One Word. Encapsulate the year in one word. Explain why you’re choosing that word. Now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2022 for you?

From years past: 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010

The one word that captures this year:
Manifested

Last year, I thought this word’s year would be optimism. And it was in some way. But more than that, I believed that manifested many things. There’s something about outlining hopes and dreams at the beginning of the year. Although I wasn’t exactly creating a whole plan, I believed in each goal and activity so much that it must have been embodied in me.

I wanted a new meaningful job, which I found. I wanted to attend writing workshops and submit work. Did it. I wanted to put more energy in my novel. Done. I wanted to speak at a conference. Done. I wanted to meet people outside of the people I know. Done. And so on and on.

The year started with an incredible stumble, but I survived. I guess you could say that I was at the bottom and the only direction was up. The goals I set for myself weren’t so hard as I had achieved them in small ways previously. But I really made it all happen. Even though I didn’t LOVE every minute.

A coach asked me at the beginning of the year asked me what I planned to do after leaving that job. I listed all of those things. Her reaction was surprise. All of that, she asked. Yes, I said, I will probably do all of them. She paused and said, thank you for letting me come on your journey. I thought that it was annoying, because I would never list all of those things if I wasn’t going to do them. But the thing that people often don’t get about me is that I won’t love those things. I constantly have to make sure that it’s something that I will enjoy and not do it just because I said I would. Although if I reflect back, it’s about reframing those opportunities into something greater, because there’s always a benefit for all of them.

So I hope the next year will be more of the same—with maybe a more thoughtful diligence. There’s a part of me that wants to drop everything that dragged me down. But FOMO comes back, because in the things that I dislike, there’s light. I am not going to sacrifice myself for others. I don’t believe in solipsism, but I will have to make sure that things are still for me.

Next year then: Connection.

I want to build more meaningful relationships. I had envisioned myself building a community, but after some observation this year and reflection, I realize that I don’t have in it. The community building aspect. So maybe it’s about the skill? Or maybe it’s just not me. Like so many people, I just want to belong.