Recently, my husband and I had dinner with friends and they talked about their word for 2019. Instead of making a New Year’s Resolution, they each select a word to be the theme that year. Or maybe a slogan. I love this idea; it’s more attractive to me than coming up with a resolution. By choosing one word, you could apply that word to a variety of situations and goals.
While January 2019 has come and gone, I propose we start a new tradition of waiting until February to choose this word. Now is a perfect time. 2019 is rolling along and you are moving and grooving through it. You have a feel for what you want this year to be. Or maybe you’re not pleased with how it’s started and you want to re-direct. Your chosen word doesn’t have to be to be heavy or serious, unless you feel the need to select something substantive and meaningful. Are you recognizing the beauty of how flexible and open-ended this word thing is? Versus the narrowly-focused and usually abandoned resolution?
To spark your imagination as you select your word for your 2019 theme, I’ll offer some suggestions. I don’t know if there are rules on whether the word should be a noun, adjective or verb. So let’s say it can be any part of speech. Heck, go crazy and do a gerund. Or, make up a word that’s more fun to say.
Some ideas for your word:
Peppy-ish:
Did last year drain the life out of you? Feeling the need to reinvigorate? By choosing a word like “peppy-ish,” you’ll remind yourself to make choices that will give you energy. You’ll seek out people and activities that stimulate you. Just so you don’t feel too much pressure by choosing the word “peppy,” let’s stick an “-ish” on there to make it seem more manageable.
Gratitudinal:
Can’t go wrong with this one; being mindful every day of gratitude gives us a sense of peace and purpose. Happiness experts (and Oprah) agree that one of the easiest ways to pull yourself out of a rut is by focusing on all the things for which we can be thankful. Adding the “udinal” instead of just “gratitude” is not only more fun to say, but reminds us that our starting point or focal axis wherever we are in the world should be coming from a place of an attitude of gratitude.
Connectify:
Maybe you feel like you’ve lost touch with some good friends. Maybe you want to make some new ones. Choosing this word reminds you that you need to make the efforts you can on a consistent basis to stay connected. You might focus on making plans with friends, or just a quick phone call/email/ check-in text. And if you’re wanting to branch out and meet new people, are you putting yourself in situations where that is more likely? Don’t whine about feeling out of touch — rectify by connectify.
Fun-ction:
Would you like 2019 to bring you more joy? More moments of laughter and spontaneity? More F-U-N? This word minds you that you can put the fun in all your daily activities. Turn on disco in your kitchen while you make dinner. Switch up your business or self-help podcasts with some stand up comedy. Make your lunch a picnic. Choose to add in some fun in your everyday stuff — put the fun in your fun-ction.
To delve more deeply into the one word phenomenon, check out the following:
www.oneword365.com: After selecting your word for 2019, you can register one the oneword365 website and connect with others who’ve chosen the same word to “journey together.”
www.jongordon.com: Jon Gordon’s book “One Word That Will Change Your Life” goes into more detail to inspire you to have a word be your year’s focus point.