Waking up on January 1st always makes me feel like Bridget Jones. Chances are you’re hungover, grumpy, and wearing a 20-year-old nightgown in your childhood bedroom. Unlike sweet Bridget, she no longer needs to lose weight or get a boyfriend to make next year better than the last, but she still wants to celebrate the new year in a way that feels definitive.
Therefore, enter your New Year’s motto.
I learned about the concept of a yearly motto from Eliza, my best friend from college. Eliza has always been more of a magician and more down to earth than I am. We spent New Year’s Eve together all over the country, from New York to Ohio to Los Angeles, and she taught me to replace resolutions with softer phrases. It feels more like a loving proposal than a list of specific obligations that end up draining me.
The first motto I came up with in 2017 was “improve slowly.” I thought I’d forget about it in a few days, but when I woke up I found myself whispering. “Slowly improving” I told myself all year long when I was pitching a big story or nervously waiting for a first date at a bar. In other years, my motto has inspired me to look at what I already have, like 2019’s “Have fun!” or “aim for yes” in 2023 (I borrowed that last one from a Cup of Jo post, but decided to apply it to parenting) Myself!).
This year, I am newly single and settled into living alone. With the motto of “try hard,” you push yourself to pursue what you want, from romantic affairs to romance. new embroidery hobby Even the cute drawer handles in the kitchen of my studio apartment. Meanwhile, as Eliza adjusts to life with an active six-month-old, she vows to herself to “strengthen her core” (not just physically, but emotionally).
I can’t promise that a New Year’s motto will change your life or even your year, but it’s a small way to be kinder to yourself. And even at the end of January, it’s not too late to write yourself a message of guidance. Especially when, like now, the news is consistently frightening and we need to gather all our strength to face the day.
So I’m curious: what will be the motto for 2026?
emma specter I am a journalist and author, currently working as a culture writer. Vogue.com. her first book, Tell me more: About food, fat, overeating, longing, and having enough.” is now available from HarperCollins. She loves vintage purses, swimming in public pools, and her little white dog, Franklin.
PS Toby’s genius approach to making friends and what are your core values?
(Photo credit: Aila Images/Stocksy)
Source: Cup of Jo – cupofjo.com
