Why I'm choosing one word of the year for 2027
"The Word of the Year 2027 Workshop is a live, guided two hour online session on Zoom, led by Penelope Silver on Saturday 10 October 2026 at 10:10 am UK time. Participants reflect on 2026 using a custom ChatGPT and choose one word for 2027."
Why I'm doing this
I'm so ready to leave 2026 behind.
It's been the hardest year of my life.
I lost my mum in May, after three years of being her carer while trying to run my businesses and be a single mum.
By the end, I'd lost myself a bit in the process, and I've only just started coming back to work.
So I don't want to walk into 2027 with another list of goals.
I want a proper reset.
What is a Word of the Year?
A Word of the Year is one word you choose to guide the year ahead, instead of a list of resolutions.
It isn't a goal.
It's more like something to come back to when you're making decisions, or when life gets noisy.
What was my word for 2026?
Embodiment.
I chose it in the autumn of 2025, when I was completely flat.
I thought I knew what it meant.
I had a lovely idea of it in my head, and I even mapped the whole year out in a planner on my wall.
Then the year happened.
Embodiment turned out to mean living in my body through exhaustion, grief, and learning who I am when I'm not my mum's daughter any more.
It wasn't pretty, and it wasn't what I imagined.
But I don't regret choosing it.
I fully understand it now.
That's what I find interesting about choosing a word.
It isn't a wish for an easy year.
Life still has its ups and downs, and a lot of the growth comes through the challenges as well as the good bits.
It's for growth and your soul knows what its ready for, thsi process helps you uncover it.
Your word gives you something to come back to while all of that is going on.
How does the Word of the Year workshop work?
I've built a Word of the Year GPT, and I've rebuilt it so you can't rush it.
There are around 12 reflective questions, and you have to answer one properly before you can move on to the next.
It starts with the year you've just had: what went well, what didn't, what you're proud of, and what you're ready to stop carrying.
Then it turns towards who you're becoming.
We all go through it together on Zoom, at the same pace.
I pause between each part and hold the pace of the room.
Are my answers private?
Yes.
Your reflection happens inside your own ChatGPT conversation.
Your microphone can stay off, and your camera can too.
Nobody is asked to share anything unless they want to.
What does the AI actually do?
It listens for the themes running through everything you've said and brings a handful of possible words back to you, then helps you explore why each one is showing up.
It doesn't choose your word.
You do, and you'll know exactly why.
Why speak your answers instead of typing?
I don't want polished answers.
I want the rambling ones, where you start on one thing and halfway through realise it's connected to something else.
That's usually where the patterns are.
I speak mine in, using a tool called Wispr Flow.
My brain works much faster than my fingers, and when I type I start editing myself.
When I talk, I just flow. It's optional, and typing is completely fine.
Why 10/10 at 10:10?
I chose it on purpose.
Lots of people see 10/10 as a portal, a moment of completion and fresh starts, where one chapter closes and another begins.
2026 adds up to ten too.
For me, it felt like the right moment to close this year properly before stepping into the next.
It's also my birthday weekend!
What do I need to take part?
A paid ChatGPT account
A laptop, tablet or phone
Around two uninterrupted hours
A notebook and pen, if you'd like one
You don't need to know your word before you arrive.
You just need to be curious enough to find it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a paid ChatGPT account? Yes. Free accounts have usage limits that can cut off a custom GPT conversation partway through. Your ticket includes access to my Word of the Year GPT, so a paid ChatGPT plan is all you need on top.
Do I need to be good at AI? No. You don't need to understand prompts or be technical. I guide you through everything.
Will the session be recorded? No. It's a live experience, so please set aside the time on the day.
Do I need to know my word before I arrive? No. You don't need to prepare anything. In fact, I'd rather you didn't.
How much does it cost? £29.96 per ticket. Refunds are available up to 7 days before the event.
When and where is it? Saturday 10 October 2026, 10:10 am to 12:10 pm UK time, live on Zoom.
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