Well....
2020....
That was a memorable year....
I'm ready for a better one. If you are too, read on!
Around this time of the year, I always get excited and ambitious. I have a little more free time than normal, a little more rest, and the driving energy of the entire world planning around me. Inevitably, I start making some resolutions to move me closer to whatever ideal life I've conjured up in my head:
- eat healthier (right after I get all the bad food out of my house. All the tasty, tasty bad food. What does "bad" even mean though? And don't I deserve a treat sometimes? And how do calories even work? Aren't calories energy? That means I'll have more energy if I eat ice cream than if I eat celery!)
- exercise more (except this week because I'm a little tired and stressed out by everything. And except next week, because I'm working days and I get home late and I still need to cook dinner and I want to relax some and I want to see my family that I'm working these long hours for. And except the week after because....)
- lose weight (although really, if I think about it, I'm safer in a kidnapping incident because I have more force behind my tackles. And anyway, if I'm not just accepting my body for what it is, I'm damaging feminists everywhere. Can't do that!)
- read more books (you know, when I'm not cooking and exercising and trying to get more sleep....)
- communicate with my friends more (except when I'm cooking healthy because I can't balance that and everyone's dietary needs. And not when I'm exercising because I'm not sharing my sweaty, B.O. glory with them. And who can really talk when they're winded anyway? And not when I'm reading because that's just weird.)
- and 87 other resolutions that are all fantastical in their own ways
And this is why resolutions alone don't work. They are all worthwhile and admirable, but to really make them stick you can't just list them. You have to break them down into smaller and more definable goals. And then you have to start implementing them (but not too slowly or you'll get bored and not too quickly or you'll get overwhelmed). And then you have to think about what happens if you miss a day or have a backslide, things that all too easily happen. After a while, it starts to feel way easier to just stay as you are. "People love me just as I am! Why would I change anything about this magnificence? I am the embodiment of all this world should be!"
But what if you just can't shake the feeling that, as awesome as you so clearly are, you could be EVEN MORE amazing? Where's the life hack for that?
A few years ago, I gave in and tried the "Word of the Year" concept. In case you haven't heard of it, this is where you choose one word that will inform your actions for the whole year. I was dubious. It seemed like so much to put on one verbal talisman: keep my life in check and on track for a year, through every time I'm flagging, every time I'm stressed, every time I'm lost. Is there one word that would do all that for me?
Shockingly, yes! Of course! Would I waste your time telling you about it if it failed miserably?
That first year, my word was "diligence". Every time I'd felt lost and stressed, I hadn't been diligent in an area of my life. And I knew, going forward, that to keep up with everything I wanted to do over the course of the year and my life, I would need to be earnest in my efforts. (Hey, I admit I'm busy and easily distracted. It's right there in the title of this blog.) And those efforts would have to go beyond making lists and trying to check everything off of them. It had to involve internalizing the changes I'm trying to make while I keep all the other facets of my life still going strong. And what would it take to make all that happen? A whole heap of diligence.
What was my payoff for embracing this word?
- Becoming WAY more comfortable in the languages I'm working on.
- Saving a significant amount of money for my Emergency Fund.
- Completing the first phase of an intensive training for my professional life.
- Becoming president of the state chapter of the professional organization I belong to and, through diligence, did not completely drop the ball and ruin everything.
- Designing, drawing, and sending out Christmas cards (a much larger accomplishment than it seems).
- Moving into a house that better suits my needs and wants.
- Completing a 365 photo challenge.
- Strengthening skills in several arenas that I'm personally passionate about (such as Photoshop and drawing).
- All while keeping day-to-day life as reasonably intact as one can hope for!
That's a lot of success for one word! For each year since I have chosen a different word of the year to help keep me on track. And then 2020 happened and my word of the year didn't stand a chance! But I'm ready to get back into the groove! When I thought about the past year and how I wanted to grow in the future, I realized there was something big I needed to acknowledge about myself, a quality I know I'll need for this year. And that's why my Word of the Year is:
When I took a moment to look at myself and everything I faced, I realized there was simply no other word. It works on every level I need it to: as a reminder of how I need to be when things get tough; as a rally when I am tired and want to give up; as a definition of a core element of who I am as a person; as an action value I should apply to each of my pursuits. With a word like this, how can I not face the new challenges and joys of 2021?
Choosing a word is great, but I also have to make sure that I see that word regularly! To help me, I printed out a version to put in my planner!
Now every time I open my planner, I'll be reminded of what I'm focusing on! I even included the definitions (though I know them well). They just seemed to add an extra layer of inspiration. I can't wait to continue to decorate this front page.
I also created a wallpaper for my cell phone's lock screen!
Now about that free gift: As I have emphasized, I find the easiest way to internalize my word, why I chose it, and the goals that go with it is to see it all the time. I would like to offer the same advantage to you! I would like to create this design with your word of the year! Just sign up for my email newsletter by clicking here! It only comes out once a week and includes an overview of my new posts, as well as some things you can't find on the blog. You can expect to receive an email with a sign just like mine (but with your word, of course) within three days! Already a subscriber? Why thank you! Naturally you get a word of the year as well! Simply click here!
This all sounds pretty magical, right? You are ready for your word! But wait: how do you pick just one? The dictionary is huge and there are so many variations! Need a little help? I'm here for you! For just $5, I will schedule a half hour call with you to help you get started on your Word of the Year! If that's something you want, just click yes on the survey and I'll send you further details. This helps offset the expenses of running this site and I get the thrill of helping you live your best life ever! Win win!
Cheers to the New Year!