Every January, many people choose a word for the year.

I choose a song of the year.  You can see my previous songs of the year here.

For me, a song becomes a companion—something I return to when I need reminding of who I am, what I’ve survived, and where I’m going. It carries emotion, rhythm, memory, and meaning all at once. And for me, that feels far more alive than a single word.

This year, my song is “Opalite” by Taylor Swift.

Why Opalite?

Opalite is a man-made stone.
It’s created—not found.

And I love that.

Because that’s the message I’m carrying into this year:
I can make my own happiness.

Happiness doesn’t have to be something I wait for.
It doesn’t have to come from other people, outcomes, or circumstances aligning just right.
It can be built—intentionally, creatively, imperfectly—just like opalite itself.

That idea feels incredibly freeing to me right now.

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Dancing Between the Lightning Strikes

One lyric that keeps staying with me is the idea of dancing between the lightning strikes.

To me, that’s about survival—but also awareness.

It’s about living through hard things and learning who we are because of them, not in spite of them.
It’s about recognizing that growth often happens in the in-between moments—the quiet pauses after something painful, before something new begins.

This past year has been full of reflection for me.
Some of it was heavy.
Some of it was surprisingly beautiful.

There were moments of grief, moments of clarity, and moments where I had to forgive myself for simply being human. For not knowing sooner. For not doing things differently. For needing time.

And I’m learning that forgiveness—especially self-forgiveness—is a form of happiness we create.

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Creating Joy, One Choice at a Time

I see this idea show up everywhere in my life—especially in my creative work.

Every chair I transform starts as something overlooked or unfinished.
And with color, pattern, and intention, it becomes something joyful and alive again.

That process mirrors life more than we realize.

We don’t need permission to bring beauty into our homes.
We don’t need perfect conditions to feel joy.
We don’t need to wait until everything is “fixed” to start living.

We can choose it—again and again—in small, meaningful ways.

A fabric you love.
A room that feels like you.
A song that reminds you of your strength.

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This Is the Year I Make It

This year, I’m not outsourcing my happiness.

I’m making it.

I’m choosing to live fully in the present, to keep creating even when it feels vulnerable, and to trust that I already have what I need inside me. Just like opalite—crafted, intentional, luminous in its own way.

So this is my soundtrack for the year ahead.
A reminder that I’ve survived hard things.
That I can dance between the lightning strikes.
And that joy is something I am allowed to create for myself.

Here’s to a year of color, creativity, forgiveness, and living wide awake. ✨