PLUCK
See luck
Seize chance
Let the rest
Roll off
Fortune’s Duck
Alert,
dodge the muck
Grasp
fruit that hangs
And into it
tuck
Juice from fingers
I’ll suck
Corn at harvest
To shuck
What’s meant mine?
Fill a truck,
Always
Give a f—
– Blythe Stephens, work-in-progress 2026
Pluck what’s mine
Harvest what’s meant for me, take what opportunities present themselves as I so choose, grab life by the horns, be bold, brave, courageous, have gumption, like a plant reaching for sunlight, a bird diving after it’s target.
These are the sorts of images that moved through my mind as I came upon my Word of the Year, in deep reflection in the liminal period at the end of one cycle and beginning of the next.
As a dancer, the metaphor involves movements of a ready stance, decisive strike or leap, like a pounce with springy rebound. Grabbing, grasping, holding on, with firmness, dedication, resilience, agility. Adventure is in store, and yet I don’t need to go out of my way, the right things will present themselves.
Choosing a guiding word or phrase each year has been a part of my intention-setting process since 2015, thanks to my friend Liz, and I also shared about my 2023 Word, 2024 Word, and 2025 Word and intentions on Instagram, YouTube, and here on the blog.
My Word of the Year of Pluck will fuel my projects, goals, short- and long-term vision.
Purpose, Vision, Mission, Values
Metaphorically boldly plucking generative opportunities meshes to my Purpose of Joy, Essence of Buoyant, Creative, Curious, Love, & Leader, my Mission to inspire, equip, and liberate, Vision to support my community to live extraordinary lives through coaching, dance and mindful movement education, and even my Artist’s Prayer includes the line “give me my daily bread, may I be content.”
We all have many choices and chances available to us this year, but which we are able to take, what we own as ours depends on many factors. None of us is free until we are all free, and my work includes an intersectional commitment to emancipation for all.
Empowering and uplifting myself and others starts within and then moves out into the world.
My role as a Bliss Catalyst is to assist others in navigating their own brave moves, whether they be artistic, athletic, professional, or personal, and I would be honored to support you in moving powerfully through this year!
Present to Plucky Intention
Practicing acting from this intention informs my attitude and choices throughout the year and helps me get oriented again when I get lost in the circumstances of everyday life, derailed by crisis or distraction. Situations from personal dilemmas to international events will occur over the course of a year, so this is a tool to come back to as we navigate the waters of change.
Writing out my word and poem in my Bullet Journal and grounding it in beautiful imagery, verse and rhythm, placing it where I will interact with it daily and be reminded or where I’m coming from in 2026 will provide support for my commitment, provide a solid place for being and making a powerful stand.
Collage of Pluck
For my opening spread of my 2026 Annual Book, pictured above, I created a collage to represent of my Word of the Year along. Along with my poem-in-progress, it serves as a regularly-seen abstract Vision Board of colors and textures evoking the mood.
This year I’m continuing to take inspiration from flying creatures I love such as birds and butterflies, from air and skies and celestial imagery, stars and the sun, moon and planets, clouds, rainbows, storms, wind and weather patterns, with botanical, floral, fruited, plant imagery as well.
All year, the word and imagery will provide a reminder of what I am up to, and I’ll continue to collect and share resources such as books, essays, poems, quotes, and videos along the way.
Plucky Playlist
The 2026 Plucky Tunes playlist has just begun, with a growing collection of tracks new and old that embody my Word of the Year and the themes of the year as it goes on. I plan to add to it regularly, what would you include?
Connection & Accountability
Will be applying my stand of Pluck and a plucky approach in all of my creations, coaching, and teaching this year. This includes in-person and online workshops, courses in dance and mindful movement, life coaching, topical video creation, articles and other media.
I regularly share playlists, songs, videos, readings, and other juicy resources from myself and other creators in my free email newsletter. It would be wonderful to be in purposeful community with you and I would love to help make your vision for 2026 be real in any way I can.
Questions for Reflection
- What is your Word(s) of the Year?
- Which small action(s) will you take today to embody it?
- What images, quotes, songs, and other resources will inspire you?
- How will you return to your intention when life inevitably carries you away?
Resources for Further Exploration
- Say the Magic Words Article
- Float in 2025 – Word / Intention of the Year
- Quantum Leaping in 2024 – Word / Intention of the Year
- Standing in Beauty in 2023 – Word / Intention of the Year
- Blogging My Purpose – the “Why” behind A Blythe Coach
- Why Bother Distinguishing Your Why?
- Goal-Setting for Dancers
- Analog Journals for Creativity
- If you’d like to actually learn how to spring like a pouncing balletic cat through the air or dive like a darting bird, you can find a large collection of my ballet-related articles in this Dance Digest Article
May you be plucky and prosperous this year, embodying whatever words of power and purpose you so choose!
My Twenty 26s in 2026 project collections, National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (NEDAW) and International Women’s Day collaborations, explorations in dance, coaching and more coming soon.
Take care of yourself, keep moving mindfully, and let me know how if I can be of service. Would love to connect with you in my email newsletter or on social media as well.
Thank you for reading, for being, and for dancing with me, in spirit or in fact!
Blythe Stephens, MFA & Bliss Catalyst they/she
Creator of A Blythe Coach @ablythecoach
helping multi-passionate creatives dance through their difficulties &
take leaps of faith through coaching, dance & yoga education