words of the year

Happy New Year – 2026!

Posted on January 1, 2026January 1, 2026 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy January 1st!

How was your New Year’s Eve? We hung out with friends and actually stayed up until midnight, but overall, it was a low-key evening.

A few years ago, I participated in “Bloganuary” that WordPress hosted with topics every day. While I don’t think they host this anymore, I think I might challenge myself to blog every day in January. What I remember liking about Bloganuary is it was an opportunity to write about topics big and small. Sometimes, last year I felt like I had “writer’s block,” and I’d like to start the year strong.

I plan on sharing my regular content, but I hope to sprinkle in some random topics even if it provides for a short post. Now, once I get back to school, we’ll see if I can keep this up, but I’m going to try.

Last night, we had more of an informal New Year’s Eve. I’ve shared in the past that a few friends, who all live within a few houses of each other, started a progressive dinner years ago. Well, they expanded the invite to a few other couples, including us, a couple of years ago, and that’s been lots of fun.

This year, they/we decided to scale back and just host at one house an informal game night with pizza for people to come and go as they please.

We had lots of fun watching football, playing a few games, enjoying apps and pizza and just letting the kids come and go as well.

One thing that didn’t change was that one friend still organized the “words of the year” that we pull from a pretty jar. After we draw our words, we all go around and share them.

Here are my words for 2026:

Boundaries: I think I’m pretty good at setting boundaries…I feel like this is something that’s easier to do as we get older. If a situation or relationship isn’t serving me, I’m ok with saying no or letting that go.
Encourage: One thing about me is that I’m a pretty loyal person, and I think I do a good job encouraging my people. I’m in the “thick” of raising two teens, and I’m going to keep encouraging them through the ups and downs of life…and honestly, I’m going to keep encouraging myself to do things for myself and give myself grace.
Celebrate: Low-key celebrating, ok? I’m too old for much more than that. haha (That being said, my birthday is a couple of weeks away, and I’ve already started receiving birthday emails from my school district and places like Ulta, etc…I ‘ve got birthday coupons to spend, apparently!)

I always keep the three words in my bedside table every year, and it’s fun to look back on them and reflect on the year.

Here were my 2025 words:

I hope you have a great start to your year!

Enneagram, Me

Thursday Thoughts – Goals & Words

Posted on January 23, 2025January 22, 2025 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Thursday!

I like sharing Enneagram posts, and @the.freckled.home on Instagram had some goal setting and words for the new year posts based on Enneagram types.

It’s hard to believe that we only have one week of January left. So, I’m taking a look at these before this first month of the year is in the rear view mirror!

I’m not a big goal setter for January, but I did have one goal which was to get back to working out. I figure if I have one thing to focus on, I’m more likely to be successful!

In the new year, I’ve completed 17 workouts in 22 days. I have done a really good job of getting workouts in most days which was a main goal, and I’ve enjoyed doing a variety of things: walking, elliptical, Pilates, and weights.

I’m a 5w6 in the Enneagram world, so these posts were fun to look at.

2025 Goal Setting:

Goal Ideas for 5’s:

Set reading goals: Yes! I’ve set a goal of reading 40 books this year. While I’ve fell short of that goal the past two years, maybe this will be the year I accomplish that goal again.
Monthly home minimalizing: Well, you’re talking to the girl who still has her skinny Christmas tree up in her bedroom! I just love the glow at night! I am going to take it down today. That being said, there’s nothing like putting away the clutter of Christmas. I do love having all my regular decor out.
Daily screen free time: I’m sure I’m on my phone the average amount of time, but I also do read my Kindle…that’s a different kind of screen time. One thing I’ve done in January, is do a word search every day. One of my stocking stuffers was a daily calendar with word searches. I love a word search!
Hike more: No ma’am.
Create a new nightly routine: My nightly routine does vary more than my morning one. That being said, I’m pretty consistent with showering, skincare, reading, and going to bed at a decent time. Of course, some nights I stay up later, or I will watch a show instead of read a book.

Goal Ideas for 6’s:

Try new quick workouts: Well, it looks like I’m off to a great start! I’ve been to a few Reformer Pilates classes lately, and I really have been enjoying them.
Make it through a whole planner: The only paper planner I use is my lesson plan book, and I always make it through that.
Create a morning routine: I think my morning routine is pretty good. As a matter of fact, I’ve done a really good job being on time to school this year. Not that I’ve been really late in the past, but I was always pushing it to be there on time. This year, I’ve started getting up ten minutes earlier, and I’ve also set an alarm on my phone for 6:45, so I quit sipping my coffee and get up and moving to get ready for school. Now, I leave around 7:30 instead of 7:45.
Connect with online friends: That’s what I do with you all, my blog fam!
Create a water goal: I’ve been pretty good at being consistent at drinking water for quite some time. I’ve had this tumbler for a year and a half, and I don’t leave home without it. I drink at least two tumblers of water a day. It comes in so many colors and patterns. Y’all, look how cute this heart one is!

2025 Words of the Year:

Thanks to our NYE progressive dinner tradition, I start the year with a few words in mind:

Ennegram 5 words for the new year:

Of the words for 5, better, growth, and balanced popped out to me. I’m always trying to do better while growing and finding balance in my life.

Enneagram 6 words for the new year:

For the words for 6, content caught my attention. I do feel very content with my life. We’re in a great phase of life with the kids, they’ve adjusted to high school, and Trav and I both enjoy our work. I want to continue to create, which for me, is writing blog posts. I’m a very driven person, but sometimes I don’t feel that way. I guess we all go through “funks” sometimes. I will say that I’ve really enjoyed having a few classes this year, and I’m very driven when planning lessons for them and adjusting to our new curriculum.

As always, the Enneagram topic is always interesting to me…and I love seeing how it applies to a variety of topics like goals and words of the year!

I hope everyone has a great 2025!

Inspiration, Me

Words of 2024

Posted on January 11, 2024January 10, 2024 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Thursday.

Shew! It’s cold around here. I feel like winter really kicked it up a notch…but without the snow. *sigh* (I know my KC peeps can’t say the same…I saw all the pretty snow pics this week!)

Today, I’m sharing my “words for the year.” These are words I hope to keep in mind and focus on this year.

Per tradition, on New Year’s Eve, my friend had us draw three words at random.

Last year, my words were:

This year, my words are:

Faith:

Faith is such an important word because sometimes you just “have to have faith…” Faith that things will get easier. Faith things will get better. Faith that some things take time, etc. Sometimes I have to remind myself to “keep the faith” and “take one day at a time.”

Like I mentioned in yesterday’s post, over the past few years, I’ve been more intentional with my religious faith. I think being a parent and having inquisitive kids can do that to you…at least that was my experience. This year, I want to continue to include Bible studies into my daily routine and of course attend church regularly.

Forgiveness:

Thankfully, I don’t feel like forgiveness is a word I will need to focus on too much this year…whether it’s asking for forgiveness or receiving it.

Instead, I think I need to forgive myself more. I can be my own worst critic. On any given day, I can feel like I didn’t do my best in the three most important parts of my life: being a mom, being a wife, being a teacher. I know none of us are perfect, and I need to remember that I can own up to mistakes and move on as well as just forgive myself for my shortcomings. Nobody is perfect.

Growth:

I’m a pretty reflective person which means I’m always in a growth mindset. What can I do differently? How can I be better?

As teachers, we have to complete a “Professional Growth Plan” every year. There are five domains with standards, and we rank ourselves by “ineffective,” “developing,” “accomplished,” and “exemplary” at the beginning and end of the year.

I won’t bore you with the details, but even after 22 years in education, I think it’s perfectly acceptable to be “developing” in certain areas. For example, “demonstrating knowledge of students.” Every year, I mark myself as “developing” in that area, but it’s a new year, with new students, so of course I will continue to get to know them throughout the year.

Most of my energy, rightfully so, goes to my family. Most nights when my head hits the pillow, I think about what I could have done differently as a parent, as a friend, as a wife. I’m not perfect, but I do really try my best on any given day. Of course, I fall short in some areas, but at least I take a moment to think about it and grow and learn from that experience or situation.

Cherish:

In church last week, we could pick up a star with a word on it to be our “word of the year” to reflect and pray on. I was handed my star at random, but the word on it is “cherish.”

Kind of like growth, I’m typically pretty aware of time, traditions, events, etc…and that I need to cherish them. I try really hard not to take things for granted. I would like to think that this year maybe I can slow down a bit and really savor/cherish events, both big and small, as they happen in my life.

I always say that I’m “forever a work in progress.” I guess we all are.