ROOTED: Choosing Balance, Meaningful Work, and a Slower Pace for 2026

There’s something about a new home that makes you want to do everything. Decorate every corner. Cook all the food. Host all the people. As a business owner, writer, and creative stepping into a new season, that was me this Christmas — and yes, I went a little overboard. Oops.
 
After moving into our new home, I was so excited to open the doors and welcome the people we love most. The decorations were fuller, the menu was bigger, and the house was louder than ever. And honestly? It was perfect.
 
Bruce and I found ourselves pausing more than once during those days, just standing back and taking it all in. All the hard work. All the tough decisions we made the year before. All the moments where we chose family over ease. They led to that—a house full of love, laughter, and memories being made.
 
This Christmas didn’t just fill our home. It reset my heart.
 
And it gave me clarity for what comes next. But before I get into that, let me tell you a little about the past 2 years.

What the Last Two Years Taught Me as a Business Owner and Creative

For the past two years, and this will make year three, my team and I have come up with a word for the year that will keep us on pace for the goals we set for the year. Let me share those with you so you can clearly see why we have chosen this new direction for 2026. After all, I believe reflection is one of the most underrated tools we have, especially as business owners and creatives. I think you’d agree.

2024’s Word Was DRIVEN

The year 2024 carried real momentum. We pushed forward, learned quickly, and chased growth with determination. We grew our client base, helped launch a client’s dream business from the ground up, and saw Simply Sunni grow analytically by over 800%. I was also honored to be named in Who’s Who in America as a creative influencer, a moment that said we were doing something right.
 
There was movement, progress, and many long days. It mattered.
 
And I don’t regret a single bit of it.
 

2025’s Word Was INTENTIONAL

After the push came a year of discernment. I slowed down just enough to ask better questions. What’s working? What’s draining me? Where am I investing time that no longer aligns with my values?
 
2025 was also the year AI truly became the tool it is today, and like many creators, we had a lot to learn. I can honestly say that we were intentional about using AI wisely while ensuring our content remained personal, thoughtful, and genuinely helpful.
 
I didn’t want Simply Sunni to blend in. I wanted the work to feel human and clearly the voice and heart of Simply Sunni Creative Studios.
 
Because of that focus, we accomplished every goal we set out to achieve that year. And just as importantly, I learned that not everything worth creating needs to be rushed, scaled, or optimized to the max.
 
Both years shaped me and this company.
 
But neither one is the model for what’s next.

2026’s Word Of The Year Is ROOTED

After a lot of soul-searching, and honestly, after looking closely at trends, the current market, and my own energy, I landed on the word for 2026: ROOTED.
 
This wasn’t a quick decision. It came from paying attention to what felt right, what felt forced, and what I no longer wanted to carry into another year. The online world moves fast, and it’s easy to feel like you’re always one step behind if you’re not reacting to every shift. However, I realized I no longer want to build my work that way.
 
Not reactive.
Not rushed.
Not chasing trends or trying to keep up.
 
To me, ROOTED feels steady. It feels grounded. It feels secure;  the kind of security that comes from knowing who you are and why you’re doing the work in the first place.
 
Personally, being ROOTED means I’m choosing:
  • Creation over consumption — making space to think, write, and create instead of constantly scrolling and absorbing.
  • Presence over performance — showing up fully for my family, my work, and myself without feeling like everything has to be “on display.”
  • Balance over burnout — honoring seasons of work and rest instead of glorifying constant output.
 
Now, hold on. This doesn’t mean I’m disappearing. It doesn’t mean I’m slowing down out of fear or uncertainty. It means I’m staying, just in a way that’s sustainable, honest, and aligned with real life and real priorities. (aka – grandbabies!)
 
ROOTED is how I want to create.
It’s how I want to lead.
And it’s how I want to live in 2026.
 
Cue the applause!

What’s Staying the Same at Simply Sunni

Once again, let me be very clear: I’m still here.
 
Simply Sunni continues to be a place for:
  • Beginner bloggers who want real guidance, not hype
  • Small business owners who value thoughtful, quality content
  • Over 40-year-old individuals ready to begin a new phase in life
 
That being said, I’ll be publishing a bit more like this:
  • One solid blog post per week
  • One longer, more intentional email per month
 
Why monthly emails? Because I want what lands in your inbox to feel meaningful instead of rushed, repetitive, or skimmable.
 
If I send it, it matters to me, and I believe it will matter to you as well.

Continuing to Grow Our Sister Site, The Free

I’ll also continue working consistently on The Free, our sister site focused on gluten-free and dairy-free living, while staying rooted in our mission. I must admit, it’s been incredibly encouraging to watch it grow. What started as a deeply personal need for our family has slowly evolved into something that helps others feel less alone in their own journey. Check it out here:

The Free

Educate. Empower. Live Free. - Your Complete Resource for Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free Living.
Check out The Free - NOW!
The Free isn’t driven by speed, virality, or trying to be everywhere at once. It’s rooted in lived experience, careful research, and a genuine desire to provide accurate, compassionate information that people can trust, especially when navigating health-related changes that can be so challenging.
 
Hannah and I are building The Free slowly and intentionally, with the same care we’d want if we were on the other side of the screen. And that pace feels right to both of us. After all, raising awareness and making a difference is the heart behind thefreenow.com.

A New Book Is Coming (But I’m Not Rushing It)

There, I said it. There is a new book in the works.

No, I’m not sharing the title yet.

And that’s intentional.

This book is coming from lived experience. From lessons learned the hard way. From watching multiple generations navigate money, comparison, pressure, and the constant pull to “keep up.”
 
To make this book all I feel the subject deserves, it requires:
  • Quiet
  • Patience
  • Space to think and write deeply
 
So, I’m giving myself permission to do it right instead of fast. I truly believe this is the right approach for this work and its importance.

Why You Can Trust This Direction For Simply Sunni

If you are new to my site or emails, you may not know yet, but I don’t teach from theory alone.
 
My team and I have:
  • Built businesses from the ground up
  • Written for countless industries
  • Watched trends come and go
  • Learned what lasts and what burns people out
 
In other words, I’ve lived before the noise and survived through its arrival.
 
This next season is about sharing wisdom with clarity, not urgency. And I believe that kind of work builds trust in ways no algorithm or AI model ever could.

 

A Gentle Invitation for 2026, from Simply Sunni

For me, this year is about doing what matters and feels right in my heart and soul, and doing it well.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for reading, supporting, and growing alongside me. 

If you’re craving something steadier, calmer, and more intentionally rooted this year, I have a feeling 2026 will feel really good to you, too.

Here’s to being ROOTED in family, in values, and in work that truly matters.
 
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