My word for 2021 - Joy
I’ve been following Ali Edwards’ inspiration for choosing one word to guide my year since 2008 and this has become a tradition for everyone in our family. This is the first time that I have been the last one to choose my word. My husband Jeff picked Onward. My son Alex picked Change. My daughter Riley picked Steps. All great words! I have to admit that I have NOT felt like picking a word. It just hasn’t clicked for me this year.
Maybe because the word I chose for last year (Thrive) ended up being the wrong word for a really strange 2020. Ok, technically I still thrived because I got through a lot of changes and did ok, but it didn’t feel like thriving. It felt like surviving. So I guess I have a bit of word trauma this year. I know we still have a tough year ahead of us so I have felt all of this pressure to pick the best word for that.
I usually “feel” my word and it chooses me - somewhat like the wand choosing the wizard in Harry Potter. This did not happen this time. I’ve been waiting. I’ve been trying on several words and none of them have been “the one”. So I decided to just start writing this post, hoping that it would get me in the right frame of mind. I started searching other’s words on Instagram and I saw something about this print from Nikki Banas.
Now the whole thing doesn’t apply to me because I don’t drink coffee, but I love the idea. And the last line is really what it is all about for me.
“Because life is too short and fragile to not live a life of chasing joy.”
I’m a fairly joyful person by nature, but with all the struggles life regularly presents, this can be a challenge. There will certainly be many times in this coming year when this will be a difficult word to implement, but I hope I can remember to find joy each day. I also want to be sure to give joy to those around me.
If you are still looking for ideas, here’s a list of my past words.
2008 – Create
2009 – Learn
2010 – Do
2011 – Healthy
2012 – Nourish
2013 – Refresh & Renew (a phrase instead of a word)
2014 - Forward
2015 - Focus
2016 - Progress
2017 - Complete
2018 - Ready
2019 - Story
2020 - Thrive
Have you picked your word yet? Was it harder than usual? Or did it come to you easily? I would love to hear what you chose if you want to share it in the comments. I also want to wish you a great year ahead full of joy and creative inspiration!
