Looking back, looking forward 3

Every year since 2011 I have chosen a word of the year. Over those years I've chosen Restore, Focus, Present, Participate, Thirst, Purpose, Connect, Gratitude/Thankfulness, Commit/Commitment, Walk, Intentional, More and Connect. 2024's word has been discover.

The definition of discover is

• to see, get knowledge of, learn of, find, or find out; gain sight or knowledge of (something previously unseen or unknown)
• to notice or realise
• to make known; reveal; disclose 

I planned to discover my Creativity through Artist dates, Creative Writing, Online courses, Workshops, Photo walks, Studio Days and Jubilee Creative. 

I planned to discover my Identity through Time with God, Jubilee teaching, Journaling, Gratitude lists and Created to Thrive. 

I planned to discover my Well-being through Short local walks, Longer walks with Roger, Regular sleep pattern and Healthy eating. 

I planned to discover my Community through Life Group, Church, Friends, Jubilee Creative, Snapshot Girls, Jubilee Writers and Hive Mind.

So, how did I get on?

The things I achieved during 2024 are in green.  The gratitude lists were a bit intermittent.

I signed up for Online courses - I just didn't do them.  As far as I can remember the only walks I did with Roger were while we were in Australia.

What does surprise me, especially as an introvert, is the most successful area of my life last year has been turning up regularly in my community.  I don't mean neighbourhood, I mean those I connect with on a regular basis.

What else have I discovered as I look back at the last year?

• I discovered it's hard to be thankful when you're anxious.
• I discovered (yet again) that I'm too hard on myself.
• I discovered (yet again) that I set too many goals which I then don't achieve.  And believe me that the list above of what I planned is far, far less than I've set myself in previous years!
• I discovered (yet again) that I'm easily distracted and procrastinate
  

And lastly, I discovered that I should be really careful about the word I choose each year.  The choice is made based on what I want to see more of and it doesn't always work out how you thought it would.  There are personal things I've discovered about myself this year which are good to know but I would have liked an easier way to find them out!

So drum roll please! My word for 2025 is

So what am I going to focus on?

I'm focusing on finishing, fiction, faith, friends and fotography!  Cheesey or what!  These are the things I want to see more of in 2025.

finishing

• the three Fibre Arts Take Two courses I signed up for.  In one case actually starting it!
• the Artists' Deep Dive that is being re-run this month.  I tried to do it last January but anxiety got in the way.
• any pieces of work whether textile or mixed media that I start
• the day with a gratitude statement in my journal and keeping up to date with it.  I lost interest half way through 2024
• the One Little Word 2025 class - the 2024 one got ditched half way through too.

fiction

• this is just a word to cover reading and some of it will be non-fiction.  In 2024 I hardly read anything which is most unusal for me.  Mostly it was replaced with Chinese or Korean dramas - so I suppose you could say I was reading as I had to read the subtitles to have any idea of what was happening since I don't speak Chinese or Korean.
  
  
• Plus I have lots of books about Textiles and Mixed Media and I rarely read the words - just look at the pictures.  So this would be a good time to focus on reading the books I've spent so much money on.

faith

• continuing to attend church and lifegroup
• using reading plans to read the Bible everyday

friends

• continuing to meet with friends in person and online

fotography

• continuing to be part of the ladies photography group
  taking more photos just for fun - go on photo walks maybe
  

I've looked back at many of the goals I set myself at the beginning of each Word of the Year and there's a steady stream of the same things each year.  2025 is no different although I did decide not to include fitness!  Not that I've achieved any level of fitness but including it is a way to set me up for failure.

Since August 2022 we have eaten more healthily and without added exercise I have lost 2 stone over that time.  Any walks during 2025 will just be a bonus.

Well done if you've read to the end of this blog post.  Let me know in the comments what you are hoping for in 2025.

Thanks for being here today
Bernice