Usually, I like to consider myself a “sparkly” human. Sparkly to the point where if I could make the choice to fart pink glitter, I would (maybe someday). Right now, however, through the dumpster fire, inside a tornado, inside a hurricane that was my 2025, my sparkle is pretty dim and, to be honest, some days nonexistent (whomp whomp). There have been a few times in my life in the last several years (motherhood and divorce come to the top of that list), where the sparkle somewhat dims, but it’s always there, and I always find it again. It’s a new year, thank you, sweet baby Jesus, and we are going to start out this new year trying to find that sparkle. We are reclaiming our sparkle in 2026, because dammit, the world needs more sparkle.
If you are like me and you have somewhat lost yourself along the way, lost your shine or sparkle, or you are like those mama flamingos and your pink is gone, we are going to go on this journey together of finding it. Also, this isn’t another “do all the self-care, and you will be fine” kind of post because, quite frankly, I find telling someone to focus on “self-care” is B.S. This is your real guide to what has worked for me in the past and what feels good right now as I reclaim my sparkle.
So here you go, my friends, your guide to reclaiming your sparkle in 2026.
Be a little feral: What do I mean by that? Throw caution to the wind, go have some fun, throw away expectations. This can look however you want it to look! Book a trip with your friends and go live your best lives. Go dance at the bars until 2 am and shake that booty, girl, because it’s a good one! Essentially, go have some fun, do it for the plot, you deserve it.
If it doesn’t bring you peace, get rid of it: This is your life. Don’t let anyone, or anything, ruin that for you. Do you have people in your life who are bringing you down? Get rid of them! Do you have old routines that are draining you, but you continue to do them because it’s what you’ve always done? Get rid of it! I find that when I am at my lowest, it helps to look at everything in my life and figure out what I need to leave behind with the old version of myself. It can be really hard to make those changes, but once you do, it’s pretty freeing.
Hold on tight to your people: This one, I cannot stress enough. My friends, my village, my support system- and damn, I am lucky to have a really freaking good one- are the reason I am getting through this “not so sparkly” season of my life. If you don’t have that village, do whatever you can to find one because you need those people. Those people who will show up on the hard days, those people who you can send your most unhinged texts to, those people who you can fall apart in front of without fear of judgment. Find. Your. People.
Find a hobby: This one might feel a little bit like the “self-care” advice, but trust me on this one. Find something that is yours, all yours, and that fills your cup. Is there something you’ve always wanted to try? Adult dance class, painting, pottery? Go do it. If it makes you happy, who the hell cares what it is! Join a book club, find a feral mom group (may I suggest Mom Hoppy Hour), do something that gets you out of the house and out of your day-to-day.
My last words of wisdom, and something that has been really tough for me, is be patient. This stuff takes time. If you are like me, you just want to feel good and feel like yourself or at least feel good in this new version of yourself, but that takes time. Trust me, this one is super tough for me, and I’m learning.
Here’s to you, friends, you got this. Sending you all the sparkliest vibes for 2026.
