love Archives - Karee Russell

New Year, New Me Mindset Rooted in Grace

As 2026 begins, I’m redefining what “new year, new me” truly means. This year isn’t about becoming someone different—it’s about choosing love, practicing self-acceptance, and honoring the person I already am.

For years, I believed growth meant fixing myself. Pushing harder. Doing more. Becoming “better.” But this year, I’m choosing a softer, more sustainable path. I’m choosing love—especially in the way I speak to myself and show up for my life.

Choosing Love Over Perfection

In 2026, love is my compass.

I’m choosing love over self-criticism.

Love over comparison.

Love over unrealistic expectations.

Self-acceptance doesn’t mean I stop growing—it means I stop punishing myself along the way. I’m learning that peace comes from allowing myself to be human: imperfect, evolving, and worthy right now.

Affirmation: I release the need to be perfect. I am allowed to grow at my own pace.

A New Year Rooted in Self-Acceptance

This year, I’m letting go of the pressure to prove my worth. I don’t need to earn rest. I don’t need to justify joy. I don’t need to explain my boundaries.

Choosing self-acceptance in 2026 means meeting myself where I am—not where I think I should be. It means honoring my energy, protecting my peace, and trusting that slowing down is still moving forward.

Affirmation: I am enough exactly as I am in this moment.

Healing, Growth, and Grace in 2026

Self-acceptance also means forgiveness—especially toward past versions of myself. I’m releasing regret and embracing grace. Every version of me survived something. Every chapter taught me something.

Growth doesn’t always look loud or visible. Sometimes it looks like rest. Sometimes it looks like boundaries. Sometimes it looks like choosing kindness toward myself on hard days.

Affirmation: I forgive myself for the past and trust myself with the future.

Living with Intention This New Year

In 2026, love will shape my choices.

Love will guide how I show up for my family.

Love will remind me to slow down and be present.

Love will help me say no without guilt and yes without fear.

I’m no longer chasing a “better” version of myself. I’m embracing the truest one—the woman who is learning, healing, growing, and choosing herself with intention.

Affirmation: I choose love in my thoughts, my actions, and my boundaries.

My 2026 Intentions & Daily Affirmations

As I step into this new year, these affirmations will anchor me:

I choose love over fear. I honor my needs without apology. I trust my journey, even when it’s uncertain. I am worthy of rest, joy, and peace. I show myself the same compassion I give to others.

New Year, Same Soul—More Love

2026 isn’t about reinventing myself.

It’s about accepting myself more deeply than ever before.

This is my year of softness without weakness.

Boundaries without guilt.

Self-acceptance without conditions.

This is my year to choose love.

This is my year to choose me.

Did you know I married my best friend at the young age of 20? Yup, I did. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

I have to say being married to my best friend is amazing! It’s been an eventful 10 years and counting. We’ve laughed together, cried, grew our family by three kiddos and two animals, two beautiful girls, handsome boy and two fur babies. We’ve traveled the world together & will continue to add adventures any chance we get.

Let me tell you how we first met. We worked together in 2007 at a movie theater (I had just moved to Colorado Springs). I had just had surgery on my jaw and had my mouth wired shut (surprisingly he still spoke to me). We had worked one evening just the two of us. As we were waiting for a theater to clear, he asked me how to say my name. It was a very clever way to start a conversation since my name is unique. I began to tell him how to pronounce it and we kind of hit it off after that. I then asked him to go see Transformers with me for the midnight showing.

My shift ended and I waited for him to get off work so we could talk more. He got off and I tried to get his number. It wasn’t happening, therefore, I walked him to his car. He gave me his phone so I could give him my number. He must have thought I was crazy at this point. I was persistent and I got what I wanted.

We dated on and off since then. We had our differences and needed to see if it was meant to be and it was! Lucky for me!!

We got married about three years later, marriage is not always rainbows and butterflies, though. It’s harsh words, yelling, tears, not speaking to each other for a few hours or days and it’s going to bed angry. It’s about saying, “I’m sorry!” Showing and giving love, cuddles, date nights. It’s about sharing your desserts and watching television shows you don’t want to watch.

Our first argument was over a stupid receipt… do you know how silly that sounds? We argued because he threw the receipt away and I NEEDED it to balance out my checkbook (remember, I was 20). It was the silliest thing in the whole world to argue over a receipt.

Still ten years later we argue, we don’t always agree with what the other says or does but we love each other unconditionally.

We have three children together and raising them together is the easiest thing we’ve done.

Tag: love

2026: Choosing Love & Self-Acceptance

Love & Marriage