For many years, I chose a word for the season I was in.
Not a resolution. Not a goal.
A companion word. Something to return to when life got loud or blurry.
In my teens, I craved independence.
In my twenties, I longed for strength.
In my thirties, I chased freedom.
In my forties, I sought peace.
And somewhere along the way, I became all those things. People began to tell me they felt it. Especially that last one.
They said they felt calm in my presence.
That my voice — its cadence, its softness — brought them peace.
Long before I had language for burnout or nervous system regulation, Jim and I made a promise early in our relationship:
To be as healthy as we possibly could be, every single day, for the rest of our lives.
Not perfect.
Not rigid.
Intentional.
It was our way of saying yes to nutrition, movement, rest, and the self-care practices that allow love, work, and purpose to last. It was never about control. It was about devotion.
These days, especially since burnout last year, the season has shifted again. Now it’s about alignment and authenticity. I am no longer willing to value my productivity more than my creativity. I am learning to accept my heart and mind, my compassion and vision, as enough. Worthy. Valuable.
Maybe this season isn’t asking us to resolve anything at all.
Maybe it’s simply asking us to choose on purpose how we want to be.
Maybe this season isn’t asking you to decide anything yet.
Maybe it’s simply inviting you to notice.
Where are you right now?
Are you already setting goals and resolutions?
Are you resting, intentionally or by necessity?
Are you reflecting on where you’ve been before choosing what’s next?
Or do you have a word for this season you’re in?
There’s no right place to be. Only an honest one.
I’d love to hear about your current situation. You’re welcome to reply, comment, or simply hold the question quietly for yourself. Sometimes awareness is the most meaningful intention we can set.
©2026 Lori Ann King
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