“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language
And next year’s words await another voice.” ~T.S. Eliot
Every year around this time, I start creating my own personal year-in-review mental slideshow. I know it’s a little early. It’s still November. I haven’t even put up my Christmas tree yet. But I feel like I need to start early and really take the time to figure out how I did in life the past 11 months so that once New Year’s Day hits, I have a clear plan in place as to how I want to approach the upcoming year.
I don’t believe in New Year’s Resolutions. But I do believe in the power of a single word. And because I feel like my last two years were positively defined by two words, part of my early year-end reflection involves choosing my next one-word resolution.
My 2017 word was Balance. As a working mom who has a million things I want to pursue in my free time, I felt like I was living an unbalanced life. I spent the year finding balance in my body, mind and space. Every time I felt the stress of imbalance creeping in, that word flashed in my brain. In fact, I loved Balance as my one-word resolution so much I was tempted to use it again for 2018 (as I’m tempted to use it again for 2019!).
But I knew I needed a new word, a fresh word for a fresh year. So my 2018 word was Wellness. As the year kicked off with a hysterectomy, I needed a word that would remind me why I chose to have the surgery, as well as a word to motivate me to stay healthy, both physically and mentally, throughout the year. That word was there as I dealt with the difficult recovery after surgery, as I struggled to get back into the shape I was accustomed to as an athlete, and as I listened to my body when I had pain I shouldn’t be having 9-months post-surgery and spoke up to my doctor. With Wellness on my mind, I can say that word helped me get to the here and now with a focal point I needed.
Now I need a 2019 word. And I want that word settled on and ready to work its magic when I open my eyes on January 1. Words randomly pop in my head all the time, but the following 20 have serious potential. Some are straightforward. Some have dual meanings. All of them can be applied to things I want to see in my life as we switch calendars.
So which of these will be my 2019 word?
- Grounded
- Breathe
- Mindfulness
- Priorities
- Energy
- Words
- Calm
- Flow
- Meditation
- Mountain
- Momentum
- Motivation
- Listen
- Create
- Present
- Steps
- Float
- Importance
- Connect
- Explore
I know you are GROUNDED as I have read your posts from day one. Obviously you have set your PRIORITIES. CALMNESS and ENERGY FLOW from you with yoga and MEDITATION and BREATHING. You are CONNECTED to the PRESENT as you take STEPS to EXPLORE every MOUNTAIN to CREATE IMPORTANCE in your life. Your MINDFULNESS and MOMENTUM MOTIVATE you to LISTEN and EXPLORE the PRESENT. Why not just put them all in a box and let one FLOAT to the top to be selected for that day, week or month. I think 2019 will be a great year for you.