This is the 10th year of my family choosing one word for the new year. Yes, everyone in the family picks their word then we display it in the house. This year we have magnetic puzzle pieces that are displayed on a metal plate we are hanging in the dining area. The puzzle is put together. Our older children have a second puzzle piece to take with them to display in their own homes, but we wanted to have all the family words in the house to symbolize that we are still together even as life is taking everyone on their own journey.
My word for the year is REAL. My first thought was to use IRL, but it felt too ironic to use a texting phrase for the purpose of my word, even though it fit my goal associated with the word. To be more real in my life.
Yes, part of the idea is to not spend so much of my life in front of a screen. At least not doing meaningless things. Obviously many aspects of my life, my poetry, my writing, even friendships, are connected to the digital world. But I want to choose real experiences first, choose people, choose playing games, walking, and conversing with others. Even in the digital world. I want to make the connections I have with people more than a shallow tweet or clicking an icon.
The other aspect for choosing the word is meant to help me breakout of the wall around my heart / spirit. I wrote about this feeling in November of 2022 in the blog post, “Tigger”. That feeling of living behind a wall was reinforced this year for a number of reasons. Yes, the passing of my mom and mother in law is part of it, but there are other small daily things that have added bricks to the wall I have constructed; from the classroom to the hurdles of chasing my dreams. I’ve spent too much energy adding bricks and mortar around my heart.
I am hoping this word helps in removing them because I don’t know how to get back to feeling happy and unafraid of living freely.
So my word for 2024 is REAL.
If you participate in the one word idea, share yours in the comment section.
It is all Connected 