I’ve just read my friend Donna from Retirement Reflections’ post about her Word of the Year and I think the word she has chosen is perfect for us all. It is usual for this time of year to see many posts and articles about selecting a Word of the Year (WOTY) to guide you and to give you a focus for the year ahead.
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Each year from 2016 I’ve chosen a WOTY and I’ve usually selected my word as early as November. My previous WOTY have included:
- 2016 I wanted to find more BALANCE in my life.
- 2017 I wanted to SIMPLIFY.
- 2018 I wanted to THRIVE and in
- 2019 I chose two words – COMMIT AND EVOLVE.
- 2020 I chose a statement – MAKE IT HAPPEN
- 2021 I chose to put the focus on SELF and where I was placing my energy ‘I needed to embrace my SELF and live my life with the focus of keeping what SERVES me WELL and LETTING GO of what is holding me back and making me feel trapped in life‘
However, this time I didn’t even think I would have a WOTY until one came to me over the last few days. During the last week of 2021 I wrote two posts – a reflective post on my 2021 – 2021 a year in review – did I live up to my WOTY? and Make 2022 the year of Living Life YOUR Way a contemplative post.
As I wrote these posts, a word kept coming to mind. A very simple word, yet a word that covers every aspect of life and the perfect focus word for me after an extremely stressful 2021. Mr M and I have come out the other side and are very much looking forward to living life and enjoying our life together without ‘the cloud’ (as I termed it) hanging over us. We are making plans and for me I’ve never seen him as relaxed in our 28 years together which is wonderful to see.
So what is my WOTY? It is simple -‘BE’.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary suggests ‘Be’ – ‘to have life’.
A small word yet a word with impact
Only two letters yet my WOTY can pack a punch and impact my life in many ways:
- Be present
- Be active
- Be healthy
- Be kind
- Be generous
- Be at peace
- Just ‘Be’
- Let it ‘Be’ (for the Beatles fans)
- Be authentic
- Be brave
- Be courageous
- Be BOLD (which was my friend Deb from Deb’s World 2021 WOTY)
The list goes on but I think you get the idea.
The most important focus for me is to ‘BE ME’ recognising and accepting who I am as an individual. Striving to live life my way without fear of what others may say or think (not always easy).
Will you select a WOTY? If you do, I would love you to share it with me. Perhaps you might like to also use ‘Be’ to find focus in 2022. Whatever you decide I wish you happiness and health for this New Year.
37 Comments
‘Just Be’ is a wonderful WOTY, Sue. Wishing you and Mike a wonderful year ahead of letting it be.
Thank you so much for the shout-out. I greatly appreciate your kind words.
Thanks Donna! It only came to me over the last week but I think it is perfect for my 2022. I love your WOTY too and a word we should all strive for. x
A fabulous word Sue! Thanks for the mention too, you too can BE Bold :). Hoping the year is a good one for you and Mike with no more ‘clouds’ like you had this year!
I’m revealing my word tomorrow and am a bit nervous after having such a great year with Bold.
Hi Deb, I’m not sure you will ever outdo BOLD but that is fine too. I’m sure your WOTY will be appropriate for where you are at the moment and you can still be BOLD and Beautiful in 2022 🙂 xx
Once you see mine, you will see what we have in common for our WOTY!
Denyse
Hi Densye, now you have me intrigued!!! x
A great choice of word Sue – and so good to hear the upbeat and positive ‘voice’ coming through your post in anticipation of a cloudless year ahead. I’m sure your word will give you plenty of blog post fuel for the months ahead. I’ve chosen a fun “silly” word to remind me to enjoy this new decade I’ve entered and have my post on it tomorrow. Happy New Year to you and Mike! x
Hi Leanne, I’m happy with my word which really was last minute. I look forward to reading what your WOTY is for 2022. You’ve had some good ones in the past so I’m sure this one will be good too! x
Hi Sue, I love your word of the year. I have decided mine will be ‘Health’. I constantly neglect this when so much else is going on. At 62 I worry that I will not be around for my children and my first grandchild who is on the way. Without my health I really have nothing, time to take care of me. xx. Narelle
Hello Narelle and lovely of your to visit and leave a comment. Health is always a great WOTY because it really determines how we can live our life. It is easy to put ourselves and our health last when we get busy but I would love you to keep with updated on your progess and let me know if I can help in any way. Happy New Year to you and wishing you a very Happy & Healthy 2022. xx
Be is a great word Sue. It sums up how to live life in one perfect syllable. May 2022 BE everything you hope for.
Hello Suzanne and Happy New Year to you and your husband! I’m very happy with my word of the year and it gives me great scope to focus on this small but important word. Thank you for your support of my blog and I look forward to sharing more and reading more of your work in 2022. xx
Just ‘be’ is fabulous Sue. I think that kind of is part of my general intention for this year too. I want to more fully accept myself as I am, quirks and all and not worry so much about what other people think of me. If I’m ok with me then that is all that really matters. This year, considering the situation we’re facing with Mum, I want to foster acceptance, faith and belief in the strength within myself along with trying to nurture and grow my art in a way that feels right for me. I’m glad that the stress you’ve endured this year has been resolved and that you can move forward now without that ‘cloud’. I hope the year ahead is a fabulous one for you! xo
Sounds like you have a plan in place Min which also takes into account your situation with your Mum but also looking after yourself. I look forward to reading more of your posts and again I say I really enjoy your artwork. You are very talented. xx
Absolutely love it Sue! I’ll be sharing mine in a blog soon…
Thanks Janet! Happy New Year to you and I look forward to reading what your WOTY is soon. x
Hi Sue I think this is the perfect WOTY for you after the stressful year you’ve just heard. Looking forward to seeing how it shows up for you as the year progresses
Thanks Jen, it has been very stressful but thankfully it has been resolved and we can now move forward. I’m looking forward and feeling more positive about 2022. Happy New Year! xx
I love it Sue and it’s similar to one of my favourite quotes – so simple but so powerful.
‘Being is the great explainer.’
Henry David Thoreau
Hi Deb, Happy New Year to you and thanks for dropping by. After our stressful year (the most stressful in my memory), I’m looking for something simple yet with focus so happy with my little word BE. I do love the quote you mentioned and there is definitely lots of scope with my Word. Have a wonderful 2022 xx
I like your choice. Just ‘be’ is very mindful and keeps you focussed on the here and now.
Thanks Jody, I’m happy with my WOTY and think it is just what I need after a turbulent 2021. Happy New Year to you!
Thanks Jody! I think it will work for me. x
Absolutely a perfect choice. In many ways it’s the ultimate doing word. Love that quote Deb Cook mentioned too…
Thanks Jo, it just kept coming to me and I thought ‘yep’. I’m ready to enjoy 2022 and ‘be’ anything I want to be so that gives me a lot of scope! I really liked the quote Deb Cook mentioned too. x
Just Be are excellent words, Sue. Happy New Year to you and Mike, and may 2022 Be everything you hope for.
Hi Natalie, I hadn’t intended to have a WOTY but this little word kept coming to me. Wishing you and your family the health and happiness and I look forward to linking up to your weekend coffee share in 2022. xx
Be is a beautiful word, Sue. I look forward to learning about where it takes you this year. Thank you for linking up with #weekendcoffeeshare. Have a wonderful week!
Hi Natalie, glad to be back linking up with you at #WeekendCoffeeShare x
That’s a great word to choose. I was struggling to find a word because I was thinking it had to be a word of action, like being brave or bold. I was worried how I could fulfil the word when I don’t have much spare time, or friends who live close to me who could undertake bold activities with me. I see now I’ve been over thinking it, and something like be kind would be ideal. Thanks fir linking and Happy New Year!
Hi Gail I think our WOTY usually comes to us in some form and if it doesn’t then it isn’t meant to be. Wishing you a very happy 2022 and I need to start trying to include some fashion posts. I’m inspired by yours. x
It’s such a little word, BE…yet it has a big impact doesn’t it? Coming from my selection of BE, I wanted to be far less about DO, and to enjoy the being rather than the doing that has always been the way I lived. Adding ME to mine has clarified the purpose because at last I am going to be more me and less ‘titles and labels’
So pleased that 2022 is beginning without the enormous cloud of stress and worry that, if I understand it, should never have happened!
Thank you for linking up for the first Life This Week in 2022 at Denyse Whelan Blogs.
Thank you too for sharing your post with our community and commenting on mine.
See you next week for 2/51 Life This Week,
Warm wishes
Denyse
Hi Denyse, I think it is perfect for me this year. We are moving forward in a positive mindset and determined to enjoy every bit of 2022. xx
I am making the blog rounds today, trying to catch up with everyone. Enjoyed Deb’s post about WOTY, and Christie’s post about how to settle on a word, Donna’s word is perfectly Donna as she resonates PEACE. I know you have had your share of dark clouds and cloudy days in 2021 but hoping the sun is out to stay in 2022 and you can just be with gladness in your heart.
I wasn’t going to have a WOTY this year Leslie, but I settled on ‘Be’ it will help me focus in the moment and all good things rather than on the negatives. xx
That is a great word Sue. My word is Unfold.
Oh I love Unfold so many possibilites…