The Journey Inward

I have been picking Words of the Year since 2018. At first, I would pour over lists of words, circling those that resonated, writing about each and narrowing down to one winner. These past two years, the words have come to me! They nip at my heels, tug at my sleeves and beg to be noticed, accepted and explored. Although other words come up during the year that suit me well, I still hold on to that initial word and let it grow in me, bringing forth expansion and transformation.

This year my word is STORY. It came to me as One Little Words often do now, first by intriguing me with an introduction and then by popping up literally everywhere…books, podcasts, conversations with friends, therapy. It is as though the Universe has placed them here, there and everywhere for me to stumble upon, marvel at and eventually recognize the message they hold for me.

STORY resonates with me because it is all about removing the shame and guilt that comes from a version of my story that makes me small, unseen and unheard, a victim, an outlier, isolated. STORY resonates with me because it is true authenticity, reclaiming my past as I have experienced it and now have come to view it, and not putting on rose colored glasses to brighten it up. STORY resonates with me because it allows for a release of anger and resentment that come from a lack of compassion, for myself and others. STORY resonates with me because it is mine, unique and complicated, shiny and grubby, joyful and sorrowful, great and gritty. It is rich with success, happiness, pride, pain, trauma and turmoil. STORY resonates with me because it is about boundaries and discernment, as not everyone gets all parts of me, but at the same time, it is not reserved for only the people closest to me.

This year, I want to focus on my story…my life as I have experienced it, my life as I imagine it going forward, my life as I create it today. I want to own my story, feel proud of the crooked journey that has brought me to this place. I want to LIVE in my story.