I love Happy! I had joy as my word a few years ago and it was a wonderful year. I've been umming and ahhing but I think I'm leaning towards Brave. 2025 was tough so brave feels like a getting back on the horse kind of word. Plus we have some big family travel ahead this year and I want to go out of my comfort zone and make the most of it.
Can't wait for Rebels and your launch (and all the millions of other things your working on!). Have a great year!
I'll go with BALANCE and HEALTH, because I had a lot of issues last year (if I remember correctly, you also suffer from severe migraines, so IYKYK..) and I hope to get better..
What a great word! I love it! I think my word would be "Grateful." My youngest son and his wife moved in with me this year (now both of my kids and grandkids are here/nearby! What a dream!), I was offered to buy the house I was renting (no closing costs and got it for cheap), and I spent six weeks in Europe (dream vacation)... So I'm definitely grateful! This coming year will involve at least four surgeries I've needed for years and will (hopefully!) help with the major pain I have, so I'm definitely looking forward to it.
Amy, can I just say how wonderful it is that you take those extra moments to spin tales with your daughter to make those fun moments even more adventurous? She'll remember those forever and will pass them on to her children. What a gift!
And I cannot wait for Red Star Rebels. I've struggled to read lately because of my pain, but this one I'll most likely devour in a day. And then start over again! :D
This sounds like the perfect word -- a compass to keep you on track and remind you how you want to feel with bing things like surgeries coming up. (And thank you! We love telling our stories together!)
I'm so excited for this year, although as I'm nearing the last year of school in Greece (I'm a 2027 graduate) and at the end of that year we go through the hardest exams you can think of to get into university, I'm already stressed about it. Send me patience! Happy New Year! ❤️
Oh, good luck! I send you patience, and also perspective, which is the hardest thing to have as you finish school. It matters a lot, but it's not the whole world, so make sure you enjoy life as well!
I started choosing a word of the year because of you and it's been great for me too! My word of the year is REST. I want to do things and enjoy life but I need to remember that rest is important, and I only have this one body!
How on earth is Pip old enough to be at school? I don't have a word of the year, but a few years ago I set out to stop apologising for the space I take up in the world. It's something we tend to do as women. That includes using my voice, sharing my music, creating art and speaking out about issues that are important to me Maybe my word should be LOUD?
I could t pick just one word as I’ve got so many goals this year but I’m down to “playful adventure” I have every intention of exploring spontaneous side quests and traveling and doing so in a childlike manner as often as I can 😂
Mine is TRUST. Trust myself to figure it out. Trust my intuition on what feels aligned and "yes" and what is a no thank you. Trust that maybe things will work out; maybe they can feel easy and playful. I love HAPPY for you. And I can't wait to hear more about this adult historical! You know historical is my fave.
It’s funny you chose the word happy. As I moved into 2026 I thought about the goals I wanted to achieve but not the compass for them like I usually try to. As I was reading your newsletter today I thought happy- happy would be my word and lo and behold this is the very word you chose. I spend a lot of time being my own worst enemy; Berating myself for not meeting my goals and pushing myself to achieve but falling short because of the pressure I put on myself. Despite knowing this I can never seem to pull myself away from it. My goal this year is to create very day on some level (because it makes me happy and it’s a necessary part of who I am), spend less time pressuring myself to be a content creation machine for my bookstagram, read for pure pleasure with no goals or expectation except to enjoy the experience fully, be present emotionally and spend less time being cruel to myself, and to finish my book that’s laid dormant due to grief and lack of belief in myself. All of this is going to be essentially fueled by happiness. I basically go into hibernation when I’m stressed and depressed and I achieve nothing. I want most importantly to be more present and joyful for my family's sake, so that I don’t take a single blessed moment for granted with them worrying or focusing on what I don’t have when I have the whole world in front of me telling me they love me every day. (How short sighted I can be)
Congratulations on all your much deserved success. I can’t wait to get red star rebels in my hands ! ❤️ I hope 2026 is your best year ever Amie.
Ps as a mom of two with a large age gap, you are so very wise to appreciate the time when your child runs to your open arms. It’s a precious time that lasts nowhere near as long as it should. My son is 18 and my daughter is 5- I feel like this stage ended for my son at around age 10- but it’s the time I go to in my mind when I need to remember what the best of life is about or things get tough parenting a young adult. It’s who they stay in their heart but not in their physical life- it’s like trying to hold onto a snowflake. It’s unique and precious and fleeting. And eventually you’re only left with the memory of how special it was.
This sounds like such a wise compass for you for 2026. You can't do all these great things by beating yourself up -- but you can do them if you fuel them with happiness. I wish that for you this year. And thank you for your wisdom on holding onto my little one. This is just how I feel.
Survive. That’s all I got with the dire current politics and my reaction to it all. Anger and fear for the future is hard to quiet and so it takes a toll on me. Making stuff helps, planning a trip is distracting so I may try to focus on that for now. So yeah, Survive.
I’ve been surviving too long so this year I want to thrive
Love this for 2026!
I love Happy! I had joy as my word a few years ago and it was a wonderful year. I've been umming and ahhing but I think I'm leaning towards Brave. 2025 was tough so brave feels like a getting back on the horse kind of word. Plus we have some big family travel ahead this year and I want to go out of my comfort zone and make the most of it.
Can't wait for Rebels and your launch (and all the millions of other things your working on!). Have a great year!
This feels like the perfect compass for you for 2026.
I'll go with BALANCE and HEALTH, because I had a lot of issues last year (if I remember correctly, you also suffer from severe migraines, so IYKYK..) and I hope to get better..
Oh, I sure do, and I am sending you all my best vibes for balance and health.
What a great word! I love it! I think my word would be "Grateful." My youngest son and his wife moved in with me this year (now both of my kids and grandkids are here/nearby! What a dream!), I was offered to buy the house I was renting (no closing costs and got it for cheap), and I spent six weeks in Europe (dream vacation)... So I'm definitely grateful! This coming year will involve at least four surgeries I've needed for years and will (hopefully!) help with the major pain I have, so I'm definitely looking forward to it.
Amy, can I just say how wonderful it is that you take those extra moments to spin tales with your daughter to make those fun moments even more adventurous? She'll remember those forever and will pass them on to her children. What a gift!
And I cannot wait for Red Star Rebels. I've struggled to read lately because of my pain, but this one I'll most likely devour in a day. And then start over again! :D
Happy New Year!
This sounds like the perfect word -- a compass to keep you on track and remind you how you want to feel with bing things like surgeries coming up. (And thank you! We love telling our stories together!)
I'm so excited for this year, although as I'm nearing the last year of school in Greece (I'm a 2027 graduate) and at the end of that year we go through the hardest exams you can think of to get into university, I'm already stressed about it. Send me patience! Happy New Year! ❤️
Oh, good luck! I send you patience, and also perspective, which is the hardest thing to have as you finish school. It matters a lot, but it's not the whole world, so make sure you enjoy life as well!
I started choosing a word of the year because of you and it's been great for me too! My word of the year is REST. I want to do things and enjoy life but I need to remember that rest is important, and I only have this one body!
Oh yes, love this for you! Highly recommend reading REST by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang with tabs and a highlighter.
I will be getting it for sure! Also something else I'm doing this year because you talked about, is going to see Six! It's coming here in September!
How on earth is Pip old enough to be at school? I don't have a word of the year, but a few years ago I set out to stop apologising for the space I take up in the world. It's something we tend to do as women. That includes using my voice, sharing my music, creating art and speaking out about issues that are important to me Maybe my word should be LOUD?
I could t pick just one word as I’ve got so many goals this year but I’m down to “playful adventure” I have every intention of exploring spontaneous side quests and traveling and doing so in a childlike manner as often as I can 😂
Mine is TRUST. Trust myself to figure it out. Trust my intuition on what feels aligned and "yes" and what is a no thank you. Trust that maybe things will work out; maybe they can feel easy and playful. I love HAPPY for you. And I can't wait to hear more about this adult historical! You know historical is my fave.
It’s funny you chose the word happy. As I moved into 2026 I thought about the goals I wanted to achieve but not the compass for them like I usually try to. As I was reading your newsletter today I thought happy- happy would be my word and lo and behold this is the very word you chose. I spend a lot of time being my own worst enemy; Berating myself for not meeting my goals and pushing myself to achieve but falling short because of the pressure I put on myself. Despite knowing this I can never seem to pull myself away from it. My goal this year is to create very day on some level (because it makes me happy and it’s a necessary part of who I am), spend less time pressuring myself to be a content creation machine for my bookstagram, read for pure pleasure with no goals or expectation except to enjoy the experience fully, be present emotionally and spend less time being cruel to myself, and to finish my book that’s laid dormant due to grief and lack of belief in myself. All of this is going to be essentially fueled by happiness. I basically go into hibernation when I’m stressed and depressed and I achieve nothing. I want most importantly to be more present and joyful for my family's sake, so that I don’t take a single blessed moment for granted with them worrying or focusing on what I don’t have when I have the whole world in front of me telling me they love me every day. (How short sighted I can be)
Congratulations on all your much deserved success. I can’t wait to get red star rebels in my hands ! ❤️ I hope 2026 is your best year ever Amie.
Ps as a mom of two with a large age gap, you are so very wise to appreciate the time when your child runs to your open arms. It’s a precious time that lasts nowhere near as long as it should. My son is 18 and my daughter is 5- I feel like this stage ended for my son at around age 10- but it’s the time I go to in my mind when I need to remember what the best of life is about or things get tough parenting a young adult. It’s who they stay in their heart but not in their physical life- it’s like trying to hold onto a snowflake. It’s unique and precious and fleeting. And eventually you’re only left with the memory of how special it was.
This sounds like such a wise compass for you for 2026. You can't do all these great things by beating yourself up -- but you can do them if you fuel them with happiness. I wish that for you this year. And thank you for your wisdom on holding onto my little one. This is just how I feel.
Thank you! I’m trying hard!
You’re so welcome. Kids are the best of what life has to offer in my opinion ❤️
Happy is a lovely compass word!!! Here’s to a happy 2026 🥂
Indeed, for both of us!
word for this year? Inveigle : )
Sounds like the start of a story!
Survive. That’s all I got with the dire current politics and my reaction to it all. Anger and fear for the future is hard to quiet and so it takes a toll on me. Making stuff helps, planning a trip is distracting so I may try to focus on that for now. So yeah, Survive.
I hear you. It's so hard to live with right now. Make your stuff, plan your trip, and defy them by finding a way through with these things you love.
Have you been to Japan?