The word of the year for me—the one that’s been quietly calling out—is reinvent. I’ve already set the ball rolling on this one in a way, which makes me feel a little more confident stepping into the year ahead. So reinvent it is! How about you? What’s your word for the year?

If I had to choose another word to sit alongside reinvent, it would be tend: tending to a new vocation, to relationships and community, to the body that teaches, and to the slow accumulation of small creative acts. Together, reinvent and tend feel like a pair of guiding stars for this season of my life—one about shaping what comes next, the other about gently caring for what is already here.

I’ve made lists like this before, and if last year taught me anything, it’s that they aren’t really about checking boxes. They’re more like signposts—little reminders of the directions I’d like to wander in. Some things will get done exactly as planned; others will morph into something else entirely. With that in mind, here’s my 26 for ’26 list—less a challenge, more an invitation.

Much of what shows up here is shaped by the biggest reinvention already underway: my shift from tech to teaching. It’s changed how I think about time, learning, creativity, and even rest. So this list reflects that too—fewer finish lines, more noticing; less optimization, more intention; and a growing appreciation for slow progress, curiosity, and community.

26 for ’26: A Reinvented Kind of List of Things to Do

Here’s how I’m thinking about reinvention and tending across different corners of my life this year.

⚡ Energy

1. 100 intentional walks (even five minutes counts; classroom days absolutely count)
2. 50 intentional barefoot moments outdoors
3. Move closer to touching my toes by year’s end

🎯 Productivity

4. Reflect in writing on my shift from tech to teach (public or private)
5. Write one article for a professional education journal
6. Create one simple, sustainable space for teaching—planning, resources, reflections

💛 Relationships

7. Schedule monthly calls with family or friends (miss one? it rolls over)
8. Write six handwritten letters or postcards
9. Interview one person whose story deserves spotlighting

🌿 Recharging

10. Six solo outings (coffee, museum, park bench—my rules)
11. One picnic in the park
12. Attend Stern Grove (or another free outdoor music event)

🧺 Order

13. Organize digital photos and videos in small, realistic batches
14. Print and display 12 photographs (one a month, no perfection required)
15. Clear or reset one small space each month—physical or digital

🧭 Purpose

16. Contribute meaningfully to community life (school-adjacent counts)
17. Donate time, skills, or funds to a cause
18. Write about one cause I deeply believe in

🍽️ Mindful Consumption

19. Cook dishes from 12 different regions or countries
20. One intentional no-sugar week (with clear start and end dates)
21. Take a mindful break from scrolling—notice, don’t police

🌱 Mindful Investment

22. Learn enough about money and investing to feel less mystified and more confident
23. Invest in language learning: Spanish for conversation, Tamil for reading beyond the basics
24. Choose one experience over an object

🎨 Creativity & Play

25. One tiny creative act a day—word, photo, scribble, or line (any one counts)
26. Learn one dance routine fully (Bollywood, classical, or western—joy decides)

Permission note for myself: This list is allowed to change. Items may be swapped, reshaped, paused, or quietly lived without ever being checked off. If something else fits the spirit of reinvent, it counts.

And Now, the End of This Post

I’m realizing that reinvention doesn’t have to be loud or dramatic. Sometimes it looks like paying attention, making small adjustments, and giving myself room to grow into what’s next. This list is just one way I’m doing that.

If you’re choosing a word this year, or keeping a list of your own, I’d love to hear about it. What are you finding yourself nudged toward? What might you be reinventing—or tending to—even a little?