I have been on the “Word of the Year” bandwagon for about 8 years now. I typically have my word chosen sometime in early December to get ready for the new year. This year, however, I’ve been on the struggle bus. I’ve even had a few sleepless nights tossing and turning interviewing potential word candidates throughout the night. A week into the new year I have finally landed on my choice and all I can think of is: “What took me so long?” I mean, this word had been turning around in my head for weeks and I kept pushing it aside. But in the end, I know the word really chose me rather than me choosing the word. You’ll see why.
2023: LIGHT
I think of my personal word of the year as a navigation tool or compass; something to provide a sense of direction as I go about my life. It keeps me grounded and centered.
Here are some meanings of Light to guide my way.
Light (Adjective): Free from worry or unhappiness; cheerful
Light (Adjective): Of little weight; not heavy
Light (Noun): The natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible
Light (Noun): Something that makes vision possible
Light (Verb): To make (something) start burning; Ignite
Light (Verb): To illuminate
To me, it also means the opposite of darkness and heaviness. All of which apply to why this word resonates with me for 2023.
The past few years have been heavy for so many reasons, particularly, watching my mom’s decline from dementia. I have kept the last birthday card she ever sent to me in my bedside drawer. It’s signed with her own shaky and beautiful handwriting, and it is from 2019. It was my last birthday she ever remembered. She passed away in August of 2022.
My mom was a collector of “things”. The collection I think of most is her collection of lighthouses. My hometown has a beautiful historic lighthouse, and it may have been her inspiration. She collected lighthouses in all shapes and forms from art on the walls to candles to coffee mugs. I won’t ever see a lighthouse without thinking of my mom. Lighthouses have been traditionally viewed as symbols of hope and security. They are also a symbol of strength and resilience. Days before my mom’s funeral, Emma gifted me with a lighthouse necklace that I cherish. This word has been trying to break through the clouds, but it just took me some time to see it clearly.
What better navigation tool or compass exists than a lighthouse to provide a sense of direction for the year ahead? A beacon of LIGHT in 2023.
In 2023, I want to:
Live Light.
Reflect Light.
Seek Light.
Radiate Light.
In honor of my mom and my year ahead…hello 2023…I welcome you.
Morning at the Window 