Looking forward and inward in 2025
my word of the year: ROOT
I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season. Holidays are always a mixed bag for me, dredging up the good and the not-so-great moments of my childhood Christmases past. This year, though, both my adult kids are here for the holidays! My eldest hasn’t been back for two years. So if I’ve disappeared for a while online, it’s because I’ve been loading up on lots of quality time with the family. What a joy!
It’s made me realize how much has changed in one year. Last year at this time, I was still worried about one daughter’s health after major surgery (she’s excellent now) and the other’s first semester of college. I didn’t know how to deal with the sudden emptiness of the house, the loneliness that things were over, and the constant worry that they wouldn’t be okay since they are my favorite people.
But throughout the year, I rediscovered my time, my space, my pace. I was dreading empty nesting, but it’s been amazing, actually, to allow that extra mothering energy to nurture myself.
With 2025 around the corner, I’ve been thinking about my word of the year.
For 2024, my word was SHINE, and I pushed myself to seek the spotlight more. However, with the looming political strife, education worries with AI encroaching on student learning, and finally enjoying empty nesting, I want to go back to basics and focus on grounding myself and protecting my inner creative life.
Instead of seeking outward, I’d like to focus inward. I almost chose GROUNDED as my word, but it has too many negative connotations (like being grounded or dirty).
So I’ve chosen ROOT as my word of 2025.
This might seem counterintuitive after a year of SHINE, but if (when) my writing career begins to take off, I’d like to be ready internally for that kind of success and not let it affect my creative self. The word ROOT feels expansive still, like SHINE did, but it’s a deeper expansion focusing on strengthening my foundation by digging deep and cultivating the life I want to bring forward.
I plan to examine my life and establish simple rituals and routines that respect my needs and my schedule, while keeping me motivated, grounded, and inspired. I’ll share some of those rituals and routines that work for me to see if they will work for you as well.
Recently, I read a question in a reflection journal that asked, “Where in your life do you feel graceful?”
I want to cultivate more graceful moments in my life. I’m tired of being sold things to destress and make my life easier. I can make my life easier by slowing the fuck down and getting off tech. (Psst, you can too.)
My garden makes me feel strong and graceful, as does writing in my office and reading novels. So does walking along the ocean shore, sleeping on crisp white sheets, dancing to music while cooking, walking around barefoot, and pouring hot coffee (Okay, I admit that’s a weird one, but I really like coffee).
Feeling graceful to me encompasses a sense of freedom, physical and mental presence, connection to the natural world, and romancing the ordinary.
Curious—what makes you feel graceful and grounded, more rooted? I’d love to read your thoughts in the comments.
I’ve been thinking on this question for almost half an hour since I read it. I think I feel most rooted/grounded by being in my own space, doing my own thing. My books, toys (I collect action figures and other things) the ability to write or draw all there, along with my family doing their own things, that’s when I feel most grounded. I think it’s one of the reasons why I wish we could buy a house. I’m pretty sure that would make me feel even more so.
This is kind of random but my brother just gave me a "grounding" or earthing mat for Christmas, which is supposed to connect your body back to the earth in a similar fashion to walking outside barefoot. (And reduce inflammation, etc.) I stuck it under my writing desk so I can ground myself (literally) while I work. So I guess that's making me grounded as I type this comment? LOL I guess we'll see if it works.