Happy New Year! Every year since 2016 I’ve chosen a focus word of the year. I like to think of my focus word as a gentle guide and almost “essence” that I want to infuse the year with.
There are years when I’m SO ready to move on to a new word. I was understandably over “thrive” taunting me as my word of 2020. But some words are hard to let go of. I felt that way about my 2021 word JOY and now I feel it for my 2022 word FUN. These simple words end up having a powerful impact on my life in ways I don’t expect.
How I come up with my word:
Everyone has their own method for coming up with their word of the year. Some years I just *know* and it feels super obvious. This year I kept an ongoing list of maybe words starting in December and then dwindled down from there. I also use the journaling prompts that I shared last month. After completing all the prompts I went back through what I wrote to see if there were any words or common themes that kept popping up.
My focus word for 2023 is…
🌱 Bloom! Okay, this year’s word is kind of cheesy, but come with me on this journey…
The last few years have been… chaotic and left me feeling very uprooted. In 2022 I feel like I was replanted and setting down roots again by starting a new job. And now? I’m ready to bloom and grow into my full Kayla potential. The more I’ve thought about this word and all the imagery around it, the more perfect it’s felt for 2023 and where I’m at in my life right this second.
🌱 For a plant to bloom, it needs to be taken care of.
I want to focus on the ways I can water and tend to my own leaves/growth this year. That looks like a lot of introverting time, prioritizing time with people that fill me up, being kind to my body, daily movement, and eating foods that make me feel my best.
🌱 Sometimes you have to cut off the dead leaves in order to grow stronger.
I’ve been thinking a lot about where I want to focus my energy this year. There is this “give and take” when it comes to focusing your energy anywhere.
For example, if I wanted to start teaching fitness classes in studio again that takes time and energy. That time and energy has to come from somewhere else in my life like seeing friends, reading, or maybe just time spent lounging on the couch watching TV.
Some things are worth taking the time and energy from elsewhere. But some things are not. I want to be aware of that this year and really ask myself I something is worth pulling the time and energy from elsewhere.
Also on that topic, I want to do some serious life decluttering in my apartment. Lots of metaphorical dead leaves in my closet.
🌱 I have this desire to grow, but in a way that is effortless and fulfilling.
For so many years I’ve been muscling my way through life. Always pushing and exerting. It’s… exhausting. Plants grow so gorgeously and effortlessly. I want my own growth to feel more like a natural progression of the seeds that have been planted and not just out of pure exertion of energy.
🌱 You need different things during different seasons.
I want to honor the natural ebbs and flows of the different seasons. Summer is this very extroverted time: ALL the fun, exciting things! In winter I’m working on being more excited for the slower pace and my tendency to hibernate because of the weather.
🌱 Appreciate the beauty in the moment.
At first, I thought my word of the year was going to be present. My favorite moments of 2022 were the moments I was the most present. Putting my phone on airplane mode at a Harry Styles concert. Singing Sweet Caroline at the top of my lungs with my best friend for no reason. Feeling the intensity of a sunset in my gut. Spending time with my nephew.
I want to be obsessed with living in the moment and not just capturing it for social media.
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I was going to close this out by saying “to blooming in 2023” but then I feel like a blooming onion… so instead here’s to embodying “bloom” this year.
