Word of the Year
A few years ago I started the practice of choosing a Word of the Year, in lieu of long lists of resolutions I would inevitably not keep. Choosing a word felt gentler to me, more flowing and less forcing my life into a shape potentially dictated by culture and the expectations of others.
My local circle of friends now knows this is a question I will ask all of them at our New Year’s Eve gathering each year. It has become a bit of a joke, but I think they all secretly like it. The comedian of our group (doesn’t every group have one) threw out the word “Ping” as his word last year. This year, he delivered one none of us had ever heard of, “Coddiwomple”, which we discovered means, “to travel purposefully towards a vague destination”. I loved it.
Your Word of the Year is the energy and intention you want to infuse your life with. It’s an intention you desire to bring to your days, in order to make small shifts that align with the version of yourself you aspire to be. Last year, I wanted to feel more light and fun, so I chose the word Play. I think I knew then, that this energy would be a leap for me. Looking back on it, I realize the word was too forceful for where I was in my life at the time, and essentially who I am at my core. So instead of doing a re-”play” this year, I decided to go for a different word with a similar intention, choosing Wonder, which means “ a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable”. As soon as I decided to choose it, my body knew that this was my word, that this feeling, was one I could use to make shifts in how I move throughout my days and how I decide to spend my time. Last week, I had my first chance to practice.
I was riding around in the car at the end of several errands. I was ready to be home and the traffic was annoying. I was in the passenger seat, with my phone ready to check email, texts, etc. when I saw it was snowing. Still, I opened my phone, but suddenly my word came to mind and I stopped. I put the phone into my bag and looked out the window at the flakes coming down. Instead of a woman filled with grasping and urgency, I became a woman filled with wonder, at least for that one small moment. Those small moments, cumulative over time, have the power to shift your whole life.
So I invite you to think about the energy you want to bring into the day-to-day realities of your life and choose your own Word of the Year. What is your soul yearning for this year? Is it patience or gentleness? Strength or confidence? Where are you ready to grow this year that will honor the natural shape of your soul?
Soul Geography 