2026: The Year of Stubborn Hope

Every year, I choose a word or phrase to guide me in the coming planetary orbit around the sun.

365 days with some guidance.

Like, a compass.

A North Star.

A word/phrase to come back to time and time again.

Usually chosen for a theme I know is missing, or lacking, or something I want more of in my life.

In 2026, I want more Stubborn Hope.

Not hope. Not stubbornness.

Stubborn Hope.

This year isn’t about “being positive,”

“looking on the bright side,”

#goodvibesonly,

or any other platitudes that border on toxic positivity.

This year isn’t about avoiding,

denying,

bypassing,

being fake,

or performative,

slapping on a smile to look happy.

This year isn’t about putting my fingers in my ears,

refusing to read the news,

and living in la-la land.

But I do need some hope.

I do trend toward pessimism.

Last week, at dinner with friends, one person commented on “this beautiful weather we’ve been having.” And without missing a beat I said, “Yeah, too bad we will be the first state to catch on fire this summer!”

My default factory settings can lead me to regularly look on the dark side.

As if the bright side doesn’t exist at all.

But it does.

The bright side does exist.

And so the year of Stubborn Hope isn’t about denying darkness.

It’s about holding darkness, while also holding light.

Stubborn Hope is forward-facing,

clear-eyed, informed, awake,

and brutally conscious.

Stubborn Hope is nuanced,

active, truthful, and a robust rainbow of colors between

the ever-seductive

black-and-white.

Stubborn Hope is openness to the full range of human emotions,

not just one half of them.

Stubborn Hope is not a feeling.

Stubborn Hope is a habit.

A posture.

A practice.

A discipline.

A vote for the kind of person I want to be.

And the kind of world I want to live in.

I don’t want to spend the rest of my years on this planet only reminding people that the ice caps are melting.

The the economy sucks.

That racism and sexism are serious problems.

That I don’t like that politician.

And sugar will probably kill us all.

Stubborn Hope says, “Yes, and…”

Yes, climate change is concerning and the sunshine on my face in December is doing wonderful things for my mood.

Yes, the economy feels strangling at times and I have a roof over my head.

Yes, racism and sexism are serious issues and when they are not actively happening right in front of my direct sphere of influence, I think it’s okay to revel in peace and equality wherever I see it.

Yes, I have strong opinions about politicians who seem to be actively causing harm to our collective well-being and I won’t kid myself into believing that doom-scrolling for another hour on Instagram will do anything to make anything any better. So I will vote. I will find ways to get involved. And then, I will enjoy whacking pickleballs over the net at my opponent, regardless of who they voted for.

And yes, sugar may very well be the death of me. So be it.

As the late-poet, Andrea Gibson wrote:

where I come from beauty is in the eye

of anyone who sees what’s missing

but can’t stop pointing to what’s still there.

If there is no definition of love yet,

I think that’s a good one.

Here’s to the year of Stubborn Hope.

May we all continue directing our attention to what’s still good here.