I try to have a Word for the Year every year, a word that will help me focus on one part of becoming the best person I can be.
Last year, my Word for the Year was…
Essential
During 2021, I tried to make better choices about what I chose to do and not do. I tried to set and stick to boundaries better. I tried to focus on what was most important in my life. I first started studying about essentialism when I read the book, Essentialism, by Greg McKeown. This book has seriously been life-changing for me, and I’ve almost finished my second reading. I think I might make this a once-a-year read because it seems like I go through different seasons in life, and so I can apply what the book offers in new ways. This book really is that good!
While I never posted about my Word for the Year for 2021 like I have in past years, it was still a word that I tried to keep front and center in my life.
So, how’d it go?
Sometimes it went great, and sometimes it went not so great. But I still I think I did pretty well at focusing on what’s essential. And my focus on the essentials lead me to make some exciting and difficult decisions in 2021, and I learned more about creating and sticking to boundaries so I can focus on the essentials better.
All in all, Essential was a Word for the Year that worked for me, both personally and professionally, and I’m carrying the word Essential into this new year too, continuing to focus on what’s most important to me and striving to make the choices that will allow me to become more of an Essentialist.
So, now that we’re freshly into 2022, what’s my Word for the Year for this year?
Why Create?
Here’s a little background: Back in October, I made the very difficult decision to leave a job I’d had and loved for 8 1/2 years to go out on my own as a freelance writer and editor. As 2021 progressed towards 2022, I found myself becoming so wrapped up in my job, which was an amazing opportunity to help others but which was also very demanding at times, and I knew I didn’t want to keep up the pace I was attempting to keep. As I prayed and thought a lot about what I should do (stay with the job or leave), it became apparent that leaving was the best thing for me and my family.
I love to create, and creating things fills me with joy, relieves stress, and makes me feel fulfilled. I believe one of my purposes in life is to create, and I found that my ability to create in personal ways was getting left behind as my work schedule got crazier and crazier. And I missed that part of me. A lot.
So, when I was recently thinking and praying about what my Word for the Year should be for 2022, “Create” instantly came to mind. And I knew that was my word.
What will I do to create more in 2022?
In order to not overdo things and feel overwhelmed, which often leads to doing nothing or very little, I’m focusing on three areas of creation this year:
Watercolor painting: I took watercolor lessons about 12 years ago, and I absolutely loved it! It was fun to learn a new skill, I loved how watercolor forced me to go more with the flow (which can be difficult for me to do), and it was a source of stress relief. But, I embarked on some amazing new seasons of life (got my Bachelors Degree, worked full-time, etc.), and my watercolor brushes and paints got put away. So, in 2022, I’ve set aside time each Friday afternoon to watercolor. Watercolor painting is not something you can work on for a few minutes here and there—it doesn’t really work like that, so I need a block of time in order to be productive. And I’m looking forward to watercoloring again, even though I know I’ll basically be a beginner. But that’s okay. I’m hoping what I learned in the past will come back.
Writing: Along with the writing I’ll be doing as a freelancer, my goal is to post once a week in my blog. This is a huge creative outlet for me, and I hope to also help others through the content I create and post. How will I do this? One of the habits I’m creating this year is to write for 15 minutes a day, Monday-Friday. It’s amazing how much solid creating you can get done in only 15 minutes!
Playing the piano: I’ve been playing the piano since I was 7 years old, but I’ve been so busy the past several months, that I haven’t really touched the piano at all, and I’m honestly a bit rusty. Playing the piano has always been a source of stress relief for me, and it definitely brings me joy. So, in 2022, I’ll play the piano more, dust off my favorite compositions, and remove that rust that’s been building up.
I’m sure I’ll be creating more than in just these three areas, but these three will be my creating focus for 2022.
Do you choose a Word for the Year? If so, what’s yours for 2022 and why?
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