I laughed out loud when I chose my word of the year

Gotta be honest - this is a year I’ve been dreading for almost 2 decades.

2026: the year my daughter graduates and goes off to college. 

And here we are. Month one of that dreaded year. 

Earlier this week, I found myself feeling STRESSED. I was thinking ahead through the next 8 months, ruminating about all the things that will need to be done - and all the emotions I know I’ll feel along the way.

First, there’s Senior Night for basketball. Then two college tours. Then the basketball banquet. Then probably more college tours (my daughter has given herself a lot of options!). Then a huge decision to be made (not by me – by her, but I’ll be right there supporting her). Then we have prom dress shopping (which is its own event). Then a family wedding. Then prom. Then graduation. Then a graduation party. Then a family trip. Then a whole lot of dorm planning. And finally, moving both kids into their new “homes” for the year.

As I was fast forwarding through the months in my mind, my focus was on all that has to be done and how overwhelming it all feels. I spent a considerable amount of time in that state.

And then I decided to take a walk. 

As I walked, I could feel my mind begin to clear. Then I turned to one of my favorite spiritual practices. I imagine that I’m able to hear from a higher source of wisdom, and I start talking out loud – to myself – as if that higher wisdom were offering guidance. 

And here’s what I heard: 

You are in a season of busyness. It feels like overwhelm. It feels like a lot of action to take. It feels like stress. It’s ok to feel this. You are not doing it wrong.

And... 

This is a beautiful, sacred threshold that you’re in.

You don’t have to rush through it. If you do, you’ll miss the gifts.

You can just BE. Be in the moment. Be in the emotions. Be in the actions. Be in the decisions. Just BE. Allow it all. 

What a sacred, beautiful season to be in. How lucky are you that this is what you get to experience in this chapter? How lucky! 

So, resist the urge to make it a chapter of stress and “woe is me” and “there’s so much to do!” Instead, invite yourself into savoring it all – even when you’re doing all the things.

Almost immediately, my energy shifted. I could feel myself exhaling. As my body relaxed, my thoughts settled, and the stress I’d been carrying melted away.

Later that day, I sat down to complete my New Year’s process. Every year, I move through a series of steps to release what I no longer need from the past year, and to set intentions for the year ahead. The final step is always choosing a word for the year.

As I tuned inward once again, the word that came through immediately was ease.

I actually laughed out loud. 😆

This year is likely to be anything but easy (both in my personal life and in the world around us), so how could this possibly be the word my inner wisdom was offering?

But then I remembered the message from my walk. 

The year ahead isn’t really about all that will happen or how much needs to be done. It’s about the energy I bring to it. 

I don’t have to buy into the drama of my mind. I don’t have to add stories about how busy I am or how sad I am. I don’t have to resist what’s unfolding. 

What if I approached it all with ease? Not just family life – but work too. What if I kept things simple this year? What if I only created offers felt easy and genuinely fun? 

How good would that feel?

I can’t promise I’ll hold this energy perfectly all year long. But I do know that when I hear the word ease, my body naturally relaxes. I feel calmer. More grounded. 

And I’ll take that – whenever I can get it.

Over to you: Is there a story you’ve been telling yourself that might be ready for an energetic shift? What would it look like to meet this season of your life with a little more ease?

Love,

Mendy