The Word for 2023

 Several years ago I came across the practice of picking a word for the coming year. Folks on the interwebz came to know their word through several mediums. For some it was prayer. For others it was a word that kept popping up in their daily lives. In 2020 my word was peace. Peace for myself. Peace of my family. Peace for the world that was struggling. Oh how appropriate that meditation would come to be. In 2021 it was value. That word would lead to a job change. It would an exercise in learning my worth and valuing what I bring to the table and learning to gently let go of things that did not align with my values. 

2022 brought a resurgence of a need for a peace. So I made protect my peace the phrase. This was empowering and challenging. So often when we let go of things that no longer bring us joy, make life worth living, and that may cause us harm we are tempted in moments to remove boundaries for temporary soothing but 2022 was about standing on this side of those boundaries and learning to move through life and the events life throws with grace, grit, and learning to find the peace and strength in knowing that this too shall pass. 

As 2023 came into focus I began by praying and meditating on what my focus word should be. For me this new year will be spent reframing. Reframing my thoughts, my actions, and my understandings. It is so easy to become ensconced in the same thoughts and ideas, especially when we exist in echo-chambers. Lately I am worried that most of us live in and amongst those who think similarly than we do and do so to a point that we become insulated to views and people that can help us reframe our thinking to consider other points. Now let me be clear, I do not believe we need or should surround ourselves with people who are hurtful to us or wish us harm, I'm talking about being open to being stretched and learning to roll with things that make us uncomfortable. Growth isn't linear. As a therapist I believe that we grow in rest and stretching. I believe we need both to reach our potential. I've heavily rested and I'm now ready to be stretched. 

I hope that 2023 gives us all an opportunity to rest and to grow. The last 3 years have been tough but so are we. We can do hard things. We can learn to exist in a world that is completely different. We can choose to love with great abandon and recognize that love can look different than we imagined or wanted. We can let go of those things that no longer serve good purpose and wish those people or things well as they continue on their journey. We can hold ourselves and others accountable but do so with grace and justice. We can remember and hold on while letting go. As I gently let go of 2022 I am going to bid it farewell with grace, love, and thankfulness. I am going to welcome 2023 with arms and a heart that is wide open. There will be struggles and victories. I will be soft and strong. I will be loved and I will love. I will remember with clarity and forgiveness and I will live each day. I will rest and I will work. I will be gentle with myself and I will be hard on myself. 

Here we go fam, 2023 is coming. Let's step into it with strength and grace. #Reframe #WordOfTheYear