Now, where were we?

Oh right, going places and seeing things! But first, it’s time to announce the 2026 theme of the year winner. To recap, every year we choose a word or phrase to be our north star, something to keep our eye on as we traverse time and space. This year, there’s a heavy mood in the air. Need I elaborate? We’re in a time of manufactured permacrisis and I’m damned tired of it. A slow news day would be a most welcome change. But what a shame it is to spend all of your time and energy on edge, waiting for the boot to drop. Not to mention that making myself miserable with worry helps no one, least of all me. Right now we’re in the thick of it, but one day this turmoil will be long behind us. Until then, we’re all doing the best we can. (Except those guys. Insert a string of expletives here.)

I’m flipping the script. This year’s theme is audacious. Not that audacious is the actual theme, though I have to say it would make a pretty damn good one. This year’s theme is Best Year Ever. Is that tempting fate? Rather than worrying about a getting a slap upside the head for being so brazen, I’m going to rely on pronoia (the opposite of paranoia), the sneaking suspicion that the universe is conspiring in my favor. This year’s theme is a bias towards optimism, towards expansiveness. I’m tired of seeing darkness ahead. I want less wariness, more yes. Yes, despite. Yes, and. So much is out of anyone’s control anyway. Might as well go for broke.

So, details. What makes a year the best ever? Themes need a way to practice them or they’re just a nice idea. When I think of past years that I would qualify as best ever, it’s been challenges set and met, say, by getting a visa and moving to France! Not putting things off until someday, until the conditions are right. It’s never right, but it can be right now. A bias towards action and not reaction. Making those plans, making that call, seeing those friends. Saying oh hell yes and why the hell not? Make each day a win by its fullness and make someone else’s day while you’re at it. Audacious, I know.

We’re hitting this year’s theme running. We’re leaving Montpellier in a few days for another big scram. We’ll drop by the US for a quick hello and then we’ll be in Japan for 3 months. Chicago friends, our time is already action-packed with family events, but know that if we can work you in once we see how things shake out, we will.

Cheers, damn it, because why the hell not?

Maer