Former Today co-host Hoda Kotb shared a series of poignant quotes about hope, faith and ‘extinguishing the dark’ as she welcomed in the new year.
The series of quotes by poet Donna Ashworth all included inspirational messages for the year ahead, following a year of career changes and her third Christmas as a single woman following her split from ex-fiancé, Joel Schiffman.
Kotb started with a quote about ‘Faith,’ which said: ‘The space where no answers exist but your spirit meets hope and magic is made.’
She also included a passage that read: ‘The magic is the spark that lights the bones of surviving, it is the glimmer that whispers, we are alive-ing.’
The mom-of-two then shared a message about ‘believing you are worthy,’ as well as ‘being a seeker of light’ and extinguishing ‘the dark within the might of that bright.’
Fans loved the moving poems, sharing their festive well-wishes with the author and TV anchor in the comment section.
‘Happy New Year and may 2026 be a year of magic to all!’ one person wrote.
‘Love this, simple, that’s all it takes… Happy New Year to you and your family. May we all be better with all we learn from each other,’ gushed someone else.
Former Today co-host Hoda Kotb (seen in 2022) shared a series of poignant quotes about hope, faith and seeking magic as she welcomed in the new year
‘Love all these beautiful quotes and love you, Hoda! Your never ending positivity is so contagious. Happy New Year to you and your lovely family,’ shared a third fan.
The moving quotes come after a big year of changes for Kotb, who concluded her long tenure as co-anchor of NBC’s Today in January 2025.
Kotb, 61, has remained active with NBC, co-hosting several large events such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and even ringing in the New Year with her old co-host Bush-Hager in NBC’s A Toast to 2025.
Earlier in December, the TV personality reunited with her ex-fiancé for the holidays in a sweet Christmas snap.
Kotb took to Instagram to share a smiling selfie with her family as they all donned matching green pajamas and headbands with Santa hats on them.
She was also promoting her newest book Jump and Find Joy, which focused on embracing change, even in moments of self-doubt.
Kotb and Schiffman, who shares two daughters, Haley Joy, eight, and Hope Catherine, six, called off their engagement in January 2022 after eight years together.
They had to postpone their destination wedding three times due to the pandemic before they ultimately went their separate ways.
The series of quotes by poet Donna Ashworth all included inspirational messages for the year ahead
Kotb reunited with her ex-fiancé, Joel Schiffman, for the holidays in a sweet Christmas snap
This year marks the third Christmas they’ve spent together since their split, as the two called off their engagement in January 2022. They’re seen in 2018
In 2024, Kotb announced her decision to step away from her role on the Today show, as she passed the baton to Jenna Bush Hager.
In December 2025, Bush announced that her new co-host would be Sheinelle Jones, after 11 months of rotating guests on TODAY With Jenna and Friends.
Voicing her excitement for the show’s future, an emotional Bush Hager told Jones during the episode: ‘I am so excited.
‘I think everything you said about what we are going to build together that can bring hope, that can share friendship. There is nobody I’d rather sit next to.’
During their heartfelt announcement, Jones revealed that her predecessor Kotb, called her and offered some words of wisdom.
‘She gave me 45 seconds of just wisdom that changed me,’ she said.
‘She said, “remember this moment. You are going to talk about how this was a moment that changed your career, and it was the best decision for your kids, for you.”‘
