Word-of-the-Year folks: reflections on 2021? Thoughts on 2022?

[Ginevra]

My WOTY for 2021 was “Open”. But unlike my Word pre-pandemic, I don’t feel like this word really typified my year or brought much new. In the earlier part of the year, it had some relevance as I was open to learning my then-new job. But, TBH, its opposite probably meant more later in the year, as I closed myself off to people and things that don’t suit me anymore. I finally decided that there were some friends from the past whom I was no longer interested in “dancing” with all the time as they spouted their anti-Covid, anti-mask and anti-vax nonsense. Screw that! I’m using what little patience I have left for that on my primary relationships. 
 

I don’t have a word in mind yet for next year. I usually have one by December but nothing is jumping out at me yet. I feel like it will have something to do with seizing opportunities and making my own luck. But I don’t really know yet. I wonder what would happen if I chose a word like “Lucky”? It’s not really a word that has to do with my own actions; we think of luck as something that just happens. But what if I was focusing on being “lucky” all year long? Hmm. I have to think on that. 
 

What about your Word? 

[MEmama]

My word of the year was Brave. I have definitely leaned into it and found it helpful. A few Brave things I’ve done in 2021: I have come out more publicly. I cut my bra length hair into a pixie cut. I survived letting my DS go to university—overseas— with grace. I am embracing empty nesting. It’s been a good word to me this year. 🙂 

I usually have a word by now for the upcoming year, but I don’t yet. December snuck up on me so I guess it’s time to start reflecting on what is speaking to me.

Thank you for this timely reminder.

[Guest]

@MEmama Brave was my 2020 word, but Covid put an oh-so-weird twist on that word! 

[Carol in Cal.]

I kept debating my word last year, and finally landed on Flourish.

And I pretty much have done that.  So, that was good.

I am thinking about mastery, juggler, execute, or maybe surf for 2022.  Really not feeling it though.  

[Slache]

My word for 2020 changed from Thrive to Survive around June, and 2021 was Strive. I texted girlfriend a few days ago "I have never been less excited to set up my bullet journal. I think it's because the last two years have been so awful. I have every promise this year will be better, but I just can't get into it." And I feel the same way about this. I think I'll go with Depleted. It will be good to look back and see how much better things have gotten, rather than start out sugar coating things like I did last year.

Edited December 1, 2021 by Slache

[MEmama]

35 minutes ago, Quill said:

@MEmama Brave was my 2020 word, but Covid put an oh-so-weird twist on that word! 

Yeah, that would have been a hard word to find inspiration in during 2020. 😞 

[prairiewindmomma]

My 2021 word was "light".  It had a dual meaning for me---I had set down a lot of heavy burdens at the end of 2020 and I was feeling physically lighter.  I also feel like as I learned more this year---had light brought into my life---that I continued to clean out cobwebs from my soul and really began to see and understand things around me. It has been a great word for this year.

I haven't yet chosen my 2022 word.  I'm considering the word "athlete"---from the Nike slogan that everyone is an athlete.  I need to get back into a workout routine for my physical health. 

[Carol in Cal.]

39 minutes ago, Quill said:

@MEmama Brave was my 2020 word, but Covid put an oh-so-weird twist on that word! 

I seriously tilted toward fearless for 2021, but tilted away to Flourish in the end.

My word for 2020 was Roar.  Boy did that turn out weird.

[Jean in Newcastle]

I had to search for last year’s thread to remember. My phrase was “Xena strong”. (Xena Warrior Princess is my very hidden alter ego). This year will be “Power On”. 

[Ditto]

My 2021 word is heal.     The year has been full of pain and confusion.    I have healed in ways I didn't expect only to be freshly gutted in ways I didn't see coming.    I am actively working to heal and will continue to for some time.

Honestly the only word that is coming to me for 2022 is tired.  I am just so very tired.   I am tired in every way possible.

Please 2022 be more kind and gentle than 2020 and 2021 have been.   

[Slache]

1 minute ago, Ditto said:

My 2021 word is heal.     The year has been full of pain and confusion.    I have healed in ways I didn't expect only to be freshly gutted in ways I didn't see coming.    I am actively working to heal and will continue to for some time.

Honestly the only word that is coming to me for 2022 is tired.  I am just so very tired.   I am tired in every way possible.

Please 2022 be more kind and gentle than 2020 and 2021 have been.   

I really think it's going to. I'm hopeful about the economy, politics, health, finances, general happiness. I think it's going to be slow going and frustrating because we're all just so done, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

[Pawz4me]

My word for this year has been equanimity, and in an unusual move I rolled it over from 2020. I felt like I needed it some more. And I think it served me well.

I'm not quite settled on a 2022 word yet, but I think it's going to be balance or something very similar. That kind of ties back into equanimity (mental calmness or evenness, which is close to mental balance) but I'm thinking I need to extend that to encompass more things. I recently started PT for some issues I'm having, and during the initial consult the therapist asked me what made the troublesome areas hurt. And I said "Too much of anything. Too much activity makes me hurt, but so does too much sitting or resting." And so balance ties back into that. I need to focus on enough but not too much physical activity, and also continue to work on balance as far mental/emotional attitude, balance in following news/current events/politics enough to be reasonably well informed but not to the point of being stressed out, etc.

Edited December 2, 2021 by Pawz4me

[ScoutTN]

Will someone please link last year’s thread? I cannot seem to find it.

[regentrude]

I had done WotY for several years, but was unable to choose one for 2021 after my 2020 word "free" so completely derailed. I could only come up with "futile" because that's what everything felt like (I think I wrote about that in the WotY 2021 thread).  I thought  about "accept", but to me that has the negative undertone of "settling" and "resignation", so that didn't feel right either.

2021 was such a year of loss. I'm not sure I want to try a word for 2022.

[Slache]

Just now, regentrude said:

I had done WotY for several years, but was unable to choose one for 2021 after my 2020 word "free" so completely derailed. I could only come up with "futile" because that's what everything felt like (I think I wrote about that in the WotY 2021 thread).  I thought  about "accept", but to me that has the negative undertone of "settling" and "resignation", so that didn't feel right either.

2021 was such a year of loss. I'm not sure I want to try a word for 2022.

The years that I felt this way something just came to me around March. You could wait for it. If not, then come back next year. We'll be here.

[Guest]

3 minutes ago, ScoutTN said:

Will someone please link last year’s thread? I cannot seem to find it.

I shall try…

[Jean in Newcastle]

7 minutes ago, ScoutTN said:

Will someone please link last year’s thread? I cannot seem to find it.

 

[Guest]

Thank you, Jean. 🙂 

[ScoutTN]

Hmm, I don’t think I chose one for this year. It has been a difficult year, at best. Praying and hoping that 2022 will be better. Will ponder word choice for a bit and report back. 

 

 

[Catwoman]

Am I the only one who has never done the word of the year thing?

Other than on this forum, I don’t think I know anyone who does it.

 

[Guest]

18 minutes ago, Catwoman said:

Am I the only one who has never done the word of the year thing?

Other than on this forum, I don’t think I know anyone who does it.

 

Interesting. It was a thing at my church several years ago so I know many people who do it or have done it. One family I know, all the kids and both parents make an art piece with their word and collage-type photos on it, like a vision board that all has to do with the word they chose. I think that’s pretty awesome as a thing to do as a family. 

[Jean in Newcastle]

22 minutes ago, Catwoman said:

Am I the only one who has never done the word of the year thing?

Other than on this forum, I don’t think I know anyone who does it.

 

I have only seen it on this board. But it has been a fun thing. It’s nothing more than that. No one has to do it. And it doesn’t actually determine your year. 

[sassenach]

This is the first year that I've utterly lost track of what my word was. I went back and looked it up and didn't even recall choosing it, so I guess the word thing didn't work out for 2021. My word was Joy. And while the year hasn't been joy-less, I would definitely not call it a joy-filled year. It's been brutal. The hardest year I've had in many. The one thing that I am incredibly grateful to report is that my marriage is more joy-filled than it's ever been. Life has been a storm but my marriage has thrived, and BELIEVE ME when I say that this has been a hard fought road. This is not an effortless marriage. So that's something. I'm truly grateful to be at this place. Otherwise, the words poop and show come to mind. 

I am tired and dreading next year. We've got several very hard things happening in 2022. I don't think we'll see relief next year. 

Maybe my word will be Mercy. 

[marbel]

2 hours ago, Catwoman said:

Am I the only one who has never done the word of the year thing?

Other than on this forum, I don’t think I know anyone who does it.

 

I had never heard about it outside this board but if you Google it, you can see it is not just a hive thing. I think in general this board has a lot of people who are highly introspective and I think choosing a word for the year sort of fits that. Just speaking in generalities of course, and not attaching any value judgment either way. I have chosen a word for the year in the past, but over time realized it was not meaningful to me so haven't done it since. I do find it an interesting topic though.

Edited December 2, 2021 by marbel

[Slache]

2 hours ago, Catwoman said:

Am I the only one who has never done the word of the year thing?

Other than on this forum, I don’t think I know anyone who does it.

Interesting. I haven't seen it either, aside from an add for a custom necklace with your word for the year.

Does anyone know where it came from?

Cat, pick a word. It's now required.

[MerryAtHope]

I have done a word of the year regularly since 2013, but also did one in the mid 2000’s. My word this year was a phrase: strong and courageous. I chose it in honor of my Uncle Mark who died on Dec.26 last year, yet somehow managed to call me and many others on Christmas Day. I got his card just after he passed, which was a little eerie but such a joy too. 

In it he encouraged us to “think good thoughts, do good work, and live in today’s blessings, not yesterday’s losses.” His card included Joshua 1:9, “Be strong and of good courage; be not frightened, neither be dismayed; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” God is the source of our strength and courage. So I endeavored, as my uncle wrote, to face 2021 “with the Lord’s promise and help.” 2021 certainly asked a lot of me, and it was a good word to remind me where our strength comes from.

I haven’t thought of. 2022 word yet. 2020 was planted, which also led into my 21 choice nicely. 

 

[MerryAtHope]

2 hours ago, sassenach said:

This is the first year that I've utterly lost track of what my word was. I went back and looked it up and didn't even recall choosing it, so I guess the word thing didn't work out for 2021. My word was Joy. And while the year hasn't been joy-less, I would definitely not call it a joy-filled year. It's been brutal. The hardest year I've had in many. The one thing that I am incredibly grateful to report is that my marriage is more joy-filled than it's ever been. Life has been a storm but my marriage has thrived, and BELIEVE ME when I say that this has been a hard fought road. This is not an effortless marriage. So that's something. I'm truly grateful to be at this place. Otherwise, the words poop and show come to mind. 

I am tired and dreading next year. We've got several very hard things happening in 2022. I don't think we'll see relief next year. 

Maybe my word will be Mercy. 

God may yet bring even more joy out of a year like that. Read James 1:2-4, and also Romans 5:1-5.

[Melissa Louise]

4 hours ago, Ditto said:

My 2021 word is heal.     The year has been full of pain and confusion.    I have healed in ways I didn't expect only to be freshly gutted in ways I didn't see coming.    I am actively working to heal and will continue to for some time.

Honestly the only word that is coming to me for 2022 is tired.  I am just so very tired.   I am tired in every way possible.

Please 2022 be more kind and gentle than 2020 and 2021 have been.   

Could your word be 'rest'? 

It doesn't have to mean literal rest, it could be resting in...

[Melissa Louise]

3 hours ago, Catwoman said:

Am I the only one who has never done the word of the year thing?

Other than on this forum, I don’t think I know anyone who does it.

 

It was a blog thing a while back. 

I did it with my kids a few years. 

[DawnM]

2021- Change

2022- (wishful thinking) Monotony 😂

But my word I really hope for is Continuity

[DawnM]

3 hours ago, Catwoman said:

Am I the only one who has never done the word of the year thing?

Other than on this forum, I don’t think I know anyone who does it.

 

I have only heard about it and seen it on this board!   I think I commented a couple of years ago on here.

[lewelma]

I think for me it is Grateful. What you guys have experienced is so awful, close to beyond imagining. I can only feel Grateful and Safe. 

[Ausmumof3]

I couldn’t remember mine without finding the thread and it looks like it didn’t pick one but went with flexible, adaptive, responsive.  I have sure had to be that for many reasons.  I don’t think I have it in me to pick another word for next year.  I don’t even want to think about next year.  Tomorrow is enough to sort out. 

[SKL]

My word for 2021 was "puppy."

Turns out, that was a very appropriate word.  Seems that every part of our lives changed for our puppy, who was born 1/22/2021.

For 2022 ... I feel like key people will be transitioning due to getting older.  My kids will be learning how to drive!  I sense changes coming with my folks also.  As for me, it will be time for my next colonoscopy, LOL.  Since I will likely use up my health insurance deductible, I will see if they can do anything about my tailbone also.  I'm tired of being unable to sit like normal people.  But, what word?  Let me think about that.

Meanwhile ... something I really want to change about myself is the tendency to get really anxious/panicked about things that (a) are not the end of the world and (b) I can't change/control anyway.  I know that the way to deal with that kind of stress is to just do something - take any step, and then another step, until my progress makes me feel confident.  I want that to be my first response.  No panic necessary.

So ... how about the word "motion"?  Moving from one life stage to another, motor vehicles, colonoscopy prep LOL, and making a move rather than panicking in place.  Plus, I need to keep moving in the literal, physical sense.

So, motion, I guess.

[Eos]

8 hours ago, Catwoman said:

Am I the only one who has never done the word of the year thing?

Other than on this forum, I don’t think I know anyone who does it.

 

I never have, and somehow have missed seeing it here.  I tend to go into hibernation in December so maybe that's why.  My kids and I usually have a phrase of the year.  Answering the Call was one, but also Save Yourself another year.

 

[Guest]

I am not sure if this is literally where the idea started or if they merely capitalized on it, but Jimmy Page has come to my church in the past and he co-authored a book on this. I have not read the book, but that was when I started choosing a WOTY. 
 

He also wrote a book about choosing one word for your “life word”. Seems maybe too limiting, but if I picked a life word, I think it would be Compassion. 

[MEmama]

I’ve been doing a word of the year since my early scrapbooking days when DS was young. Ali Edwards popularized it in my world and was my inspiration. I might have missed a year or few, but I guess I’ve been doing it the better part of 15+ years.

Most years I find a word that really speaks to me, but not always. I'm always okay with forgetting about my word or not identifying with it throughout the year, but years like this past one where I kept it in the front of my mind and heart are pretty special for me.

This upcoming year I’ll be doing a lot of work on *me* but I haven’t quite hit upon the exact word. My brain was busy all night exploring words that were close to the right one, but I didn’t quite find it. I know I’m on the right track, so it will come to me when the time is right. 🙂 

[marbel]

1 hour ago, Quill said:

Jimmy Page has come to my church in the past and he co-authored a book on this.

So when I saw this name I thought, whoa, Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin? So that sent me on an interesting little rabbit trail.  😎

[Guest]

24 minutes ago, marbel said:

So when I saw this name I thought, whoa, Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin? So that sent me on an interesting little rabbit trail.  😎

I know, I always think “Led Zeppelin” too. In fact, I was forgetting his name at first and I was about to say it was Robert Plant. But I googled it and saw it was Jimmy Page. 🙂 

[Granny_Weatherwax]

My words for 2021 were ; Ride Read Rejoice

I selected these three as ways to keep my body and mind occupied after losing my job due to budget cuts and the pandemic. I was rocking it the first three months, riding my stationary and road bikes everyday, reading good books, and looking for joy and goodness in (almost) everything I did. Then I crashed my bike in late March. I suffered a broken wrist, knee damage, and a femoral hernia. Weeks of recovery, casts, images, and doctor visits meant I was unable to ride (or play tennis) for months. I have damage to ligaments and nerves in my wrist and have daily pain and loss of strength. Riding a bike is difficult due to the way the handlebars are shaped and not being able to flex my wrist properly. I have only been playing tennis again for about 10 weeks (mostly teaching, not really playing) and my recuperation time takes longer than the on court time.  All of that to say - my Ride part petered out and became more of a Rest and Recover.

Read - I have read 58 books thus far and have 10 that I have started (at least two chapters of). I hope to finish at least 3 more by the end of the year.

Rejoice - I have been intentional with this. I tend toward rumination, lamentation and woe and intentionally looking for and finding joy in all things has been good for me. 

I've started my 2021 Year in Review and Looking Forward to 2022. The first prompt for 2022 is determining the Word for the Year so I have a a couple of weeks to think about it.

Edited December 2, 2021 by Granny_Weatherwax

[Guest]

I’m sorry about the bike wreck. I have been thinking of taking up biking but I am very afraid of crashing. Actually I am mostly afraid of being struck by a car because the roads around here are largely not bike-friendly (AT ALL). There appears to be a biking club but I almost never see any bicyclists during the week; only weekend, as a leisure activity.

[Granny_Weatherwax]

42 minutes ago, Quill said:

I’m sorry about the bike wreck. I have been thinking of taking up biking but I am very afraid of crashing. Actually I am mostly afraid of being struck by a car because the roads around here are largely not bike-friendly (AT ALL). There appears to be a biking club but I almost never see any bicyclists during the week; only weekend, as a leisure activity.

Thanks.  The crash was my fault. I became distracted and grabbed the left brake for some unknown reason. I have discovered that going from 12 mph to 0 is bad for one's physical well being.

Our area isn't bike friendly either. Even with the addition of narrow bike lanes on some roads, drivers do not pay attention and will follow too close or drive right next to a cyclist. It's an hour drive to find actual bike trails.  We have a bike club that offers group rides twice a week. Safety in numbers.

[Catwoman]

12 hours ago, Ausmumof3 said:

I couldn’t remember mine without finding the thread and it looks like it didn’t pick one but went with flexible, adaptive, responsive.  I have sure had to be that for many reasons.  I don’t think I have it in me to pick another word for next year.  I don’t even want to think about next year.  Tomorrow is enough to sort out. 

Since you forgot last year's word, it seems like a no-brainer word for next year might be "forgetful." 

Bonus points for that one, because if you forget it again, you're just doing your job. 😉 

[WildflowerMom]

Mine for 2021 was 'me'.  I wanted to focus on me, not in a selfish way, but just trying to put myself closer to the top of the list.   Well, that idea went 😤🥴😒.  
This year's word is heal.  I need to heal my body and my mind.   

[Ditto]

16 hours ago, Melissa Louise said:

Could your word be 'rest'? 

It doesn't have to mean literal rest, it could be resting in...

I like this.  I like it a lot.  Thank you.  I do believe I will make "rest" my 2022 word.  

[SKL]

As for whether "word of the year" is common ...

I don't know, but today I was writing something in my 2022 planner, and the top of the January page suggests we pick a word for the year.  So ....

[Ausmumof3]

1 hour ago, Catwoman said:

Since you forgot last year's word, it seems like a no-brainer word for next year might be "forgetful." 

Bonus points for that one, because if you forget it again, you're just doing your job. 😉 

Lol… that could be my word for life sadly!

[Slache]

32 minutes ago, SKL said:

As for whether "word of the year" is common ...

I don't know, but today I was writing something in my 2022 planner, and the top of the January page suggests we pick a word for the year.  So ....

We're winning!

[Guest]

<<<on trend

[Indigo Blue]

My word, I guess, for this year and last year is heal. I’m astounded at the number of people here, whose posts I’ve followed, who have been through similar. I’ve spent a lot of time on “heal”. My wish is that all of us here who post on those support threads will experience new clarity, peace, healing, and wisdom for 2022. You all know who you are.