Yes, it’s that time again– the turn of another year, and the release of Fit is a Feminist Issue’s WOTY (Word of the Year) picks by your bloggers. If you’re interested in comparing this year’s choices with those from previous years, check them out here:
Every new year brings change– losses, gains, shifts in direction, new perspectives, persons, and places. We expect 2026 to bring those and more. So we offer up these watchwords and phrases as companions for us, and for you, too.
Cate: FORAGING
Turns out I rarely remember the word I chose the year before — maybe I am not great at creating this kind of touchstone. But I know that this year is a big one for me for decision making for what comes next in my life. My six year relationship just ended, and I’m turning 61 and looking at what a different engagement with work might look like. Both of these things create opportunities to explore different pathways — where do I *really* want to live? What do I want the balance of work, community, creative life and physical life look like in two years? What do I need to let go of and what do I need to embrace? What leaps do I need to take? What gentle nudges or plodding forward? So my intentions are about reflection, considering, exploration, assessing, openness to being struck by enlightenment — maybe I’m foraging for my next chapter. So I guess my word is FORAGING.
Natalie: CREATE
My WOTY for 2026 is “create”. Create space for kindness, movement and going with the flow. My anxiety has been spiking hard and rather than doubling down on effort I want to create new coping strategies. I’ve left alcohol behind. It’s meant inviting new ways to manage pain, physical and mental. I want to create opportunities for joy and my physicality is a big part of that.
Samanatha: EXPAND
My word for 2026 is Expand. Initially, I chose Stretch. I thought about Reach. You can spot a trend here. They all have in common a theme of growth, meeting new people, trying new things, learning new skills, pushing out of my comfier zone. But Expand to me sounds like I grow to meet new challenges. I worried that Stretch could also mean ‘stretched too thin.” So I’m still thinking about this but growing to meet new challenges and doing new things, is where I’m at right now.
Expand for 2026. Past choices: engage 2025, adventure 2024, growth 2023, integrity 2022, flow 2021.
Elan: EMERGENCE
The FIFI blog post gave me my word as I move into a new year, where I continue the search for a new job and a new career phase in my life. “Emergence” sounds like a nice word, but it is actually a lot of struggle, especially when you can’t yet see where or when or what you are emerging to. Here’s hopin’.
I struggled with a single word selection too. RISK. REIMAGINE. I was even going to go with YAY, just because I liked this picture. But I think what this is saying about me is that I ruminate, I churn, and I sweat the small stuff. Even my AI has told me as much. So I used an outside source to help me decide, and I will just move on. That realization, not about the word itself but the process, has been helpful for me this year.
Nicole: SELFISH
My word for 2026 is Selfish. Selfish for peace. Selfish for fun. Selfish for vitality. Selfish for laughs. Selfish for fitness. Selfish for creativity. Selfish for ease. Selfish for inspiration. I tried to think of a more admirable word, but that’s what I’m thinking. Selfish.
Tracy: RELEASE
I’ve decided on the word “release.” A recurring theme for me in the last few weeks has been the idea of letting go of things, ideas, attitudes, patterns of behaviour, and even identities that no longer serve me. There is a lot of change coming my way in 2026 and I’m feeling ready to release the old and embrace the new. I feel energized and excited when I think about the idea of release, so it seems like an apt touchstone for the upcoming year.
Diane: ACCEPTANCE
My word needs to be acceptance. I have used it before, but more in the context of aging. This time, it will be in the context of learning to be satisfied that I can’t do all the things, but also that I will never stop trying.
Some things I used to enjoy became not much fun last year. My lesson identified (if not exactly learned) is that it’s okay to say no. My other lesson is that chasing after new projects and challenges is very much part of my personality. My goal for 2026 is to accept that these two things can be true at once and figure out how to find some harmony between them.
Christine: PROCESS AND PRACTICE
My theme for 2026 will be process & practice. I want to focus on how I do things, refining my approach as needed, and then trusting the processes I develop.
And I want to use those processes to find a better way to sink into the various practices that make up my life. I want a more satisfying creative practice, a more enjoyable movement practice, and a more replicable and reliable ‘getting down to work’ practice. And I think starting with process will help get me there.
Catherine: STAND AND DELIVER
No, I’m not planning on ushering in 2026 by becoming an 18th century robber, or releasing a new cover version of the Adam and the Ants 80s album.
So what does “stand and deliver” mean for me in this coming year? Given how tough and unbelievable 2025 has been, I want 2026 to be a year in which I make it clear I am:
- Standing up to injustice
- Standing for fairness and equality
- Standing with all fellow humans friends, family, strangers in need
- Standing beside/along those who are more vulnerable than I am
I am also committed to:
- delivering on my promises to others
- delivering on my promises to myself
- delivering the goods
- delivering on time (as much as possible… okay this is hard…)
Yes, this is a lot of tough talk, but I want more toughness in 2026, combined with perspective and humor. This sticker below seems to capture it.
So dear readers, if you have a phrase or word you’re thinking on to take with you into this year, share it with us; we’d love to know.
