Word of the Year: EXTRAORDINARY

Many people choose a  Word of the Year (WOTY). The idea is to choose a word that will inspire you, motivate you, and create space for you to step more fully into being your best self. How do you want to show up in your life? What do you want to embody? What would nudge you towards living your life more fully?

A few years ago, I chose the word DEVOTION as my Word of the Year for 2021.

The following New Year, I was keeping up with my senior year at Smith College, getting ready to graduate and I don't think it ever even occurred to me to choose one.

Last year I chose the word DELIGHT:

I wanted to find more delight in my life and to bring more delight to the world. 

I hand-lettered the word as the cover for my binder with my goals, my current challenges, my trackers, and my morning pages, was ...well ...Delightful! 

So much so that I've left it there, even though the word that I've chosen for this year is:

EXTRAORDINARY

My life, at present, requires that I show up in extraordinary ways. IYKYK. 

Without going into too many details, (loose lips sink ships and all that), life is full, often changes dramatically with little notice, and there are only little pockets of time and energy here and there to work toward a brighter and more fulfilling future. 

As I was journaling about how I want this year to be different, and who I need to become to move toward more thriving than surviving, I realized I want to show up in extraordinary ways. Perhaps not achieving extraordinary things, but like Mother Theresa said, “Do small things with great love.” 

I want my kids to have a great childhood, I want to keep my marriage strong, and I want to do things that make the world more beautiful. I want to eat delicious food, I want to see delightful things, I want to laugh with people I love - even if I don’t know them very well. 

I want to give the ordinary that little bit extra. 

Do you choose a WOTY? What have been your favorite ones in the past? What are some of your favorite words?

To expand my connection with the word and give me more fodder for embodiment, I wrote out the letters and chose words that inspired me. 

I also hand-lettered my WOTY and framed it where I will see it every day. While much of our environment fades quickly from our awareness, intentional practices of noticing and mindfulness can bring them back to the forefront of our minds.

What qualities are you focusing on? What qualities do those you admire embody? How are you intentionally showing up for the challenges in your life? How are you steering back onto the road or into the skid? What qualities do you appreciate in the people around you? 

Cheers to living life on purpose! 

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