Happier with Gretchen Rubin – Ep. 563: "Need a One-Word Theme for Next Year? We Review and Reveal Our Words"

Date: December 3, 2025
Hosts: Gretchen Rubin & Elizabeth Craft

Main Theme

This episode centers on the tradition of choosing a “one-word theme” for the year — a single word that encapsulates your intentions, aspirations, or focus for the coming year. Gretchen and Elizabeth look back at their 2025 themes, share insights on how and why to pick a theme, and excitedly reveal their personal words and team themes for 2026. Throughout, they explore the benefits of visual reminders and symbols, and include a lively discussion about memorable listener contributions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Power and Process of Choosing a One-Word Theme

• Each year, the hosts pick a single word or phrase to guide them, inspired by their “Design Your Year” set of traditions (05:26).
• Why One Word?
  • Summarizes overarching aim for the next year; keeps you focused and provides momentum.
• Choosing Tips:
  • Positive and concrete words are more powerful than abstract or negative terms (06:19, 06:28).
  • Multiple layers of meaning enrich a theme’s impact.
  • Visualizing your word with symbols/jewelry/artifacts helps keep it front-of-mind (05:45, 09:46).

Elizabeth’s 2025 Theme: “Bounce”

Elizabeth recaps why “Bounce” was her word of the year:

• Physical Fitness: “It referred to me doing more cardio at Orange Theory. Bouncing up and down on the treadmill.” (07:23)
• Career Resilience: “Working on bouncing back in the Hollywood situation because, you know, Hollywood has taken a tumble.” (07:45)
• Forward Movement: “Bouncing into the future… I have that thing I say of 'step into the future,' but I thought, well, bouncing into the future is even better.” (07:56)
• Symbol: Chose a kangaroo (“…obviously, kangaroos bounce, also like that they box, so they punch their way forward.” – 08:22)
• Artifact: Cherishes a handmade mug with a kangaroo; its physical presence helps her recall her theme throughout the year (08:33).

Gretchen’s 2025 Theme: “Door”

Gretchen details her word and its multi-layered meaning:

• Transition: “I'm in the season of the open door, my rebranding of the empty nest. To me, the word door is — I can go out into the world and I can also come back. It's a word of hospitality, but it's also a word of refuge.” (11:45)
• Symbolism: Ties to mythology — “Doors, thresholds, transitions, crossroads… places of great power and danger and opportunity.” (11:45)
• Artifact: A reader gifted her a framed door with a knocker on her book tour, which has special meaning and now sits on her shelf (12:47).

How to Make Your Theme Last: Visual & Physical Reminders

• Both hosts emphasize the value of choosing symbols or artifacts—jewelry, mugs, trays—that will remind you of your theme long after the year ends (09:22, 09:46).
• “If it was important to you one year, it's probably important to you forever.” – Gretchen (09:46)

Reveal: Words for 2026

Elizabeth’s 2026 Word: X-Ray

• Selection Process: Struggled more than usual; wanted a theme blending insight and future-thinking.
• “Normally a word just appears to me… This year, I really had to think about what I want and how I want to represent that.” (18:25)
• Meaning:
  • “I really want to look within and find my peace, my happiness, all of that. I really want to look within.” (19:29)
  • Also about “X-ray vision for the future, especially the future of Hollywood. I want to be able to look ahead and see what's happening and act accordingly.” (19:54)
  • X-ray as “seeing below surfaces or not getting distracted by what's on the top, but really penetrating to what is the essence...” (20:38)
• Symbol: An “X” (not a literal X-ray), representing X-ray vision, "X marks the spot," and even a kiss (X as a kiss) — Elizabeth wants to find a piece of jewelry like an X-shaped ring for daily reminders (21:55, 22:10).
• Notable Quote:
  “X-ray is because I really want to look within and find my peace, my happiness, all of that. ... I also want to have X-ray vision for the future, especially the future of Hollywood.” — Elizabeth (19:29–20:10)

Gretchen’s 2026 Word: Neighbor

• Selection Process: Considered "Flower" (drawn by its sensory and renewal qualities), but chose "Neighbor" for its significance this year (24:22).
• Meaning:
  • “I feel like the energy and focus that I want to put out into the world is neighbor. So I've picked neighbor.” (24:23)
  • Aims to be more engaged with local neighbors, connect at stores and conferences, and experience more moments of kindness and interest (24:57).
  • “Being close to your neighbors makes you happier. Having positive encounters is energizing for introverts and extroverts alike.” (24:57)
  • Extends to willingness to "tolerate disagreement, more open to other people’s views. Love your neighbor as yourself. I really want to have that energy.” (26:42)
• Symbol Candidates:
  • Mr. Rogers (cardigan or trolley - 32:47, 33:04)
  • Cup of sugar (“Lend me some sugar, I am your neighbor” — quoting Outkast; 34:18)
  • Welcome mat, which ties thematically to her previous theme ("door") (34:21, 34:42)
• Notable Quote:
  “I want to open myself up to the world to be more willing to tolerate disagreement, more open to other people's views. Love your neighbor as yourself. I really want to have that energy. I really want to go neighbor.” — Gretchen (26:42)

Listener Contributions: Insights from the Community

• Five Senses Memory: Listener Ashley describes her daughter saying, “I smell a memory,” tying a scent to a past experience. Gretchen: “I love that. What a beautiful way to put that.” (02:02)
• Take the Trip: Jane, in her 70s, takes a solo six-week trip to Provence — inspired by honoring her late cousin and the show’s mantra, “Scheduling is life.” (02:42–04:18)
• The hosts encourage listeners to borrow, share, and repeat others’ themes: “It's completely fine to use someone else's theme as your own theme. That is absolutely permitted.” (37:33)

Team Themes for 2026

• Elizabeth & Sarah: Their previous theme was “flower and fly / bee,” with “hive 25” used as their group’s event (36:17).
• Gretchen’s Team: 2026 theme is “Distill” (“…to extract the essential meaning or most important aspects of something… When I think of distill, I think of… a beaker… with only the essence of something.” — 36:41)
  • “There's an efficiency element to the word distill.” (37:14)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I really want to look within and find my peace, my happiness... but I also want to have X-ray vision for the future.” — Elizabeth (19:29–20:10)
• “If it was important to you one year, it's probably important to you forever.” — Gretchen (09:46)
• “Who knew, right? So that's a fun thing, too. So that turned out to be a great symbol. And I got a beautiful handmade mug with a kangaroo on it.” — Elizabeth on her "Bounce" mug (08:33)
• “I feel like the energy and focus that I want to put out into the world is neighbor. So I've picked neighbor.” — Gretchen (24:23)
• “Love your neighbor as yourself. I really want to have that energy. I really want to go neighbor.” — Gretchen (26:42)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Choosing Your One-Word Theme: 05:26–06:28
• Recap of Past Words (“Bounce”, “Door”): 06:34–13:29
• How to Make Your Theme Visual/Lasting: 09:22, 09:46, 13:27
• Elizabeth’s 2026 Reveal: X-Ray: 18:25–23:34
• Gretchen’s 2026 Reveal: Neighbor: 23:38–35:52
• Symbols for Neighbor: Mr. Rogers, trolley, cup of sugar, welcome mat: 32:47–34:42
• Team Themes: 36:17–37:17
• Listener Inspiration (Five Senses, Take the Trip): 02:02–04:18
• Advice to Listeners: Try Your Own Theme: 37:17–37:59

Moving Moments & Listener Hacks

• Listener Misty’s New Year’s Eve Hack (41:57):
  Gathers friends, draws tarot cards for each month, reflects on past year — an introvert-friendly, meaningful start to the new year.
  • “Even though there are only a few people, it still feels like a party because it’s a tradition we’ve done for several years in a row.” — Misty (41:57)
  • Gretchen: “It’s more like the party spirit is the party spirit. And I think this sounds like so much fun.” (42:43)

Demerit and Gold Star

• Demerit: Gretchen forgot an important idea because she didn’t write it down immediately — a lesson she re-learns (43:06–44:18).
• Gold Star: Elizabeth gives it to “Squid Game: The Challenge – Season 2” for innovative reality TV (44:21–45:36).

Closing Encouragement

• Try picking your own one-word theme for the year—consider what you want, what’s meaningful, and find a way to remind yourself visually of your word. Share your picks and experiences with the show (37:17–37:59).

For Further Engagement/Resources

• Gift Idea Generator & More: Visit happiercast.com/giftgiving for worksheets, guides, and inspiration (45:36).
• Show Notes, Contact, Discussion: happiercast.com/563

Tone and Style

Conversational, warm, practical, often humorous, and full of mutual sisterly encouragement. The hosts are honest about their own struggles and enthusiasms, aiming to equip listeners with doable, meaningful tools for more intentional, happier living.

Ready to choose your one-word theme for 2026? Take inspiration from Elizabeth’s “X-ray” and Gretchen’s “Neighbor”—and make your year your own!