As 2026 stretches out before us, a vast and open horizon, I am drawn to a 2025 study by Henrik Mahncke, one that gathered the voices of 122,000 lives. In his data, a single, luminous truth emerged: the joy of anticipation, a practice as simple as it is transformative, something each of us can weave into our days, beginning now.
Therefore this year’s photograph captures the very horizon that greeted me as I woke yesterday, a quiet promise of what lies ahead, and a reminder that the beauty of life is often found in the act of looking forward.
Mahncke’s research underscores the profound impact that planning and anticipation have on our overall well-being and life satisfaction. This aligns with what positive psychology has long championed: the act of looking forward to positive events can significantly boost our happiness—even before those events take place. The brain’s pleasure centers are activated not only by the experiences themselves, but also by the anticipation leading up to them. I can clearly link this to my own excitement before a ballet, the warmth I feel from a dinner invitation with friends, or the pride of reaching a personal milestone which perhaps even made me slightly anxious but I pushed myself. Social gatherings and traditions, whether those we organise year after year or those we’re invited to, play a crucial role in this process. Personally what I find especially empowering is recognising my own actions in shaping these moments. By intentionally planning a few concrete things to look forward to, we can cultivate a sustained sense of optimism and joy, rather than relying solely on spontaneous or fleeting happy moments. The research indicated that having ahead between five to eight anticipated moments is ideal, though the perfect number may vary depending on your personality. Why not explore what works best for you?