As the year comes to a close, the pressure to reinvent ourselves can feel loud and relentless. But what if the new year isn’t asking for more effort or perfection—only intention? This piece invites you to release rigid resolutions and choose a word instead: a steady, embodied anchor to guide your choices, energy, and presence throughout the year. A softer beginning starts here.

Have you ever had a heavy day, then someone smiles at you on the street — and suddenly, you find yourself smiling too? That’s a glimmer. A tiny spark of life that reminds your nervous system it’s safe to soften again. When we start to notice these micro-moments of beauty, we begin to re-pattern our brain toward peace, joy, and connection. This isn’t bypassing pain — it’s remembering that light and shadow can coexist, and that healing begins by noticing what’s already here.