There’s something hopeful about a new year. It feels like an auspicious portent of new possibilities and new beginnings where a heady optimism pervades the air. It’s like standing at a cusp where we are ready to start a new chapter in our lives and before us is a pristine white sheet on which we can write our story, or a blank canvas onto which we can paint our yearnings using colors.
Or not.
Because for some people, 2026 may be like any other year. Instead of feeling hope and optimism for new beginnings, some may be feeling dread that the society is cranking up again to start systems we don’t want to be part of. Or some may feel a slight reluctance to go back to the world when stepping away from it felt so good. When you’re in this mood, my fearless, unsolicited advice is: Step through the portal.
A New Year Frame of Mind
I got bombarded by inspirational quotes from wise men and women, self-appointed gurus, and wannabe influencers in social media. What about you? I think it is better to channel a Desiderata, “Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.” Whereas New Year’s Eve and the dawn of New Year itself was filled with the honks, bangs, crackles, and whooshes of fireworks and horns, maybe it’s best to meet 2026, or any New Year for that matter, with a serene heart and silence so you could hear yourself.
Don’t let any one drown out your voice. What do you want to do this new year? How do you want to grow?
The Color White
The Chinese zodiac tells us to shed what no longer serves our personal growth during the Year of the Snake to prepare ourselves for the powerful, onward charge of the Year of the Fire Horse starting February 17. Pantone may have been inspired when they chose the white Cloud Dancer to be the Color of the Year 2026 as a symbol of calming influence so we can rediscover the value of quiet introspection and we can be ready for the explosion of creativity and innovation that the Fire Horse will bring.
In the many podcasts that I watched during the holidays, I heard that white is a great color to wear for January 1 because it means that you are welcoming in clarity for 2026. Although clothes are easy to change, wall paint is not. But if you want clarity and calm this year, you can go for white. Boysen’s recommendation would be to go for Tulle White. It’s the perfect color for your home interiors and exteriors to welcome new possibilities and new beginnings that this New Year brings.
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