it would be helpful to have all the word themed quotes in one notebook instead of a specific word of the year notebook. That way, I can look up and copy any quotes from that journal into the Word of the Year journal I’m working on.
Currently, I’m writing the Word of the Year quotes and Scripture in the Quotes & Poetry journal, started last winter. Below is shown in the larger B5 size, next to the typical A5 size. My go-to journal notebook for writing, planning and most journaling has been the smaller A5 size (5.8 x 8.3 inches), but I’ve found the larger B5 (7.48” x 9.84”) journal just right for an ongoing Quotes journal notebook.
From now on, the Quotes journal can be a place to record Word of the Year quotes, poems and Scripture. In that journal notebook, I can draw from the writing and add snippets to my other journals and artwork as the year goes on. The Quotes & Poetry journal is becoming a living document and I’m finding I refer to it often.
As I have time, I’m planning to go through the previous word of the year journals and add the word, quotes, poetry and Scripture to my Quotes & Poetry Journal. This is another way to look back with gratitude and be re-inspired.
My Word for 2026
(Drumroll….)
SEASONS
I am very excited about the possibilities for the word ‘Seasons’. Possibilities include: seasons of life, the season I’m in, seasons of the year - Winter-Spring-Summer-Autumn, and the nature, imagery, holidays etc. that are included in the seasons. So many ideas are brewing…
Here is just the beginning pages of ‘Seasons’ in my Quotes & Poetry journal:
Reflection - Anticipation - Expression
Next, I will make the ‘Seasons” Word title page in the notebook started last year with the word ‘Sanctuary.’ In a way, the 2025 word ‘sanctuary’ relates to the 2026 word seasons. One of my goals is to be at rest in the season of life that I’m in, embracing it, and then walking through each season of the year with reflection (looking back) and with anticipation (looking forward with hope), and expression (making art that reflects each season of the year). There is both structure and freedom with these goals.
Keeping tried and true methods
Even though I am approaching my word and journaling in a new way for the upcoming year, there are still some things that have served me well and will continue this upcoming year, such as looking up definitions, writing quotes, looking up relevant Scripture, and embellishing journal pages.
Definition pages
Looking up synonyms, Scripture, and quotes about my word really helps me get a good idea of the meaning, both deeper and broader. It also is a source of inspiration for my art focus throughout the year. From this process, I already have some ideas of combining some quotes with some ‘sanctuary’ imagery.
To begin the content of my word of the year journal, I opened a document on my computer and looked up the following, copying and pasting the information in the document.
1. The definition of the word in a number of dictionaries and then wrote out a compilation of the definition
2. Synonyms to get a broader and deeper understanding of the word
Beginning the journal pages
For the upcoming year, as I mentioned, I’m using an A5 (my favorite size) dotted journal by Archer & Olive. The dots help me write straight and makes it easy to use Washi tape and make various sections. I have already been using this journal for notes, pen drawings, and doodles in 2025 and will continue that for 2026 with my new word theme. Two words for two years in one journal.
Staying flexible is key
It’s good to stay flexible when journaling for an entire year about a topic or theme. Sometimes things work and sometimes things could work better. The best is to not put on pressure to do it a certain way. This is not the first year that more than one word and more than one year are in the same journal. I’m also toying with the idea to do a separate accordion art journal on my theme or possibly a set of 4 journals. So many possibilities…
Beginning the New Year
In this new year, it is important for me to follow the K.I.S.S. method of planning and journaling - Keep It Simple Sweetheart. I’m using a dated planner Archer & Olive and minimally decorating it with Washi tape, stickers and a little coloring etc. You can save 10% by using the code Valerie10 at checkout.
This season of life is also a season of simplifying. Here are some examples of using Washi tape for embellishment.
Monthly title page
Monthly title page
Month at a glance with birthdays featured with cut thin Washi tape, wide torn Washi tape as a border and a center sticker from Archer and Olive’s subscription box
How will 2026 look?
When thinking about how 2026 would work best for me it came in three words, also being goals: W.W.W.
Worship - Watercolor - Walk
I could add ‘Wonder’ too, another good word from another year, but w.w.w. is so relevant to us and easy to remember.
Those three words came to mind as I looked back to a transformative year when I intentionally took time to worship with music on, singing, reading etc. I’m ready for another transformation.
One of my creative goals for 2026 is to do more watercolor and improve my skill. I loved doing the 100-day project of daily watercolor the year before last.
The third is to walk more. It is very easy for me to walk daily when I am at the beach, but I don’t live at the beach, so I don’t enjoy it nearly as much in the city, but I need to add more movement in my life and walking is easy. I may substitute it for another form of movement, but I’m looking to keep it simple and add to my daily stretching exercise.
Thank you for stopping by. I am looking forward to connecting with you in this upcoming year as we go onward and upward in our journeys in life and art.
I’ll close this post with a couple of short reels showing the journals mentioned above.
Below is a flip-through of my Quotes & Poetry journal including
the beginning of 2026 word of the year
I’m going super-simple in my planner this year so I have more time
and effort to put into other journals and artwork.
No matter how you proceed into the new year, I hope you have something to look forward to.
May your year be filled with joy!
Are you choosing a word or theme for 2026?
I’d love to know what your word is for 2026 in the comments.
Be blessed!
Valerie
Further Word of the Year Inspiration
Here are a few previous blog post links about keeping a journal with a word focus for the year.
How to choose a word of the year
How I explore my word of the year
https://www.valeriesjodin.com/blog/word-of-the-year-2025-journal
https://www.valeriesjodin.com/blog/journals-set-up-2025-washi-tape
Word focused E-course
If you want to dig deeper into your word and expand your creative techniques, check out my online course ‘A Beautiful Word.’
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