Word for year 2026 Intentional

                                 Word of the Year and Target Areas

I had a bit of insight yesterday and realized that intentional really is the perfect word for my year ahead. As I think about how I want to move forward in 2026, everything keeps circling back to being more purposeful with my time, my energy, and my choices.

One big area I want to work on is doing more things outside my comfort zone. Crowds definitely aren’t my happy place, but I don’t want that to stop me from being more social. I also want to be very intentional about spending more quality time with family and friends—because that’s what really matters in the long run.

Getting Out More (Even When It Feels Uncomfortable)

One place that makes stepping out a little easier is Cotton Blossom Winery. They host so many activities throughout the month, and most of them are completely free—which I love. Things like book club, puzzle races, bingo, singo, trivia nights, live music, and outdoor family movie nights.

They also offer paid workshops for those times when you want to try something new and creative—sand art, succulent workshops, charcuterie classes, sip-and-shop events, and paint-and-sip nights. I really like that they offer a good mix of free events and ones that require a little out-of-pocket spending.

For example, in January, they have bingo, puzzle races, Modern Family trivia, another bingo night, and live music with Randy Brown. I really want to push myself this year to attend more of their events instead of just talking about it.

Initial Target Areas for the Year

I’m trying not to overload myself, so I’m keeping my focus simple and realistic:

1. Less time on social media – being more mindful of how much time I spend scrolling.
2. Continue eating better and exercising – progress, not perfection.
3. Saving for a vacation to New York City – something fun to look forward to.

Home Projects & Life Logistics

We also have several projects around the house that need attention—replacing and upgrading a few things, fixing small items, and making room for a little more creativity in our everyday life. The key for me is not being overly ambitious each month, just taking things one step at a time.

First up on the replace-and-upgrade list are the hot water heater and the pressure tank for our water well. We’ll also need a new refrigerator at some point, but the hot water heater will most likely come first. We’ve been having issues with it for quite a while now, and honestly, we know we’re running on borrowed time.

It feels like everything wants to go out at once. We’ve been watching the hot water heater and pressure tank closely, keeping our fingers crossed and hoping they hang on just a little longer.

Vehicles: Another Big Piece of the Puzzle

We also need a new vehicle. I was really hoping to get our Jeep paid off first, but unfortunately, Mr. C’s truck has completely died. It’s not worth repairing at this point, and it’s just not in the budget to have it overhauled.

We truly need two vehicles. I work about 30 minutes from home, and while Mr. C is usually home, we live out in the country—so you never know when a trip to town will be needed or when he might need to help Brody and Savannah with the kids.

We’ll see how far we get with all of these projects as the year goes on. I’m reminding myself that progress is progress, even if it’s slow.

Here’s to being intentional, one step at a time. 💫