Word of the year

For the last few years, I have chosen a word of the year instead of making resolutions. I find that if I just have an overarching theme for each year, I will work towards that theme in small increments much better than if I make goals or resolutions. Small increments work better for me.

2018

My word of the year for 2018 was Health.

The year did not start out well for my health. I fell and injured my arm. I was mentally down and exhausted. I was eating badly, and nothing seemed to be going right.

Small increments worked for me though.

I got a therapist in February and worked with her until the end of May. I needed to get my mental health right before I could do any significant things with my physical health. I was also working with a PT during this time to rehab my arm injury and get it back to fully functioning. So, by the end of May, I was back to feeling like me again, and I had my arm at around 80% of its previous function.

Over the summer, I took on two things. I joined Weight Watchers (now WW) and started to focus on my overall physical health. I got back into exercise and began moving again. And I hired a life coach to help me build my self-esteem and fully restore my mental health.

I have to say, these were two great decisions because they got me on a track of doing for myself. Not for anyone else. I was no longer trying to lose weight so that I would be desirable or so that people would stop looking at me as the fat girl. I was just trying to be healthier. Eat a better diet. Have more energy. And maybe weight loss would be a side effect. And I was trying just to learn to love me. Part of that was getting this blog off the ground and not keeping any more secrets about me. I am becoming me for the first time ever in my life, and having someone there along the way to help me see and learn was so helpful.

Now as I write this, I have lost a total of 16 pounds. I have stopped the day to day tracking of my weight, but I feel better than I have in ages. Even with a horrible cold over New Year’s, I rebounded faster, and I am feeling much better now. I want to continue to see how I can improve my diet and add more nutritious food in 2019. I am also feeling so much better about myself and who I am in the world. I have discovered a confidence that is still shaky, but it is growing. I am learning and growing each day, and I can’t wait to see what the new year will bring.

Which brings me to the 2019 word of the year.

Discovery

I have spent a lot of time the past week just resting in bed. And I have thought a lot about the word. It will drive everything I do this year because it will always be in the back of my mind. I threw out a bunch of words, but none of them stuck like this one.

I want to discover this year. Discover new skills I can put into practice. Discover how to have fun again. Discover new things to eat and new foods to enjoy. Discover new ways to add to my income. Discover how to communicate better. Discover how to work better. Discover new things and ideas and loves.

There is a whole world out there to discover, and I am going to spend this year tasting it.

I am already working on it.

I have bought myself puzzles for Christmas so I can discover some fun.

I am learning how to crochet off YouTube so I can discover a new skill.

I can’t wait to spend a year discovering.

Do you have a word of the year? What is it? Let’s share and keep ourselves honest.

🙂