I wasn’t going to participate in this. I’m not usually one for grand statements and inspirational quotes.
But… maybe I am after all. I may have learnt something new about myself already this year. And it’s only day five!
What’chu talkin’ ’bout, Willis? Forgive the pre-post rambling. Let me explain.
The fabulous Bron of Maxabella loves selects a word every year. Just one word. A word to live by. A word to focus on.
I read the post she wrote about her word for this year (and you should too – here’s the link again). And instead of rolling my eyes at the naffness (naffity?) of living by a single word, I found myself nodding along. Not to her one word. But to every word of the post.
And as I thought about how to respond to her post, and answer her final question, a word jumped out at me. Usually, I think about these things, can’t think of a word, throw a joke one in there, and then think of a few the next day that maybe possibly perhaps MIGHT be okay… ish.
But there was no ignoring this word. Perhaps it’s because I’ve become much clearer about what I want to achieve lately. I have goals and plans. And I believe that this one word will help me achieve them.
Are you ready? Here it comes… (drumroll)…
Steady.
(Oh, I said that already? In the title? Whoops. Spoiler alert.)
Steady.
I have writing goals. Steady will help me. I won’t rush at things full speed, burn out and get despondent about the writer’s block. I will create a pattern. I will be steady.
I have blogging goals. Steady will help me. I will continue with my plan. If new things develop, or I get new inspiration that takes me on a different path, I will assess it and formulate a new plan. Or assess it and put the new idea aside. I will be calm. I will be focused. I will be steady.
I have health and fitness goals. Steady will help me. I will build my fitness and strength. I will work with my doctors. I will not make my first long-distance run in more than six years a 10km run/sprint/walk/crawl/gasp for water that knocks me to the floor and renders me immobile the next day. I will do what I can. And the next time, I will do a bit more. I will listen to my body. I will be steady.
I have coordination goals. Steady will help me. Hopefully I won’t be able to add any more verses to Dumb ways to get hurt this year. I will be steady.
I have personal goals. And this is where steady will help me the most.
Confession time: I’ve been feeling burnt out at home lately. I’ve been snapping at the kids and counting down the minutes until the end of the day. I’ve thought about going back to work. About care, about nannies, about building the work from home to justify it all, about abandoning the freelance thing to head back into the corporate world: these and many more options.
But after the honest questions and the brutal self-analysis, I know it’s not a work thing. It’s a me-time thing. I simply don’t have enough time that is just about me. And that’s not good enough for an introvert.
Steady will help me. I will breathe. I will calm myself. I will acknowledge when I need time to myself, and I will take that time for myself. And I will not feel guilty about it. Eventually. I will be steady.
(Anyone else read the word ‘steady’ so many times that it no longer seems like a real word?!)
So there you have it. Steady is my word for 2015.
What’s yours?
That is a fucking powerful word! Well, done!! 🙂
Wow, thank you! That is another powerful word right there!
Slow and steady wins the race, Em. I love your choice of word and your reasoning behind it. I haven’t chosen a word this year, or any other year for that matter, I like to tinker away with several words in mind. (Tinkering a term I read in one of Bron’s post). I will definitely be keeping steady at the back of my mind this year. I think it’s a great start to the year for you and a great way to help you focus on taking care of you. xx #teamIBOT
Thanks Renee. As I said, I’m not usually one for words either, but I think I need this one right now.
I’ve been having a rather long break from social media town and didn’t realise there was a one word movement in town. Interestingly over the break I struggled to set goals for the year and ended up with a saying as my theme for the year.
A saying can only be good too! Thanks Raychael.
I know exactly what you’re talking about Willis. Yours is a great word and I hope it brings you much happiness and light in 2015. Happy New Steady Year! (stopping by with #IBOT)
Thank you. Glad my Willis line got through to someone!
My word for 2015 is crumpets! 😉 Seriously its little wonder that you’re feeling a bit “strung out”. We all go through it. As your kids get older things will get easier for you. (Says the mum who’s about to pack her youngest off to school in four weeks. Yes we are counting)
Crumpets. Yes, whenever that’s my word I head straight to you, Mumabs!
I missed that post by baron, must look. Steady is a great choice! My word this year will be ‘fearless’ 🙂
That’s fitting because I’m watching Divergent right now and Tris just chose Dauntless. Cue Twilight Zone music. Fearless is great. Good luck! I’ll consider it for myself when I’m done needing steady.
Bron, even! Damn autocorrect!
I prefer Baron, so that’s ok 🙂
Baron Heartfelt – should you ever need a more regal name, there you have it 🙂
Haha! Best thread EVER. Baron Maxabella has a nice ring to it.
I hope steady can help you reach all your goals this year Em! I’ve had words in the past – Hope. Faith. Can’t remember if there were more because I kind of gave up on the idea. I found by the end of January my words had gone the way of my resolutions -out the door! I don’t have a word, just a goal – to not spend 2015 as stressed as I was in 2014. x Aroha (for #teamIBOT)
Good luck with the stressing less. I never usually make resolutions for similar reasons. That’s why I think this word will stick. x
Steady is a beauty! It’s so easy to rush or on the other end of the scale, get disheartened when things don’t progress as swiftly as we’d like but being steady will help it all unfold as it should. Best wishes for keeping steady in 2015 x
Thank you Vicki. Everyone’s so supportive! Loving it. x
I think it is a great word – a patient, contented word. Slow is good but steady has more forward momentum. I reckon you are going places and will win the race.
Thank you Kathy, that’s beyond lovely. I don’t think steady has to be slow; it just means that it doesn’t have to be fast fast fast all the time. (Or something like that…)
Steady is a strong and fantastic word xx
Thanks Rach.
This is a good word! I think it fits you and the purpose you wish to achieve! Well done on crossing over to this side, xS.
Thanks Sarah.
Steady is a good one.
I’ve been doing the word four years now and I am very pleased to say that I am STILL doing it. I LOVE IT! Bron is super clever.
My word this year is “opportunity”.
Today is an opportunity ….
Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit
Opportunity. I like it. A lot. Will head over to check out your word post. x
So right now, as I am struggling to write a 2000 word blog post about how start up businesses have managed their online success (YAWN) I realise my word is selective. I need to say no more and think about what I love writing and do more of that, in saying that I need the $$ – GROAN. Love your word Em, you can do it, slow and steady wins the race remember! xxxx
Selective is good. I hope you find the balance between the writing that you want to do and the writing that pays. I find the yawny stuff good – gives my brain free run to consider other writing projects at the same time.
Powerful word. Best wishes for a STEADY 2015.
Thank you!
Such a good word and great goals for the year. I really enjoyed Bron’s post too and couldn’t help but join in either. Enjoyed reading! Beth.
Will head over and check it out.
Another excellent word choice. I first chose a word for the year back in 2013 and it was really interesting how it manifested throughout the year. In ways I totally didn’t expect. The word was patience and it proved to be the perfect choice In 2014 it was determination and again it manifested in ways I wasn’t expecting. So it will be interesting to see how this years word, Capture, pans out!
Ooh, I like it, especially how it relates to your photography! Great word choice.
I don’t have a word, but I do have an idea, and actually steady gets pretty close to encapsulating it.
But then again you and I are kind of the same person so why am I surprised?
Separated at birth. By 1000s of kilometres. x
Great word. I hope your year is steady in every way. And yes, it does look weird after a while. Imagine writing ‘enough’ over and over – even weirder! Here is to us both sticking with our words for 2015 and being awesome for it.
I always used to feel that way about giraffe, too – both written and spoken. Just doesn’t seem like a real word after a while.
Love your word. There’s something calming about it. My word for 2015 is growth. I initially was going to use change but I figured that while there are somethings about me that need to change, there are still lots of parts of me that I like. So I think growth is better, because it means that I am building on what I like, rather than changing.
I like growth. I think growth can incorporate change where needed. Great choice. Thanks for the support!
Each time I read the word steady I was singing “ready, steady, wiggle” in my head. Thats how much I dont get time to myself, my mind is occupied by kids shows even when shes asleep!
Every word ever sets off a Wiggles song in my head! There are just so many! I feel your pain. Joy? Pain.
Steady is an awesome word hun. Rock it. xx
Thank you Sonia. x
I think you nailed it with Steady Em. x
Thanks Jodi.
Steady is an awesome word! And I love your explanations!
My word is enough! I shared it on the blog yesterday!
I saw enough. LOVE IT.
More and more I think we are all returning to the quietly powerful moments that words like steady, simple, enough and nourish bring us. My word – complete – is another. We don’t need to win or be the best, we just want to finish what we set out to do. We don’t want to need, we just want to be.
Happy new year, Em and thank you for being such a brilliant, thought-provoking ebuddy. x
Thank you so much for this comment, Bron. You and your blog are a huge part of my blogging journey. Means a lot to read words like this. x
I haven’t set myself a word for this year. I did however find myself nodding along to everything you wrote in the “Confession time” paragraph so have decided that I will steal your word. Steady is very appropriate when I am trying not to let the craziness of everyday life overwhelm me. Thanks Em and good luck maintaining your steadiness throughout the year!
Let’s share it instead – I still need the word too! Good luck to you too x