2023's One-Word Theme

             Around this time last year, I wrote a blog post about my one-word theme. Last year, my word was move.

On reflection, I didn’t think I did this. The thing I was the most excited about when I set this theme was being able to do exercise again. And to be fair, I did do that – it just wasn’t as much as I thought I was going to do after not being able to move for about a year due to my knee injury.

 I’ve been feeling disappointed that I let myself down.

Then, I started looking at it in a different way and realized that I did a lot more movement that I had initially thought.

I moved jobs. I was in Adult Education last year and while I know I was put in that role to be in some people’s lives and I learned a lot, it just wasn’t for me. I’m back in high school, and I am feeling so much more fulfilled.

I moved into my own house. This is a HUGE accomplishment from 2022. To be able to own a home at my age, in the market we were looking in, with the dwindling time frame we had is something short of a miracle. But I did it. I have my own home now.

I moved through travel. Travel came back to me! I took a trip to see one of my good friends and her kids, I saw my sister while she is doing her Masters, and I reconnected with my best friends.

I moved back on skis! Over the holidays, I got back on the skiis! While I’m moving a little slower on the slopes, and I’m a tad more hesitant, I. Am. Back. After my first run (did you see my Reel on Instagram?), I burst into tears because I am SO happy to be back. Skiing is truly my happy place.

I moved into a deeper understanding of myself. Gosh, I love therapy so much. I feel like I’m in a completely different place in my life now. I feel like I’m slowly starting to untangle the unknown within in order to really become who I’m meant to be. Stay tuned for more on that.

Overall, I’m so happy with last year. I certainly did move. Although it was a year of massive accomplishments, it was also one of the most emotional years. Each of those points above came with a lot of questioning myself, a lot of waiting, and a lot of tears.

That brings me to my one-word theme of 2023.

Root.

I have been waiting and waiting and waiting for my life to be how it is now. I’ve worked hard to get to where I am, and now that I’m here, I no longer feel stagnant. I feel like I’m in a place where I can actually grow again.

This year, I want to really put down my roots.

I want to make this house a home.

I want to establish myself as a member of my school community.

I want to make myself stronger emotionally and physically so I can have a good base for all the good and bad that is still down the road.

I want to learn but also trust that my base is good enough.

It took me a long time to come up with this term. I was debating between strong and stability but then I realized that root encapsulates both. I’m excited to see where this word will take me this year.