Every January I spend time thinking about the word I will choose as my word for the year. Instead of making a big resolution, or a list of them, or setting big targets, I choose a word I hope will guide me for the year.
Last year my word was Create. The year before Health. This year I tossed a few ideas around – almost choosing health again, since I ended 2025 with some niggling health issues. But, as I packed up my Christmas decorations, the word jumped out at me – literally.
As soon as I picked that decoration up (it had fallen off the tree as I removed something else) I knew it was the perfect word to guide me this year because it’s actually a word I’ve found myself using more and more of late. For those of you who, like me, are worried about the state of the world at the moment, you might think Joy is a strange choice. But in scary times, in times when we can seem powerless, joy becomes a form of resistance (you can read more about this here, and elsewhere) .
Joy is a starting point when we feel stuck, a reminder of good when we see evil and pain, and a force for change when we share it with others.
So, in 2026, I’m trying to choose joy whenever and wherever I can, in ways big and small. In my work, in my leisure and in unexpected moments.
One of the small ways I’m doing that is to try to make sure that every day, at least once a day, I make a note of something that gave me a moment of joy that day. This tin, now empty of the liquorice allsorts which also gave joy over Christmas, has a slot on the top, meant to become a money box I suppose. But it is the perfect thing for to post my little notes into – and putting it on my bedside table, with a notebook and pen, reminds me to do it.
So far, I have noted everyday things (like seeing George joyfully playing on the beach),
and random things, like seeing a dragon protecting a moat (or a creek, at least).Can you see it?
Not big things – though I hope to add plenty of those too – but moments of joy. Noting them after the event brings an another smile every time. And if, during the year, I find it hard to feel joyfully, I’ll open the tin and remind myself of those moments.
In between times, I want to work to make joy much more a part of who I am – so that I can spread it to those around me. And, lest anyone think this frivolous, I’m using joy not to ignore the wrong in the world, but to try to counter it.
The little decoration is now hanging above my desk as a daily reminder while I work. Here’s hoping I can spread some of that joy to you through what I do.
Here’s a to a joyful 2026.
was longer – with every day new reviews, new sightings in the wild, and lovely new messages from people who have read and enjoyed it. Thanks to all who have reviewed it or sent a message – you have made me smile. I am so pleased Anton’s story is touching people in the way I hoped.