Every new year arrives with a familiar rhythm – resolutions written with fresh ink, promises whispered with hope, and an unspoken pressure to be better immediately. January often feels like a stage where we are expected to perform goodness, discipline, success, and certainty all at once. This year, I am choosing a different pace and a different word.
My word for 2026 is flourish.
Not flourish as a performance, but flourish as a process. To me, flourishing is blooming with intention while keeping my roots firmly grounded. It is growth that is visible, yes – but also growth that is honest, patient, and deeply connected to purpose.
Recently, during a work meeting, I encountered a quote that stayed with me:
“What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.” — Vern McLellan
That sentence quietly shifted my perspective. It reminded me that the year ahead is not something that simply happens to us – it is something we actively participate in. What we bring matters. Our mindset, our intentions, our energy, our willingness to learn and unlearn – all of it shapes what unfolds.
Photo provided
Flourishing, then, is not about demanding instant results. It is about showing up intentionally. It is about bringing curiosity instead of comparison, consistency instead of pressure, and grace instead of self-criticism. Growth does not require loud declarations; it requires quiet commitment.
We often bind ourselves to resolutions that sound impressive but feel heavy. We hold ourselves accountable with rigidity instead of compassion. And somewhere between the first week of January and the last, many of us quietly release those promises – not because we lack discipline, but because we forget to offer ourselves room to grow.
This year, I want to be more vulnerable with my intentions. I want to allow myself grace – not as an excuse, but as a foundation for sustainable growth. Grace to learn. Grace to recalibrate. Grace to celebrate small wins that often go unnoticed.
Flourishing also means staying connected to gratitude. Gratitude for lessons learned in seasons that were not easy. Gratitude for people who continue to walk beside me. Gratitude for community – because growth is rarely a solo journey.
At Taste of Community, we believe stories, food, traditions, and shared experiences nourish more than just the body – they nourish belonging. As I step into 2026, my intention is to grow personally while also creating spaces where others feel encouraged to grow – without pressure, without comparison, and without fear of being unfinished.
If this new year feels overwhelming, I invite you to pause and reflect on what you are bringing into it. Let your growth be intentional, not performative. Let it be visible, grounded, measurable, and achievable – rooted in grace and gratitude.
As we step into 2026 together, I hold close a thought that beautifully captures what flourishing truly means to me:
May this year allow us to grow without rushing, to bloom without losing our roots, and to create spaces where growth feels safe, shared, and sincere.
I’m happy to hear your new year, new word-resolution at tasteofcommunity25@gmail.com.
Pooja Thakkar is working to build connections through cuisine. You can read her column each week in the pages of The Reporter.