Every January, I see a spate of posts on blogs, Facebook and the like, about choosing a word for the year.
In case you’re not familiar with the concept, the idea is to choose just “one word” as your intention for the new year.
It’s meant to help with focus – like a New Year’s Resolution, minimalist style. It aims to provide the individual with inspiration, motivation, and encouragement for the next 12 months.
Although choosing just one word might seem all too easy, the reality is somewhat different. Have you ever tried to encapsulate all your hopes, dreams and desires for the year ahead, in just one word?
My First Attempt at a Word for the Year
There are even websites with guides to help you choose your word, or connect with others who have chosen the same word this year.
I’ve never done it before, but was so intrigued that over the Christmas break I mulled it over to see if a word – any word – leapt out at me.
And guess what? I *did* have a word come to mind. But at first I was hesitant to embrace it because here’s the thing: I didn’t really like it!
It just seemed a bit, well, boring!
So what is my word for the year?
BREATHE.
Really? Is that the best I could do?!
Breathing. It’s something we all do, thousands of time every day, without even thinking about it.
But as I wrestled with my word for the year, the more meaningful the word “Breathe” seemed to be for me personally.
I’m going to breathe through 2018.
Why? Because when I focus on breathing:
- It reminds me I am alive. What a precious gift life is!
- It has benefits for my physical health – such as lowering my heart rate.
- It will help me find peace, calm, strength and patience, those times when I am flustered, stressed, overworked or annoyed.
- It will help me through any physical pain (after all, isn’t that what we women are encouraged to do when we are in labour?). Not that pain is part of my plan for 2018, but I do need to have a BCC removed, and to visit the dentist!
- It will help me to be more mindful – noticing my body and the world around it, living in the present moment, appreciating the little things.
Random Thoughts on Breathing
Think about the process of breathing. We inhale; and then we exhale.
This year, I want to breathe in what is good and nurturing; and then I want to breathe the same, on those around me.
Breathing reminds me that if I want to give out to others (exhale), first I must “take in” myself (inhale).
When we open a bottle of wine, we let it “breathe” – expose it to the open air. I need more of that in my life (the open air that is, not the wine 😉 ).
Perhaps I could take a yoga class, as a way of improving the way I breathe.
Breathe – it’s essential for life.
Maybe it’s not such a bad word for the year after all.
Have you ever joined the “word for the year” bandwagon – and how did it go?