Inspiration
Self-care: A Word to Light Your Way
It is our tradition here in January to contemplate and choose a Word of the Year.
Typically this is something elevated, aspirational, perhaps slightly out of our current reach. A word that inspires us to go further, do more. It’s a very noble impulse! If the impulse is upon you, please do seize it.
(You can find past years’ inspiration here and here and here.)
While we’re in here, I wanted to say a quick word about language altogether. Something I probably don’t say enough, which is that self-care is a really personal topic, and a visceral one.
Sometimes the things I write will resonate, and sometimes … the opposite. So I wanted to just make it explicit, and say if ever you read anything in this column that really chaps your behind? Just substitute your own words.
Example: in considering my own WOTY this January, I noticed that the word “resilience” came up a lot. And that word was triggering the living daylights out of me.
For many folks, resilience is a noble, dignified word. For me, though, it’s kind of … annoying. The image that comes is something like “get knocked down seven times, bounce right back up eight.” Like Bruce Lee or something, only with the addition of a perky smile. Ugh, so wearisome!
There’s something to it though, the way resilience is on our minds. I’m going to guess we all took some beatings in 2024. But it seems to me that what’s even better than bouncing back is being harder to knock down in the first place.
Thus I arrived at my own word this year: toughness.
Never going to be a popular word, probably! Too many negative connotations for folks. It’s like the opposite of Brené Brown’s virtue of vulnerability. Not very aspirational.
But that’s the beauty of choosing your own meaningful guiding word, rather than whatever virtuous suggestion (#selfimprovement) is trending on social media.
When you hear it, it kind of detonates (wow there’s a word! substitute at will!) in your gut and you know it’s right because it sounds your gong, it’s unforgettable and you want to keep it right out in front of you to light your way.
But you know me, I can never have just one Word of the Year haha. My other reminder is “The Basics.” And we should talk about that next time.
This month though, please tell us all your WOTY, and how you arrived at it and how it’s going to light your way in 2025.
And Happy New Year! I am wishing you all peace, love, health, and prosperity!
Image credit: Celestial phenomenon over Nuremberg, artist unknown, 1556. Public Domain Review, used with permission.
My WOTY is “forward”
I agree with you on ‘resilience’. I’ve been called that, to salve the consciences of others more than anything else, I think. I may be standing but I’m bruised! My WOTY is authenticity.
Stretch!
That’s excellent. Especially first thing in the morning.
I posted this a short ways back when KAy & Ann & MDK Crew were bouncing around 4 letter words for embellishing sweaters…
I was inspired by a decidedly longer word “Courage” that has a 4-letter word within it. At the time I feared a bit that it was too strong, too contrarian, too combative. I posted it anyways because I also knew that the time would come when it was NOT too strong, contrarian or combative. The time would come when it was NEEDED & sorely.
Now, after a day of listening to a decidedly UNqualified candidate lie and dodge and obfuscate his way with strong-arming backers to a likely lead of our ENTIRE military (notice that **I** can and do spell it correctly??) despite all the many red flags pointing to his unworthiness, I am fully into MY WOTY.
Now, after watching the controlling party in congress maneuver to enact sweeping changes in a manner that WILL be denounced by the House Parliamentarian, changes that are NOT supported by a majority of the voting public and indeed are deeply opposed, but will nonetheless be enacted at least in part, I am FULLY into MY WOTY.
Now, after the release of 1/2 of a report on an extensive investigation into a wide ranging conspiracy to undo the will of the American people and to undo the very foundational bedrock principle of peaceful transfer of power and the undoing of our very very foundational principle that NO PERSON is above the law, Iam FULLY INTO MY WOTY.
It is at the root of so many valuable words that we all can grasp in this time of deep need:
couRAGE
encouRAGE
leveRAGE
outRAGE
fosteRAGE
tutoRAGE
mooRAGE
Yep, my word is RAGE and I plan to march for MLK Jr’s memory on Jan 20.
I plan to have my own kazoo out and buzzing the Imperial March (Vader’s Theme) from Star Wars even if I cannot be there to do it along the inaugural parade route.
I WILL be wearing my pussy hat on Jan 20th wherever I may be I will do it all with
couRAGE
outRAGE
leveRAGE
RAGE
I will NOT stand idly by and watch all of the norms and standards of my beloved country be destroyed without a fight.
Yes. Yes. Yes.
Thank you!!!
I second that emotion!
If there were I like button I would have jammed my finger pressing it.
Thank you! Heartbreaking, but thank you!
Thank you for writing what so many are feeling. Well done!
A great big THANK YOU to J Diane!!!!
100% Yes! Well said.
Thanks Diane. I’d already gotten my pussy hat out. Now I better go find a kazoo!
I so agree!! Well written!
Thanks J Diane, I appreciate your perspective and feel inspired by your WOTY.
New Year’s resolutions are not my thing. Instead I choose a Word of the Year and focus on it throughout the seasons like a touchstone.
My 2025 Word of the Year is…
D•A•R•E
D•A•R•E to rise with purposeful heart
humming drumbeat, springboard start.
D•A•R•E to be wild and unruly,
statuesque, bold, and truly
D•A•R•E to speak truth in these spaces,
pouring light on dark places.
D•A•R•E fiercely and never waver,
standing taller and braver.
D•A•R•E to boost creative foray,
let loose the genie to play.
D•A•R•E to tender the trembling soul,
slake with kindness, make it whole.
This is wonderful. Amen to more truth and light!
This is wonderful! Thank you Shari!
Love your word and I feel it calling me. Thanks for sharing!
I think I might reclaim, for 2025, the word DOUBT.
As a small business owner in the era of the personal brand, there is a corrosive and insidious pressure to be certain and clear and to know what you’re doing At All Times. To look ON TOP OF ALL THE THINGS, to have a five year plan, sales targets etc.
I have found it exhausting to try and live up to this. Last year I lost the ability to do the stranded colourwork on which my self-published books and flagship course depend. I also learned I’m autistic and ADHD. This knowledge is amazing but now I have so many questions! It’s clear that aspects of my work need to change, but into what, I do not know.
I have no certainty about what comes next, and feel called to lean kindly into a space of doubtfulness – uncertainty, lack of sureness, not knowing. I hope that moving towards a more curious place with no goals – allowing myself to feel doubt and uncertainty – will open up a new path.
Doubt seems to open more doors than self-assurance. I’d be willing to bet that Thomas Edison weighed more heavily on the doubt side. Supporting you in your journey ❤️
Felix… Felicity… I’m sorry to hear you’ve lost touch (temporarily) with your beloved colourwork. I’m sorry to hear you are living in doubt.
BUT…
I’m glad to hear you’ve got a diagnosis with which to frame and understand and from which to build and grow!
I hope this reframing and rebuilding brings you back to colourwork, *IF* it’s where your heart wants to go. I hope your reframing and rebuilding leads you to greater things that also bring you back to…
Felicity (happiness)… as is the root of your name!
Be well Felix and use your doubt to seek new answers and rebuild new paths forward! Journalling (as I’m SURE you know) is FABulous at helping sort out the tangled threads to find the keys!
<3 <3 <3
yes, DOUBT and RAGE but no to resilience which sounds to me like my existence and rights are constantly being challenged. I was going to go with RESISTANCE but FIGHT is shorter.
LOVE for all that is around me, and a special dose for Felix- sad to hear of this challenge but looking forward to what your amazing mind will imagine, whenever inspiration strikes.
My WOTY is “Joy”. On my birthday this year, which is January 2nd, I saw the word “Joy” about five times, everywhere I looked so it seemed. So I would say that word chose me! This was a very high number birthday and I mean to make the most of each and every year. I intend to focus on all the positive things in my life (like beautiful yarn, great friendships, wonderful music and good health) that bring me joy. I wish the same for each of you in this warm community of knitters!
This is just what I needed
I’m so annoyed with “gratitude” I had to write it down.
My word is Fierce. I face challenges that are large and need iron rod backbone to stay steady on the path. I’m fierce. Thank you.
My word is Shadow to remind me not to be a shadow in other people’s lives, but to let the sunshine through for them.
My word of the year is BALANCE.
With my Pita ways whichfire up the Vata tendency , I need to find the balance, the homeostasis .
Simplicity…or :relax !and keep it simple and pure
Possibility
GRACE
A friend told me I should allow myself some grace while we were having a cello practice last year. And I have been thinking about this ever since. It seemed the perfect WOTY, relax a bit, and allow myself to say no to the many things I think I must do, and remember ‘I am enough.’
My WOTY this year is Amateur. It evolves from the Latin amator – “lover”. Rather than think of my doings as amateurish or second best, I choose to do things with love, while loving the things I love. Fully embodied Amateur in 2025!
Well said, J. Diane. I could agree more. Thank you for expressing those thoughts for all of us.
My word is “knit” for it’s multiple of meanings.
My WOTY is adapt
Max, I like your choice TOUGHNESS. And I think you can absolutely be tough and vulnerable at the same time. 2025 is going to have a couple of BIG life changes in store. I can’t be more “ready” for them but that doesn’t mean there will not be spells of panic, worry, anxiety, etc (in other words, life).
My WOTY is LUCKY. After my doctor said “you’re lucky to be alive”, I have been trying to keep it in mind , especially when annoyed and frustrated by what are truly little things.
My word of the year is “connection.” I’ve been mourning the deterioration of friendships lately, and so my focus this year is on shoring up connections with people that are/have been in my life and inviting new relationships.
I like this too.
I love the words people have come up with.
The word that popped into my mind is “Truth”. With contributors on social media spewing whatever nonsense they wish as plausible facts, with media avoiding conflict with the powers that be at the cost factual and unbiased reporting, with political figures blurting out inflammatory statements just to get clicks…I think it is going to be a year that will be difficult to find truth in all that sludge, yet I am never going stop looking for the truth and hope I can find it.
Still thinking on a WOTY and I love these offerings. 2023 brought so many changes for me and some have been difficult yet many new joys too. Uncertainty has been hard so I am thinking of “sure”.
Sure in my Faith.
Sure I can help.
Sure I can help next time but not this time.
Sure of my choice to stay home or to show up.
Sure, I’ve got time for you.
Sure, I need some down time.
Sure, I am outraged and will help!
Sure, I need to look into that first.
Most of these statements circle back around to the great words each of you have mentioned.
Thank you for your inspiration.
About resilience: I read this article on the Art of Manliness website (yes, I know, I’m a woman, but they have lots of interesting stuff) and it goes in depth about why resilience is not always enough. The author created a word, “antifragile”, to describe something that becomes stronger after hardship. I’m thinking I may use antifragile as my WOTY; I had a hard time at work the last 3 or 4 months when my assistant decided to quit, and I didn’t deal with it as well as I would like. Things have settled down some, but it’s likely there will still be changes this year and I want to be better able to handle it mentally.
https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/advice/beyond-sissy-resilience-on-becoming-antifragile/
Confidence.