Simply..the word....

30/12/2019

I know that many of you like to choose a word to inspire and encourage you through your year.

Susannah Conway's free guide to choosing your word is helpful, whether you are new to this game or have done it for many years as I have. I think I started it in 2011 with fitter, and I certainly did get fitter that year. I've had lighter, walk, afresh, gently and supposing. Last year's word enchantment helped me find enchantment everywhere - it's a matter of focus - if you look for it it will come. Sometimes a second of enchantment morphed into a Paradise Moment...wonderful. Your word should be your ally says Susannah Conway and she asks you to consider what you want more of in 2020, and what you want less of.

Of course Simply is my overriding word. That's a given for me. Nurture has been on my mind for a few days, and I considered glad, but I think I am going for strong. Partly because I resist the idea that seems to be prevalent in our culture that to get older is to inevtitably become weak and frail.

I want to explore all the ways in which I can be strong as I age!

Lots to consider. I like to look up my word in dictionaries, and look at synonyms and opposites. Looking at quotations containing the word can be useful in helping me decide.

I'll give myself a couple more days to ponder, but I am strongly of the opinion that strong will be my word.

Have you decided what your word for 2020 will be?

There are some links in this post to others on this topic.

10 Comments

Lotta

31/12/2019 06:38:41 am

I always think of you as a strong woman Freda. I can’t imagine you giving in to frailty or weakness easily. I think mindset is so important though. I know people who have never considered themselves old and they find it hilarious whenever they remember their actual age... they have carried on regardless of the amount of years they have been alive and are bursting with vitality. I have a friend in her mid eighties who still cycles everywhere and likes to climb Snowdon each year on her birthday. Another strong woman. But then I know other strong women (and men) who do not necessarily have physical strength or ability, but their mental, emotional and spiritual strength more than suffices. And there is huge strength in accepting one’s own weaknesses too. Like you say, interesting to explore all the different kinds.
I’m not choosing a word this year but I’ll enjoy hearing about yours and anyone else’s.

Freda

31/12/2019 02:22:52 pm

It is wonderful to have role models like those friends of yours Lotta!

cath

31/12/2019 08:31:55 am

Possibly it is the realisation that over the past two years I have found it difficult to keep my word for the year really vital during the year that has prompted me to find a different approach.

For quite some time now I am learning to integrate the Celtic Wheel of the Year in my daily life. Basicly for me it is about trying to live in harmony with the energy of nature. An example: this year for the first time I have written my reflection on the year in the season of reaping which is in August/September.

It would take too long and too much space here to say more. I'll just add that my words from Winter Solstice to the beginning of February will be 'new beginnings'. At the end of January I will reflect on those and on the energy of the next season (Imbolc) and find a focus building on that.

The beauty of chosing a word for a year or for a period for me is in the experience that if the word balances itself out to include the opposite as well 'strong' will include 'weak' or 'frail' and thus becomes a quality of a different order and 'new beginnings' will evoke endings and thus honours and includes the past.

Freda

31/12/2019 02:26:05 pm

Thank you for sharing that here Cath. In harmony with each season's unique energy is surely a lovely way to live..

julia

31/12/2019 11:08:36 am

wow! i just looked back to last year's posts to find out what my word was, since i'm too undisciplined to actually write it down, nor remember it, nor practice it....but this proves the power of stating an intention out loud to others...turns out my word for last year was a question: what is enough? and that has been my over-riding question all year! so thank you, freda...you are truly an inspiration. you drop these seed-thoughts into our brains....and they sprout and grow. in my own case, i like my question so much i will do it for another year!

Freda

31/12/2019 02:28:21 pm

A brilliant question Julia and well worth another year's thought I expect!

Rosemary

31/12/2019 01:07:30 pm

A word I associate with your 'strong' Freda, is 'adapt'; to be able to adapt without going under to whatever comes at you is strength. Another good word is 'resilience'. I can imagine that, along with you, many of the women who follow this blog already have a brave go at all three of these qualities.

Freda

31/12/2019 02:31:33 pm

People are astonishing in their adaptability and resilience. I think of those in Australia who are losing their homes to bushfires for example..

Sue

2/1/2020 12:30:43 am

My word is “grateful”.
I'm quite a negative sort of person all too often concentrating on what is wrong with me, the world etc.
I need to turn my focus round to what is good and true especially as I grow older.
So I’m going to be grateful for what I am able to do and try to be a nicer, more positive person.
Happy New Year everyone.

Freda

2/1/2020 03:29:02 am

I am grateful that you are the kind of nice person who will share your excellent word with us, so thank you Sue.

Simply..the word....

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