Yesterday at New Rules Studio (an excellent writing membership program I’ve been in for the past two years), when our teacher Christina gave us the prompt, I thought, “Oh, that should be my word of the year for 2026 – Generosity!”

If I hadn’t already picked my word, I’d pick this.

It does go hand in hand with the one I’ve chosen. So I guess it could be a sub-word in the grand sweeping concept of mine? *shrugs*

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I got into this delightful ‘word of the year’ shenanigans a few years ago thanks to my friend Cin.

She lives half way across the world in the rainy, lush state of Washington.

(Side note: why is the city of a certain name not in the state of its namesake? Instead, it has to take on initials, like a new kid in class. “Hey, we already have a Washington, so we’ll call you by your full name, Washington DC”. The way American cities and states are named is so amusingly confusing.

Someday I’ll tell you about a time this guy I knew prepared an entire meal in Bloomington, for a friend who was in town. When the guest was on their way and called for directions they realised they were in Bloomington, Indiana, and the hot meal was waiting for them in Bloomington, Illinois. LOL This was long before social media and Google Maps.

Looks like I told you the whole story now. Haha One longass aside.)

Let me realign. Where was I? Oh yeah, my friend Cindy.

We’re jewellery making buddies from the ancient times of eBay groups.

When I was on holiday in Seattle one time, I visited Portland, and she drove up to meet me there. That was the only time we’ve met IRL, but our souls are gently intertwined online by the virtue of a friendship formed in simpler times.

Cin told me last week that her word of the year is Whimsy. Such a delightful word, no? I love it! I nearly chose it as my word too. She wouldn’t have minded, she’s generous that way. But whimsy too can be a sub-word in the micro-climate of the word I’ve chosen.

My word came to me a few days ago as I lay back in a bath tub filled with sultry water and tulsi-vettiver scented bubbles.

What had brought me there was a genre of music that sounds like a choir of angels singing in harmony. It was mentioned in a book I’d been reading that morning in bed.

The hotel’s comforter and fluffy pillow a nest around me, I cocooned myself in The Goldfinch. “Nothing can get me out of here”, was the general feeling wafting through me… until the book described the music and I had to switch to Spotify immediately.

Musical references in novels are irresistible to me! They often careen me off a well written story down a rabbit hole of songs. As soon as the singing began, I knew I had to get into the bath tub. “Bathroom and water acoustics are the ambience for this!”

So there I was having moved from a gorgeously written novel in bed, to aethereal music in the bath.

The warmth, the scent, the complete relaxation of my every little muscle. Among the thoughts of wellbeing and gratitude that flitted in and out of my mind was the thought of my friend and her word of the year.

That’s when mine floated up, just like the soap bubbles around me, and popped like glitter.

✨ LUXURIATE ✨ – That’s my word of the year.

I will…

Luxuriate in friendship, in flow state, in slow time, in whimsy.
Luxuriate in writing and reading and wandering and learning.
Luxuriate in sumptuous meals and laughter.
Luxuriate in the warmth and generosity of the divine.
Luxuriate in giving and sharing and receiving with ease.
Luxuriate in a deep sense of deservingness.

I will Luxuriate in all the magic that 2026 brings.

What’s your word of the year? (You can have mine, I’m happy to share. smiles)

Meanwhile, if you want to luxuriate in writing and flow state in a cosy container of very warm, encouraging people, New Rules Studio is being opened out for a whole week. If you sign up via this link, you can drop into any of the many sessions between Jan 12th to 16th 2026 for free!

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Susmitha Veganosaurus

“I read voraciously, find humour in most things, and I’m most in my element when I’m teaching, writing, and playing with clay. I believe authenticity and kindness are the keys to world peace. Sign up for myfree newsletterwhere I share conversational emails with stories about Life and Business Tips, Vegan Hacks, Holistic Guidance, and more.“

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