It’s 2026 – it feels like I just blinked. Picture this: 2016, I’m a freshman in high school, navigating friendships, extracurriculars, and Algebra 1. Ten years later, and I’m in a whole new stage of life. Yet, I’m still navigating personal relationships, side interests/commitments, and a work-life balance. That’s the thing about life, the theme can stay the same, but your mindset and personality can grow. Getting older comes with new maturities, new outlooks on life, and a fresh perspective. Which leads me to my word of the year.

Peace. And I’m gonna let you in on a little secret – peace has been my word for the past two years. Because it’s something you must maintain. Without maintenance, it gets wild, much like weeds in your front yard. If I’m being honest, I harbor some sort of guilt for still trying to get to a calm mind free of the anxieties of the world. Why is it taking so long for it to click? Why am I not doing enough? Why do I lack the discipline to control my thoughts?

The truth is, these types of questions are what keep me stagnant. Maybe peace just wasn’t the challenge for that year. Maybe navigating being a newlywed or learning a new job role at work was the right challenge. What is the right challenge for you right now? Is it starting that business, learning a new hobby, or simply maintaining the life you have now? There’s no right or wrong answer, just what feels right to you.

I’m not someone who gets embarrassed to share my New Year’s resolutions. I know it can be scary to let people know your intentions and not follow through – but here I am! A few goals of mine, without going into detail, are:

• Be the healthiest me I can – getting in cardio, eating whole foods, and developing a healthy relationship with… well, my health!
• Attend a few conferences – Jesus 2026 and Passion 2027 are on my mind (January of 2027 – still counts for this year to me haha!)
• Vocal Lessons – I’d like to improve my voice this year.

I’ll circle back next year to see what I improved. Remember, January is the START of the year; you still have 11 other months to accomplish your goals! At least I have to remind myself of this. I wish everyone a happy and blessed New Year!

xx, Karsyn Cool