Choosing One Word for 2026

This week, I am confounded by stress and the inability to choose one word to guide my spiritual journey, As the cold weather continues, I find cuddling by the fireplace a comforting way to de-stress. Yet, when I start writing, I seem to have a page of scratched off lines. I am five days into the new year, and I continue to search for one word to appear and set me on a new path of discovery. 

There are six words that keep popping up. They are contenders for my one word that will guide me on my 2026  journey. Space is needed, especially now since there are Christmas boxes strewn all over. Healing is a goal for this year. The word, restore, yields positivity and makes life smoother. Peace rises from the state of stillness and quietude sits in silence breaking unrest. Then, there is forward that would help me move onward. These words are strong, important, and meaningful. One shall be my cornerstone and yet, I am still not ready to make my choice.

Since 2014 to 2025 I have chosen one word that has served as my yearly guiding star.

Which one of the six words will I chose to be my 2026 guiding star?

This week the Spiritual Journey group of writers will unveil their one word. Stop by my blog on late Wednesday or early Thursday to read which word I will choose.

Join me at the Two Writing Teachers site with educators from around the globe.

Terse Verse Tidbits

As you may know, I am in the midst of life move to Virginia challenges. I planned to work on the unveiling of my Winter's Embrace Gallery but life interrupted my plan. Maybe these terse verses explain.

Stress is a mess

that puts me to test.

I wince and I wine

over deadlines.

🙁

To-do-lists are the way

I end many a day

with ughs and wishes

right after dishes.

*****

Today, with nine different tradespeople coming in to fix new house issues, my attention got diverted once again. That is okay, I am back at my desk, alone, quiet, and happy to write. If you have not seen this month's Spiritual Journey Thursday posts at my blog, please do so. I thank the following contributors for their different perspectives on the theme, Blossoms of Spring, that I posed.

1.	Linda M.	4.	Karen Eastlund	7.	Ramona
2.	Fran Haley - Blossoming of Joy	5.	Ruth (Blossoms)
3.	Margaret Simon	6.	Chris Margocs

Jan Godown Annino sent an interesting photo of a rose with a haiku that I comprised into an image poem for her. I am delighted to share this with you as a blossom of joy.

Yes Jan is right! Joy finds a way to showcase nature's beauty and clear a path to peaceful moments, letting life interrupted move on. Perhaps, later today, I will have more time to design and write but for now I have to pause for a text discussion with the gardener. 

I am back waiting for the next storm but I want you to know that I sign off on a more positive note, thankful for a little bit more quiet time to write. Now off to visit join the Poetry Friday Roundup at our host, Bridget Mcgee's Switzerland blog site, wee words for wee ones. Bridget has a fun short story for us to listen to there. Happy Spring thoughts to all from soggy Virginia. Did April forget to turn off her weather faucet?

Because blossoms bring joy, I thank Irene Latham for her Live Your Poem Postcard with warm wishes sent my way.

De-Stressing Is a Must

Will I meet my deadline? Last night was a night to fret over last minute details. There are many tasks still left on my to do list before Tuesday when the movers come to empty the house. Thirty-eight years of memories, furniture, and "stuff" are still here. Slowly, I pack up the belongings spending some moments reminiscing. More questions pop into my head. Will tonight's estate sale be successful? Will all the buyers pick up their goods tomorrow as scheduled?  Will the clean-out go smoothly? 

Did I mention that I am not finished packing up the house yet? Yikes!

Panic set in last night when I realized that the garage still needed to be organized and packed away! Oh my, moving is not easy and I just found out it is #3 on the list of the top five most stressful life events. 

An internet article I read noted that moving is a stressor. That is certainly right! The last time I moved was thirty-eight years ago and it was from a one bedroom apartment but now there is a whole house of furniture and memorabilia accumulated. The article mentions three tips to manage the most stressful life events.

Managing stress takes time and intentionality.

What if I created a personal plan to de-stress?

Good thinking!

ACTION PLAN TO:

DE-STRESS

Exercise

Stop fretting.

Take slow breaths in and out

Relax

Engage in feel good activities

Smile often

Stay in the grateful zone 

©CV, 2021 

With faith, I will earnestly try to de-stress as I move onward to my new life destination.

Today is a combination blog post.

The Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted by Australian author and poet, Kat Apel.

Today she has a wonderful surprise. She is featuring her new children's book, the Bird in the Herd that is filled with delightful illustrations and a story line children will love to read.

Day 5 of Two Writing Teachers' March SOLSC! #SOL21, March Musings 2021

Proud Member of Two Writing Teachers Community since 2015

A Case of the Pandemic Blues

Enough is enough!  I have noticed a dip in my positivity level each time life stressors interfere (way too many times to count). Can I categorize this new felt loss as the pandemic blues? 

"A mid-summer poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation reported over half of US adults indicated the pandemic has affected their mental health." (Article, Beating the Pandemic Blues)

I count myself as one of those affected by the stresses of pandemic life. Back at the end of February, my husband and I signed a contract to build a new home in Virginia near my little granddaughters. Who knew that COVID-19 would rear its ugly head a few weeks later changing my perspective in so many ways. Yesterday morning I paused to reflect on the happenings of the past nine months, building a home virtually and almost selling my Long Island home five times if you count interested prospective buyers. All of this has left me with weakened resolve but yesterday I found a bit of clarity. 

An incessant all day downpour turned the sky dark while drenching my newly-decorated porch. Fresh poinsettias sat beautifully in pots standing like poised guards waiting for yet another prospective buyer. The rainstorm negated that visit and caused my new plants to become rainsoaked. I ran outside to rescue them. Poor me, I thought. There would be no walks today, no finding small details in nature to bring peace. But then, I decided this outlook would only cause more distress so when I caught an interesting sight from my bedroom window I took a closer look. Nature was sounding off with gusts of wind and a downpour unlike those seen in many weeks. There was a strong windshift and pendulating swings of tree branches. I decided to pause and indulge in a few moments of relaxed self-care, just taking time to watch nature at work. Later, the following digital poem evolved.

I decided that If my poinsettias and decorations could withstand the relentless outbursts of nature during trying times, then I could, too. While my future path many not be a smooth one, I am ready to start thinking about the urgency of self-care: getting hold of my emotions and not letting the howl of pandemic blues deprive me of joy. It is with resolve to move forward that I will keep the following quote front and center.

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning how to dance in the rain." 

-Author Vivian Greene

☔

It's Slice of Life Tuesday at Two Writing Teachers so I am moving over to join the writing community because writing is one of my happy places.  

 

Negating Stress

It's the start of the new school year. Are you being bombarded with back-to-school ads, household commitments, and last wishes for an everlasting summer? Are the tasks mounting and body temperatures rising? Yes, it happens to all of us at this time of year. 

Restless days before school opens, last minute pieces that need to be put into place, and the feeling of being overwhelmed are just part and parcel of the new school year. Posts keep popping up about this time of year in which many indulge in the frantic search for one last summer day to savor. 

As I prepare for the unveiling of my newest gallery, Summer Splashings, I am trying to keep the to do list from mounting. Staying focused is difficult though. When the stress level kicks up, it is time to undo it before it takes over my day. 

My Thoughts on How to Release and Restore Balance Quickly:

Breathe in.

Visualize a beautiful day or event.

Open spaces in the mind to release the negative.

Relax in the thought that negativity can be a temporary state. 

Negate the stress. 

Release it to universe. 

In faith, listen to the Voice before moving forward.

Does this advice to myself work? By creating a series of graphics focusing on the positive, I release tension that surrounds me. I restore balance quickly and ready myself to enjoy another day.  My to do list becomes an I can accomplish list set in a positive mind frame. with the underlying understanding that all tasks need not be completed in a single day.  

On the spiritual journey I need to step back to step forward when my balance shifts. Faith is the binding force that allows me to know that there are many moments to savor in life. 

How are you dealing with stress at this time of year? Here is a quick video on kicking stress to watch and enjoy.

Join Holly Mueller as she leads the community of Spiritual Journey Thursday to openly discuss the topic of stress this week.