2020 was a tough year for all of us. Who would have thought a pandemic would erupt disrupting our daily lives causing fear and pain, and integrate a new way of living into this life?
Our habits have changed. Working and studying from home has become the new normal. Face masks are like another body part, engaging in house chores is the new fitness regime, and most of us are now gourmet chefs (which is an amazing thing btw).
The year was tougher for me in many ways and right now, when I try to make a list of things that I am thankful for, it feels like a daunting task. I’d still accept the fact that 2020 gave me a sense of joy in very many variety of ways and someday when my mind is at ease, I’d make that gratitude list.
Today I am here to talk about Word of the Year.
Word of the Year
My WOTY in the previous years were:
When I chose the word ‘Embrace‘ in 2015, all it meant was to stop fighting so hard for people who were just not worth my time. I chose ‘Focus‘ as my WOTY for 2016 and I had to make some life-altering decisions including choosing a life with my husband over my career. ”Thrive‘ was the word I chose for 2017 for I had the urge to declutter and flourish. ‘Savor‘ was my WOTY in 2018 and it saw me slow down and cherish some beautiful moments in life. I chose ‘Slay‘ in 2019 and I did slay some things off my bucket list. 2020 saw me ‘Create‘ and I am glad I could focus on the blogs and create some good content for my audience.
Word of the Year #WOTY
Word of the Year or WOTY is a single word you choose that would help you figure out what you want from the year, your expectations, where you want to spend your energy on, and what you want to improve upon.
Many believe in making resolutions for the new year. Sadly, these resolutions remain untouched and unaccomplished as days go by. And because of this, you’d feel a sense of regret and also feel sorry about yourself for not being able to tick them off your list.
Like I said, I’m a sucker for WOTY and not new year’s resolutions.
2021 Word of the Year
At the beginning of every year, I am all pumped up and brimming with excitement. I make hundreds of lists for blogs, social media, health, fitness, travel, books to read, shows to watch, and whatnot. While I still do that, I think I am more at ease now.
Yes, right at this moment, when I try to find a word for 2021, all I can think of is, to be.
So, BE it is!
Be is my Word of the Year for 2021.
Do-be-do-be-do-be-do.
—Frank Sinatra
I always thought of myself as a do-er. It reflects on my WOTYs too. CREATE, for example. You can never see me sit idle for hours, except of course, when I am binge-watching on Netflix. But I always have a to-do list at the back of my head running 24/7. It gives me a high to tick something off my list. Hence the overwhelming addiction to planners and journals.
In 2020, I did a lot of things I wouldn’t have done otherwise- attending online dance workshops, sharing sneak peeks of my dance moves on Instagram stories, attending blogging courses, conducting a 45-min long online workshop on Pinterest for Blogchatter (an amazing blogging community in India), reading more diverse books (all because of the reading challenge I host – #ReadingWithMuffy) working out, working on myself and the blogs, and kissing Mom often – to name a few.
While I step foot into 2021, all I wish to do is breathe, slow down, and be in the moment.
I want to enjoy the charm of rains in Kerala, devour delicious foods made by parents, work out with baby sister, play with our four furballs, and remind myself to smile at the neighbor with a jaunty hat who is kinda a whiner. I want to stay still and capture on camera all the beautiful moments that pass by. Slowing down will not make me sluggish but shall help in paying attention and focus on important things in life.
That’s where my WOTY comes in play.
I want to just BE.
Be mindful. Be aware. Be present. Be in the here and now.
Be creative.
Learn. Dance. Relax. Stop to smell the roses.
To not be annoyed when there is a delay in a plan (important!). Say a prayer for a friend. Put an end to rampant thoughts. De-clutter. Sit on the front porch swing with a cup of coffee listening to the chirping of birds (Yes, we brought our swing to Kerala!).
Read. Dream. Achieve.
Listen.
Be authentic. Be me.
Do you have a word for 2021?
I’m joining Corinne at Everyday Gyaan for WOTY2021.
Choosing ‘be’ after a ‘doing’ word like ‘create’ is a fantastic choice, Shalini. I wish you a time of peace and joy in the simple pleasures you described!
That’s a great choice of Word for the year ahead! Indeed 2020 was nothing less than a roller coaster ride for all of us! Wishing you a great 2021!
I love your WOTY, Shalini!
it is so important to just BE in the moment, but we, with our monkey minds keep flitting from the past to the present to the future, mostly to the future, in search of god knows what that we lose the precious gift of the present that the Universe brings for us.
I too intend to be in the moment, and not waltz away into the future. It’s the one lesson I learned from last year. To BE in the here and the now and give it our undivided attention.
Yup! To “BE” is the best thing to do now. “Serendipity” is my word of the year. I have written about it on my blog. W can just do what we must and see where things take us this year.
Such a lovely word you’ve chosen for the year! Here’s to a year of just be-ing! Wish you a lovely 2021, Shalini!
Modern Gyspy recently posted…The Word: 2021
That’s a lovely word choice for 2021, Shalini. BE you. I am sure you will have a terrific year ahead with your creative adventures.
Wishing you a fantastic year ahead, Shalini!
Vinitha recently posted…Fiction Monday – 27
BE in the moment. BE the best you can be. BE healthy. And BE safe too!
Damyanti recently posted…An Early End to 2020. See You in 2021.
I love your word, Shalini! To ‘BE’ sounds simple but it takes a lot to learn to go slow and live in the moment. I’m sure you’re going to find a lot of fulfilment this year as you savour life in the little everyday pleasures of life. It’s something that speaks to my heart and if you read my post, you’ll see it’s not alien to my WOTY for 2021 either!
So good stopping by your blog today, Shalini! Cheers to another year of learning, growing and evolving!
Esha recently posted…Blossoms in Pink | #ThursdayTreeLove
What a good choice this year, Shalini. It is so important to just ‘BE’ I wish you all the luck and may you keep shining.