I have had my one little word for 2026 in mind since November. I arrived at this word while writing with my students after sharing my one little word journey as part of their preparation for writing their own manifestos as the culmination of our What If Unit. As I wrote about my hopes and concerns for 2026, my huge life transition weighed heavy on my mind. At first I was drawn to the idea of connect because that is often in the forefront of my mind when making plans for the future. As connect was my OLW in 2019 I considered many synonyms:
Join, Fix, Link, Moor, Anchor
As I examined each of those synonyms I was most drawn to those that would prevent me from unmooring during the impending separation from my work community and an identity that has dominated my entire adult life. However, the root words of moor or anchor felt like too much. Instead I was drawn to the word fix more than join or link because I do love the poem “Everything Needs Fixing” and also for all the permutations of the word. I do love a OLW with interesting layers.
- Verb: Fasten (something) securely in place. decide, mend/repair, arrange/organize, or determine a position (visual, compass, radio, or astronomical observations)
- Informal noun: Difficult or awkward situation
- Dialect: Intending/planning to do something
While we often think of repair when it comes to fixing, but I clearly need a word for 2026 to help me prepare for a journey and that may be why I am so drawn to the verb form of fixing (see Urban Dictionary). The more I contemplated this word the more it appealed to me. I am fixing to make some changes. And, after all, 2026 is filled with potential, but that potential is also fraught and possibly (if I take any risks at all) filled with awkward situations. This year will be filled with preparations for this next stage of my life (fixing as preparation) with possibly some of restoration of my body and soul (fixing as in factory reset?). Perhaps, with all due respect to Karla Cordero, in your retirement everything needs fixing.
I do not think I will buy a toolbox. If anything I will need to have a yard sale to pass on some of the tools I no longer need before they grow rusty. However, in addition to guiding my choice of my OLW for 2026, Karla Cordero’s “Everything Needs Fixing” provides inspiration just as it did for so many students over the years because I have always loved using poetry for guidance for both my students and myself. Choosing a poem as well as one little word to guide me in the new year has become an important tradition for me. Check out the words and poems of years gone by.
While I want to close with the quote about the origins of my focus poem by Karla Cordero, I want to mention that if you are at all interest in my journey to fix myself in 2026 then check out: Deanna’s Third Act/Space and consider joining me on this adventure!
“At the beginning of the pandemic, the concept of aging and death became a haunting obsession. With an attempt to regain control during a world crisis, I began fixing every crack and bruise around the house with a hope to expand the longevity of these items. This poem gave me the opportunity to reflect on the kinds of living material within my life and how there is a limitation to my fixing, realizing how we must marvel at the magic and evolving beauty of aging. This poem led me to think about the kinds of repairs I made in my life as a child and a father still finding purpose in the fractured and imperfect. I began to think about the biblical story of Noah, sent by God to repair a fractured world and how there is still beauty to be found in the outcome of chaos.”
—Karla Cordero on Everything Needs Fixing
How’s It Going? That’s a great question, especially after marking two major milestones. Last week I filed my retirement application and this week I will turn 60. While I am not yet officially retired, my season of practice retirement has ended and I am officially beginning my third act. I still think my one little word chosen for 2026 is correct and I think about it often…perhaps more often than any previous one little word. I know well the perils of becoming unmoored. I learned a great deal about myself during my practice retirement and will take the summer to rest (which I did not truly do in the first part of the year) and reassess how I want to anchor myself during my next season of life. Reflection will continue to be important to my life not least because it has taught me the importance of fixing myself in 2026. I love the word play and meaning of my one little word and I love Karla Cordero’s poetry to provide inspiration as I go about the challenge of fixing myself in 2026.
