My One-Word Theme for 2026

Looking back through my archives, I'm noticing a pattern: every so often, words fail me. I skipped 2019—later nicknamed the year of letting go—and I skipped 2024, which I had totally forgotten about.

This year again, no word really came to me. I wrote down a few ideas, trends, and patterns, and looked back at my 26 for 2026 list.

My past words have included Routine, Learn, Grounded, Prepare, Balance, Center, and Create.

A word seemed to take shape, but it didn't stick. After almost a decade of uncertainty, I felt like I was ready to take the next step. Having finally obtained my green card, I'm able to make bolder decisions in my personal and professional life. I felt like I was crossing a threshold.

But it felt a little too static for me. I think I like verbs better.

2026 is the year I want to get out there more—to move, connect, try new things, and dive into new projects.

Eventually, I realized that my word had been right in front of me all along.

For the past ten years, I've operated my business under a name that needed to somehow encompass everything I do. My work has involved collecting information, holding space for learning, opening the doors of my house to strangers. One word made sense.

I love to compile information. I want to keep exploring my memories, doing deep dives on random topics, researching niche subjects, and connecting it all in Obsidian (remember mind mapping?).

I want to ride last year's high by continuing to show up to group meet-ups: riding bikes with Goldilocks, splitboarding with Cascade Slaydies, coworking with friends—old and new.

I'd like to plant, nourish, harvest, and share. I might not plant a whole garden this year, but I will definitely go foraging with friends, visit local farm stands and farmers markets, and bake more often so I have good food to share with loved ones.

I also want to host more often. Soup night was a highlight of my December. I started opening my doors to friends and neighbors again on Saturday mornings, and I’d love to keep that going—maybe with a theme or an activity to offer.

And I want to focus on my business, diversifying my income so all my eggs aren't in the same basket. I was lucky enough to be asked to manage another social media account last summer, which helped me navigate the anxiety of large language models (not so) slowly chipping away at the translation industry.

So there it is, my word for 2026 is GATHER.

I'm excited to see what this year has in stock for me, and what I'll make of it.

If you had to choose one word to guide 2026, what would it be—and why?