2026 word of the year - ANTICIPATION

What does the year ahead hold for me?

ANTICIPATION

Why?

Is it making me wait?

Is it keeping me waiting?

Thanks Heinz.

No, as my tattoo says, Just be.

My anticipation is for one second from now.

I focus on what's in front of me, not the things that are days, weeks and months away.

Am I looking back at years end?

Nope, what's past is past.

But, what I have learned from my past is carrying me to my future.

Without my past, how can I make my future my anticipation-worthy?

So what have I learned.

I need to set my sights towards things that excite me.

Travel, new experiences, learning more about myself.

All these have been and will be influenced by the past,

but will lean into the future.

And I can never forget to live in the moment.

That's what matters most.

I get excited to plan and live adventures.

Last year, no real adventures (maybe skydiving counts but it's only 7 minutes)

I focused too much on work.

I need to correct that.

So this year,

I plan.

Whats the adventure?

A solo trip to the oregon outback.

In February.

To see dark sky's

to hike in wilderness

and to realize what my place (and all of our place) in the universe really is.

To minimize stress over things that don't matter, by adding a healthy dose of perspective.

Then I will plan again.

I can't put a value on planning things that excite and push me.

It keeps me healthy

It keeps me happy.

Who knows what the next adventure will be?

I am starting off the year filling out my Year Compass (thanks Krista)

To set me off on my way.

To set me up to learn new things

To experience new experiences

To feel things I haven't felt before

and to challenge me to leave my comfort zone.

After all, Great Things Never Came From Comfort Zones (anonymous),

a fave quote.

And, of course, health.

I am done with being irradiated on 1/15.

Then the anticipation begins.

Not the worry,

the anticipation

The anticipation of good scans in April.

The anticipation of more time without major treatments

The anticipation of getting my Burtness back to full throttle

and the anticipation of causing less worry and anxiety to those the matter to me.

So, that's my 2026.

A year of anticipating.

a year of anticipation.

Experiences, growth, self-knowledge, health.

I wish you all the same.

We all approach things in our own ways,

but I hope you are anticipating a great year full of the things that matter to you.

Thanks for reading.

Happy New Year!