This is the first 2026 Spiritual Journey gathering. Add your links in the InLinkz at the end of this post.
If you are interested in joining our monthly blogging group, please let me know. If you’d like to host a month, I can send you a link to the Google sheet.
In January, I have noticed that my inbox is full of ways to make myself better in 2026. Challenges, projects, or whatever you call them, I am too often one to jump in and then drop off as the year goes on, especially once spring is here.
I like the practice of choosing a one little word to guide your year. I’ve chosen a word for years now. I even bought a little chalkboard on which to display my word and remind myself all year.
Last year my word was Still. I like how still reminds me to take time to be quiet, to listen, to be here now.
The words that seem to rise up to me tend to be words that encourage stillness and presence. As an Enneagram 4, my challenge is to not yearn for the past or daydream about the future, but to be present.
Last week I got an email from Georgia Heard that included a heart map. One section of the heart was labeled “A word to stand inside.” This section in my notebook says “Choose” then “Trust” then “Window”. I was liking the direction.
In retirement, I am freer to choose what I do with my time. I should trust myself to make good choices. And the view out of my window is quite nice. I could have chosen any of these words.
On Saturday, we had dinner at my daughter Maggie’s house. Maggie pulled out an oracle deck. She said, “We usually do it on Sunday, but since y’all are here, we’ll do it tonight.”
The word card I pulled was Simplicity with a photo of a Lily of the Valley flower. Apparently her kids get to choose again if they get a flower, but not the adults. My husband similarly chose a flower card and his and my messages were very similar, about being present to reality.
Maggie took a photo of the oracle page.
I am not settled on the word Simplicity. Today after a lovely session of lymphatic draining body work, I heard the word Sacred enter in. Sacred honors the here and now, the gift of meditation, and the quiet moments when I can notice God’s unending grace. Maybe this is a year to find a different word each month. What do you think?
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Reflections on the Teche 
I’ve always admired your thoughtfulness. If simplicity and sacred are speaking to you, I believe you will make room for them. Thank you for hosting and getting our journey for 2026 started. I’ve been keeping those in our group close to my heart. People I care about are dealing with difficulties. I pray for rest and relief from burdens.
You are so close to my heart. My word for the month is “listen”. I need to block out all the noise and see who I am again after all the holiday rush. My friend suggests that I find one thing I can do to deal with all the political uproar, and then compartmentalize that. I am doing what I can. And then take the rest of my energy for my word. At least on the surface, this sounds like a very good idea.
I love your poem, esp. “the secret of a single moment”. I am going to find as many of those moments as I can. I would love to be in the blog group for spiritual journey gathering.
I’m grateful to hear that you are pondering more than one word, Margaret. I have to admit — I’m not a huge fan of trying to use just one word to guide my year. But I love both “simplicity” and “sacred” — especially in conversation with one another. You capture their essence: “the secret of a single moment.” Blessings as we begin this year – for resting in these words.
I’ll add my link tomorrow when it goes live. Thank you for organizing us!
[…] As we begin a new year of monthly spiritual reflections, Margaret Simon leads us off this month. She asks us to reflect on one little word that will be our guide for 2026. You can read her post here. […]
Margaret, life goes on and we never know what tomorrow may bring. I like the idea of revisiting your OLW each month and seeing if it is still a good guide or if it needs to be changed because of circumstances in your life have changed. I like the word simplicity. At this stage of my life. It reminds life can become so complicated that we forget to take time to just enjoy the simple pleasures life has to offer.
Margaret, I would love to join Anita.ferreri@gmail.com
I am so glad to be part of this circle again, especially as we open up a New Year. I can appreciate the need for more than one word, and the unhurried process to listen and ponder and be open to receiving direction. As I was reminded during my SoulCollage session last weekend–time is a manmade construct; we can “unmake” it, too.
Margaret thank you for hosting and offering a beautiful poem that floats with peace. Your opening and closing stanzas are lovely and adds to the month of January with wisdom. As for your one words, both would be wonderful guides. I also struggled with choice and decided that if I want to change words at any time I shall.
I loved your word “still” from last year, very close to my choice of be. Interesting that last year’s word and simplicity and sacred all begin with s. Is there a message here? Loved your 3rd stanza that begins with my ’25 word, Be. And that final stanza perfectly ties in rhythm. There’s something so freeing about noticing our breath. If you decide on just one, I vote for sacred!
Finding, discovering, what feels right to you seems a good thing, Margaret. You will be freer because of retirement, so every month could be a new treasure and adventure! I enjoyed reading your thoughts!
Margaret, simplicity and sacred are both powerful words, AND I love the idea of the expanding possibilities of a new word each month. Whatever you decide will be the right decision!
Margaret, I am swooning over your “Simplicity” poem…saying it out loud with all that lovely alliteration in the first stanza and that mysterious amazing “Lines/between spaces” and the bud vase imagery leading to the sounds of bells and the open windows leading to breathing and that lovely last line: “noticing grace.” Wow!
I really connected with the explanation about the meaning of Lily of the Valley. Your words, simplicity, and sacred, both offer possibilities in grounding the year 2026 to what is important. But why not have a word of the month? Your poem is simple and lovely and calming to read. Thanks for sharing.
I love the word simplicity. And I think it fits for someone who has just retired – pairing things down to appreciate the simple things of life that may have been overlooked – like “the secret of a single moment/stargazing” Thanks for sharing this, Margaret.
And why shouldn’t you pick a different word every month, if it speaks to you? We are always changing, as the world changes around us, and we need different things in different moments. I’d say if another word finds its way into your heart at another point in the year, then it means to be there. 🙂
After letting the Universe help me set my intention for the year, I promptly chose a word that felt right — EROSION, for the power of small actions to make big changes.
Maybe there will be 11 more words along with my intention to support all of my 2026 wishes with outdoor walks…
Margaret, thank you for this post and for kicking off SJT for 2026. So much of your post speaks straight to me. I love still, simplicity, and sacred – all essential words beckoning one to grow spiritually. I wrote my post before reading any others and come here to find that book in the photo being held up like a mirror reflecting my thoughts on “now” (and btw my birth flower is lily-of-the-valley). Your poem is in itself a breath of freshness, a prayer, a meditation. Let us. be intent on noticing grace – it is all around us, all the time, if we will but push away all the intrusive distractions. Blessings to you, my friend.
Oh I love simplicity and sacred. A word a month sounds like full of possibilities!