SJT: My OLW for 2026

I've spent most of today thinking about this post and between one thing and another, it has taken me until early evening to sit down and write. In my Tuesday Slice of Life, I shared my words for the past 13 years and included a lengthy list of words in the running for this year's word. With no further ado, I'll unveil this year's word, rhythm!

While I love the idea of rhythm in music and poetry, this dictionary definition most closely shows one of the areas I may focus on for this year. 

A strong, regular repeated pattern of movement or sound

Synonyms: cadence, pulse, flow 

The words "regular and repeated pattern" make me think of routines or rhythms that I might work on during 2026. 

When I searched my blog for rhythm, I found my September 2019 post that invited our community to write about Nudges. This post referenced a podcast from Emily P. Freeman, Episode 90, Start with this Simple Rhythm. Emily shares a five movement rhythm she uses for her mornings. If you're like me, it's helpful to see how others create space for their soul to breathe. And doesn't just seeing the word "breathe" help you slow down to focus on the rhythm of your body? I plan to begin 2026 with a focus on my morning routine. There's something absolutely freeing about having a routine. It releases us from the need of constant decision making about what to do next. 

I also discovered a SJT post from June 2025 where I was in search of feasible summer rhythms and invited our community to write about summering. So perhaps rhythm was beginning to simmer as early as last summer! 

I am excited to see where rhythm will take me in this new year! 

Slice of Life: Rambling in Words

 Here's the post I wrote in 2013 before selecting my first One Little Word:

"I'm awash in words.  How to CHOOSE just one?  I've never done this before, but I've loved reading your posts about choosing one little word for the year.  As I REFLECT on 2012, I can sum up my incredible journey with the word  plunge.  March was the month that my students and I took the plunge to write every day.  I had never posted to Two Writing Teachers before, but with an incredible group of students by my side, I joined this group and I've never looked back.

It's been fun to DISCOVER that I'm a writer.  I SAVOR Tuesdays when I join my fellow bloggers to LISTEN.  Your words ENCOURAGE, ENRICH, and INSPIRE me.  I feel your EMBRACE through the kind words you leave on my blog.

I'm in search of a FOCUS that will help me CAPTURE the GROWTH that beckons for 2013.  I want to become less scattered and find more BALANCE, to go SLOW, to CELEBRATE more often.

I love words, so this task of choosing just one is overwhelming!  I'm trying to DECIDE which word calls loudest to me.  And I think it's the word that has no voice to call, but instead beckons me to a quieter path, one that asks me to LISTEN to my own voice more often, to trust that I can make progress bit by bit in this new year, to LISTEN to the voices around me, and to LISTEN for the gentle spiritual promptings that can guide me on my daily journey. 

I plan to spend a few days LISTENING before I commit to my one little word for 2013."

And here's the poem I've added to as I've selected a word each year:

 

Listen to the stillness, 

Savor the present moment,

Stretch to grow, and always 

Abide in His love to 

Nourish my soul and reach out in love. 

 

Delight in small moments and simple pleasures,

Try, a gentle word inviting growth and change.

Light becomes a beacon during difficult times,

Comfort wraps me in a year of coping with loss,

Clear, a call to deal with my stuff.

 

Gather is stuffed into a box for the NC move,

Gather pleads for more time and another year.  

Be, an opportunity to focus on the moment

 

And my word for 2026?

Here's a list of the current contenders:

steady, care, reach, authentic

strength, hold, energy, commitment

rhythm, focus, ease, playful, 

shine, serenity, hope, appreciation 

Stop by on Thursday for my SJT  (Spiritual Journey Thursday) post and the unveiling of 2026's OLW. 

And now I'm off to read your posts for this new year!