Every year, on the Happier podcast, my sister and co-host Elizabeth and I do three “Design Your Year” exercises, tied to the year—so for this year, 2026. We encourage listeners to do these exercises, too.
First, we make a yearly list, so this year, I made a list of 26 things I want to do in 2026.
Second, we have an annual challenge—this year, it’s “Move 26 in 26” which means we’re challenging ourselves to move our bodies for 26 minutes every day in 2026.
The third exercise is perhaps the most imaginative: choose a one-word or one-phrase theme for the year, to clarify what you want to pursue or bring into your life over the next twelve months. In previous years, I’ve had one-word themes like “Bigger,” “Re-purpose,” “Wave,” and “Salt.”
This year, my word is “Neighbor.” I yearn for more neighborliness in the world, so I decided to start with myself.
After I announced my word, several thoughtful listeners wrote to tell me that for a Super Bowl commercial for Redfin, Lady Gaga recorded a cover of “Won’t You Be My Neighbor,” the theme song for the iconic children’s TV show, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.
I’ve watched that video about fifty times, and I get choked up every time. I was trying to figure out why this song moved me so much, and I realized that it’s because it gives me what I call my “America feeling.” I get my America feeling when I see the Statue of Liberty, or read the Preamble to the Constitution, or vote, or listen to the song “The Farmer and the Cowman” from the musical Oklahoma!
To me, the simple words of this theme song articulate one of the great dreams of the United States.
I have always wanted to have a neighbor just like you,
I’ve always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you.
So let’s make the most of this beautiful day,
Since we’re together we might as well say,
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?
Won’t you be my neighbor?
Please won’t you be my neighbor?
This is not everyone’s dream for the United States, but it is mine.