2026: A Year for Gathering, Connecting, and Coming Back to Each Other

There’s something about the start of a new year that always feels hopeful—but this year feels different. 2026 didn’t arrive with noise or pressure. It arrived quietly, almost gently, like an invitation. I was sitting in front of a fireplace with my love and we hadn't even truly noticed the time.

We gave each other a kiss as soon as we had realized and wished each other a happy new year. Sleep arrived and then we woke up. I did the daily things- make coffee, start a load of laundry and the dishwasher, took care of the dogs and let everyone wake in the natural way.

Today didn’t begin with a big production or a perfectly planned moment. It began with decisions and taking action. Then with people. Friends. Coffee in hand. A midday lunch get together with laughter spilling over the table. Stories about how we rang in the new year—some joyful, some reflective, some still figuring it out. And honestly? That felt exactly right.

We gathered without an agenda. No timelines. No expectations. Just conversation, presence, and the simple comfort of being around one another. And it reminded me why I do what I do. The feeling of what goes on behind each event.

Events, at the core, are never about schedules, aesthetics, or perfection. They have hiccups. They have people running late, forgetting things like napkins, trying to find the best seat at the table between their two favorite people. Each event is all about the connection. And the energy. They’re about creating space for people to show up as they are, to be seen, to feel included, and to remember that they don’t have to navigate the year alone.

You don't have to have a giant love story. Your family can be far away. Maybe you want to pull up a chair to a random person and just ask if you can sit and enjoy a coffee with them. (Ironically someone once did that and they just happened to be at the same coffee shop as I was today. They saw my little group and while they didn't come over, we did small chat for a few minutes and reconnect, promising to catch up later on in the month- so yes, connections can happen that way too.)

And before we all said our goodbyes (more like see you soon!) we picked a couple more dates for us to get together- some dates worked but some, and other dates worked for others. Having gone to grab a bite to eat before heading home I noticed one of my friends had connected so well with another that they were still chatting an hour later as I walked to my car!

So to say that there is something deeply nourishing about connection is the baseline. When we gather over coffee, around a table, or in a room filled with conversation, we exchange more than words. We exchange energy. Perspective. Understanding. We soften. We open. Our souls breathe a little easier. That’s what today felt like for me. A reset. A reminder. A quiet but powerful return to community.

My aspiration is simple for 2026. I want to live each day deeply intentional: to create events that bring people together in meaningful ways. Not forced networking. Not surface-level interactions. But real connection. Thoughtful moments. Gatherings that feel warm, inclusive, and human.

I want this year to be about spaces where people feel comfortable walking in but leave feeling a little more connected to others and to themselves than they were in the beginning. I want to create events where conversations matter, where laughter is easy, where presence is valued more than performance.

I hope today was a visual of what’s ahead for me. It says 2026 is the start of something special. I feel the sparkle coming. Just like the flame from the fire last night. Burning very little at first, then gradually becoming larger- breathtaking where time stops and then you're a few more moments ahead of where you planned to be. The phoenix in me tells me keep rising, and I hope you will too.

Welcome, 2026. Let’s make it a year of connection.