Last year, my word of the year was, FORWARD.
As an enneagram 4, my tendency is to look backward and to reflect on my past. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, sometimes it gets me into trouble. Instead of merely reflecting, I get stuck and ruminate on past situations or events that only bring me stress and anxiety.
So last year, I set my intention to look and move forward. I created a vision board that had images and words representing everything that I wanted or hoped for in the year of 2020. On it were pictures of a home and home decor, mental and physical wellness, career aspirations, and children. I hung the board on the back of our bedroom door and used it as a reminder to look and work towards those things which I valued for the year.
I am definitely going to repeat the same exercise this year because boy did it pay off! Although I know that the mere action of making and hanging the board didn’t manifest us buying our first house or getting pregnant last year, I do believe that it helped me keep things in perspective and prioritize certain decisions.
For 2021 my word of the year is SAVOR.
I spent a lot of time debating between the words “embrace” and “savor.”
I was originally really drawn to the idea of embracing everything that was coming my way, whether it be good or bad. But then I realized that although it was not my word of 2020, embracing was something that I had largely spent time focusing on. So instead I chose, savor.
I chose savor because I am someone who enjoys moving to the next thing. Rarely do I go through an experience or a situation without simultaneously thinking about and planning for what comes next. This has been a sticking point for me because although this usually results in my life being well-planned and executed, I feel like I miss out on valuable or enjoyable moments that are important.
One moment that sticks out is my wedding. We spent so much time planning, and it was such a beautiful day; it could not have been more perfect. But when I look back at pictures or try to think back, I recall moments based on what I was thinking about at the time. Those thoughts were not about how much I loved my husband, how beautiful the centerpieces were, or how loved I felt by friends and family–they were about packing for the honeymoon, logistics of brunch the next morning, and making sure we weren’t going to leave anything behind at the venue.
Did I enjoy my wedding? Absolutely! Was I fully present and savoring every moment? Perhaps not as much.
2021 is a momentous year for Daniel and me as we welcome our little girl and enter parenthood, and I want to savor every moment.
I want to be present and focused on every first, every milestone– no matter how mundane or small. I want to be so enraptured in every moment that time seems to slow down because I know that children don’t stay little forever. I don’t want to “hurry up” and wish away the long and sleepless nights or the endless amounts of diapers because I know that in the blink of an eye, I will be missing those days and longing for them to come back.
I want 2021 to feel like the slowest and fullest year yet because I am soaking up and savoring every second.
What is your word for 2021 and why? I’d love to hear from you!
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