Ever since 2020, I’ve been afraid of picking a Word of the Year because, in 2020, I picked IMPACT.
I picked that word because I wanted my life and work to have more IMPACT on the world. But instead, the world decided to have more IMPACT on me.
2020 was the year of the Pandemic. I picked IMPACT in January, and in March, I had to close my yoga studio and try to move it online. Which I did, and it turned out fine, and even better than fine in many ways, but now I feel a little more cautious when picking a Word of the Year.
As in: Be careful what you wish for.
This year, I have chosen LIGHTEN UP as my word(s).
The election gutted me, and I’m still bent over with the dark, oppressive burden of it, but I’ve created some necessary and healthy boundaries for myself.
For example, I’ve stopped reading newspapers and listening to news podcasts or TV shows, which is helping A LOT. I’m sorry Rachel’s ratings are tanking, but I just can’t. I hope she makes it without me.
I’ve decided to look at Politics through the lens of games, instead through the lens of “real life.”
I’m watching politics the way I watch football: as a dangerous, pugilistic, weirdly entertaining way to spend fifteen minutes, but then go back to my book or my movie. Now, I only check the political scoreboard once in the morning, then move on.
The same goes for social media. It’s a different game than politics, but there are hidden dangers in the algorithms that make it way too entertaining, so I’m better off doing almost anything else.
There are games I do like and follow with varying degrees of interest:
- I still follow the clothes and fashion game.
- I follow the book and art world game.
- I follow travelers and travel influencers.
- I like reading psychology and cultural commentary.
- I love having IRL conversations.
So, my plan for 2025 is to keep up with those games and ignore the games that bore, upset, or burden me.
And by doing this, hopefully, I’ll be able to LIGHTEN UP, Buttercup!
And in this way, I’ll use my “word of the year” as my North Star. Then, when I find myself on the well-worn path leading into the Forest of Gloom and Doom, I can (hopefully) remember my mantra: Lighten up, lighten up, lighten up, and reverse course.
I love the word LIGHT because it has such rich and varied meanings and connotations. But the meaning I want to focus on this year is light, as in “as a feather” rather than light “at the end of the tunnel.”
I want to feel more disburdened than illuminated, though I wouldn’t refuse if someone offered me a free sample of enlightenment!
But what I truly want to foster in myself this year is a more carefree, sunny, unbothered attitude.
Que sera sera
Whatever will be will be
The future’s not ours to see
Que sera sera.
What will be will be.
I want to be less Stoic and more insouciant.
Less, “control the controllables” and more “whatever will be will be.”
“Lighten up, buttercup.” That’s my mantra for myself this year.
Wish me luck.
Inspiration Location 