A Word for 2021

I know I have been a little MIA the past couple of months. The holiday season and the state of the world was a bit overwhelming to put into words. In a way, I was trying to sneak into 2021 without touching anything or making a sound in hopes that the new year wouldn’t be an extension of the previous 365 days. 

The holiday season was hectic for me, as I assume the same could be said for the general public. I picked up a second job to help fund the renovations at the cottage. It’s a little unconventional trying to pay for renovations without a loan. 

Things move a little slower and it’s sometimes difficult imagining that we could’ve been finished or close to finished with the home. I’ve been reminded that the delay will make the finish line all that much sweeter, whenever that may be. 

There is something about a new year that makes you feel like you can just start over. It’s as if the pains of the previous year have been washed away. Each year, I choose a word for the upcoming year. It’s a tradition that I started a few years ago when I just so happened to be going through a big change in my life. 

Generally, it’s a word that I want to focus on – self-growth. There’s no rule that I have to have the word decided by midnight on New Year’s Eve. I sometimes wait a few weeks into the new year to really hone in on what I want in the year. 

Little did I know that the word I chose for 2020 would have such a profound impact on my life. I chose the word “perspective” not knowing 2020 would become the most monumental and devastating year in my lifetime. I was challenged to find perspective in the midst of a pandemic, losing a job, a house fire that led to a kitchen remodel and many other chaotic 2020 events. 

With all of the madness, I challenged myself to focus on the good in the world. Did I always succeed? Absolutely not. It’s often difficult to see the beauty of going through a difficult time while you are still in it. It’s like not fully appreciating the valleys until you are up on the mountaintop.

Now I can’t say that the year was completely terrible. Before the quarantine, I checked “visiting the Four Corners Monument” off the bucket list and marveled at the sandstone arches at Arches National Park.

We had a successful harvest in our garden, and we picked up some new skills in home renovation. I landed a dream job and met some amazing, inspiring people along the way. I grew in ways that I didn’t think was possible.

I was still hopeful that we could put 2020 behind us and we could start new on Jan. 1. Instead, it was apparent in the first week of 2021 that our wounds were still open. 

I chose to use the same word for 2021 because I still need to work on my outlook on life. Though I am not certain, I remain hopeful that we will be standing on the mountaintop soon enough. Cheers to surviving 2020 and healing in 2021.

Your friend,

Laci

Previous Words:
2018: Growth
2019: Confidence
2020: Perspective