word of the year

Along with my "21 for 2021" list, I've been thinking about a word of the year. This is another idea from Gretchen Rubin. She has several blog posts about it, and I found this one from 2015 interesting. Several of my friends do this, and I love hearing their inspirations and ideas! Last year I tried it, and chose the word "strength". I came to that word because of a desire to be a stronger person mentally, emotionally, and physically. I'd like to do a word of the year (WOTY) again, but have more of a plan in place for how to keep myself mindful of it. The only thing I did with my WOTY last year was purchase a sign from my favorite Etsy sign maker, Misty Hollow Studio, and set it on the window sill above my kitchen sink where I saw it all the time.

Check out her lovely WOTY signs here! On a side note, now that my "strength" sign has served its purpose, I'd like to pass it on to someone else. It's just like the ones shown above in white. If you're interested, text me or leave a comment below. If more than one person wants it, I'll do a drawing. 😉

As I mentioned, I get so many great ideas from friends. I asked three friends for suggestions on how to remind myself of my WOTY and make it stick. They also told me some of their past WOTY's and why they chose them. Here's some of their thoughts.

Words of the year: simplify and compassion

My goal is to simplify my life so I can have more time for friends and family. Purging things out of my house and life will also help me mentally.

I wish for more compassion. This year I want to make a conscious effort to be more compassionate to my own children and people in our congregation.

From another friend:  My WOTY last year was "imperfection". I wanted to work against being a perfectionist, but at the same time realize my perfectionist tendencies. I feel like my word ended up making a difference. My word for this year is "start," which is really an extension of last year's word. This is how I define start: Instead of procrastinating, start. Start when you're not ready. Also, a fresh new start.

This friend says: I like words that can be used as different forms - verb, noun, adjective. Some of my past WOTY'S are balance, rest, home. This year it's "quiet." Not only to talk less, but have quiet time. Take walks without my phone. I want to have more of a quiet attitude, as well.

I also made a list of their ideas for ways to be mindful of your WOTY.

• Search for quotes that use your WOTY and write them in your planner so you see them throughout the year.

• Write an essay about why you chose your word, and what it means to you.

• Put your WOTY on your light box/letter board and keep it on all year.

• Set your phone's home and lock screens to a quote that uses your WOTY.

• Put the word and definition on your fridge where you see it all the time.

• If you have a chalkboard wall, write your word and definition on there and leave it all year.

I've decided my WOTY is "happy." I recently read The Happiness Project and it affected me profoundly. I first listened to the book, but now I'm reading a hard copy and highlighting and taking notes of the things that most inspired me. Here's a few sentences that made sense to me.

"I'd wondered whether my happiness project was selfish, because it seemed self-indulgent to concentrate on my own happiness. True, I do make other people happy when I tend to my own happiness. By being happy myself I was better able to try to make other people happier.

Happy people generally are more forgiving, helpful, and charitable, have better self control, and are more tolerant of frustration than unhappy people, while unhappy people are more often withdrawn, defensive, antagonistic, and self-absorbed."

- From The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin