Embracing Creativity in 2026: A Peaceful, JOYful New Year.

I had the most beautiful start to the new year. It was peaceful, JOYful and deeply creative.

As I welcomed 2026, I found myself reflecting on creativity, intentional living, and the many ways we create every single day. While I no longer choose a “word of the year,” creativity continues to show up as a guiding energy in my life, not just through art, but through how I nourish myself, connect with others, and move through the world with intention. This gentle beginning reminded me that creativity is not something we chase; it’s something we live.. 

As humans, I think we are all creative. I think we are born to create and we are simply creative. Period. No way around it or away from it. And we need to broaden how we think of being creative. 

This brings me back to my beautiful start to the new year. Well, actually it was a beautiful ending of one year and the beginning of a new. For Kwanzaa, I decided to paint a doll each day for 7 days, one to represent each day and principle of Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa goes from December 26 thru January 1. 

On January 1, 2026, I awoke to paint my final doll in this series and to add a few finishing touches to others. While painting, I felt so peaceful, so grateful, so calm and so creative.  I decided I wanted to continue this feeling of being creative and carry this creative feeling throughout the year.  So I gave myself permission to let go and just create all day. Foregoing, some of my  “work” to dos. Here is how I created: 

• I painted my dolls. Creating something beautiful, meaningful and calming.

• I cooked whole plant food meals. Creating a meal, health, happiness and peaceful tummies.

• I made homemade ice cream and peanut butter bites. Creating not only snacks and desserts but nourishing eats. No added sugar, only whole food ingredients.

• I nourished my plants. Creating a nurturing energy for our environment and hearts and of course happy plants.

• I wore blue for health and yellow for prosperity. Creating an energy and feeling around how I dressed.

• I added a few fun pieces of beautiful silver jewelry and I felt calm, pretty and classy. Creating a feeling, an energy, a look, an emotion. You decide.

• I spent the day without devices and sat with the hubs for dinner and later a show, undistracted, fully attentive. Creating intimacy.

• I called friends and family via video calls, creating connection, pretty much my only activity with a device other than to watch Stranger Things with the hubs.

There's more but you see where I am going with this. Creativity, everywhere. We are creating every day. Creating looks or not…it tells a story of us. Creating connections, energy, feelings, emotions, attitudes, stories, dimensional items, physical items, habits and more. We are all creative!

We are creative and we should take that energy, that knowledge and live with intention.

As I move through 2026, I’m choosing to honor creativity as a daily practice, not something reserved for art, but something woven into how I care for myself, connect with others, and live with intention. Creativity is already within you, waiting to be expressed in ways that feel gentle, meaningful, and true. If you’re longing for a soulful place to begin, I invite you to download my free Angel Art Journal Starter Kit here. . It’s designed to help you reconnect with your creativity through intuitive art journaling, reflection, and creative self-expression, no artistic experience required. May this year be filled with beauty, intention, and everything you are ready to create.