Last week on Gretchen Rubin’s “Happier” podcast, they reviewed their one-word themes for 2022. That’s a good idea! Wait, what was my word for 2022 again?
I actually had to think for a moment, but then I remembered my word for 2022 was “Start.” When I chose that word, I thought that it might seem like a great word for January, but not as great for June or July. Guess what? I was right!
I haven’t thought about my word in months, so I went back and read my post from January. Oh yeah… boy, did my life suck! A direct quote from that post is, “I spent all of 2021 wishing I were running faster and farther.” Yep, I really struggled with my foot. In November and December I was getting shockwave treatments, and in December I got custom-made orthotics, which I was slowly getting used to.
Then, as a final, crowning blow, I got Covid on Christmas and spent seven days lying on my couch. Things pretty much hit rock bottom- no wonder I chose “start” for my word of 2022!
So how’s it going? Well, I can honestly say that I’m in a completely different place now. I have a consistent strength training/yoga schedule going, and, more importantly, I’m running four days a week, with a Sunday long run of ten miles, and speed work every Wednesday. I still wish I were faster, but at least now I’m able to work at it.
I thought about changing my word to “Continue,” as in, continue on with what I’m doing. But then I decided a better word would be “Appreciate.”
Too often I go barreling through life, and only appreciate the good times in retrospect. I’m in a place right now I was longing for in 2021. I’m signed up for races and actually have time goals. I’m able to get out there every Wednesday and do speed work, and every Sunday I’m out on the trails, which I love. My foot isn’t perfect, but it doesn’t hurt while I’m running, and I’m never worried about it limiting my speed or distance.
Furthermore, it’s summer! There’s plenty of daylight, both my kids are doing well, and life is good. I don’t want to be like Woody Allen’s character in Hannah and Her Sisters when his assistant reminds him that he was miserable yesterday, and he says “I was happy! I just didn’t realize I was happy!”
I’m glad I did this mid-year checking in. My one-word theme isn’t as important now but it gave me a chance to see how far I’ve come, and adopt my word for the second half of 2022- Appreciate.
I’m linking up with Kim and Zenaida for their Tuesday Topics!
What about you- did you have a word for 2022? Does it still fit? Would you change or modify it now?
28 Responses
Oh no. I had to look up my word… again!
It is Intentional.
Not sure I am but I’m pretty sure that most things I do have a reason behind them… though maybe not always a good reason.
Yes, it’s funny that I also couldn’t remember my word at first. As. matter of fact if I hadn’t listened to that podcast I wouldn’t have thought about it at all ever again!
Amazing how much our situation and outlook can change in only 6 months. Maybe a year is too long in the first place?
I’ve never picked a word, but I think it’s a very good idea because it makes you stop and reflect.
Appreciate is an excellent choice!
Yes, maybe I should have a word of the month from now on!
You are at a complete 180 from where you were at the beginning of the year. Between your foot and COVID you got more than your share of crappy things. It’s been been obvious on the blog for a while that things are night and day different so I’m glad that you’re getting a moment to realize and appreciate it too. Hooray for the good times!
Yes! I’m sure there will be challenges ahead- that’s just life- so I better appreciate the good times now.
It’s like Ferris Buehler says: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” I am very guilty of not recognizing that I have attained things I wished for and dreamed up at different points of my life. So appreciate is a great focus. I’m so glad you running/exercise routine is back where you wanted it to be. I’m posting tomorrow about my evolution as a runner – there have been many periods where I wasn’t able to run for various reasons. But now I can and while it looks different from the past, I’m so happy that I am able to run now and I try not to take that for granted.
My word of the year was “connection” and I’m still focused on it, nearly 1/2 through the year! My planner has a monthly outlook section and I have one box dedicated to connections I want to make that month. I went off social media in early December so wanted to be really intentional about connecting since it requires a little more effort – but is more meaningful usually – now that I”m off social media.
Ooh, I’m looking forward to that blog post. I love a good running evolution story.
I’m impressed that you’re still focused on your 2022 word! It’s so easy to start off enthusiastically and then forget all about it.
Ha! You actually reminded me that I need to look up my word again, lol. I feel like this year is just flying by.
I know the first half of years dealt you a lot of ups and downs, but I hope that the later half of the year will be better for you and injury free!
Thank you Kim! Yes, I had forgotten all about my word as well until I heard that podcast.
What a nice thing to do – reevaluate your word halfway through and then make changes! Fingers crossed the last half of 2022 treats you better than the end of 2021!
Yes, I hope I didn’t jinx it, ha ha…
I know you struggled so much at the start of the year bc of your foot. It has been so nice to see you overcome much of your obstacles and get back to doing the things you love.
Thank you Deborah! Yes, it feels good.
I do not have a word for 2022, but I remember thinking how perfect “start” was for you after your doozy of a year in 2021. I’m so happy you’re in such a better place.
Thank you Debbie! Yes, “start” was perfect for where I was in January.
My word is “Patience”. It’s been a roller coaster these past few months but I think I’ve done pretty good. Though I am human and there are days when I just lose it. That’s when beer and wine comes in. 🙂
Ha ha… beer and wine can definitely increase your patience. You’re just getting some assistance to keep focusing on your word!
You definitely had a rough end to 2021 and “start” to 2022 but it’s good to see that things have improved so much.
Thank you Denise! Yes- things are so much better. Everything gets better eventually!
“Appreciate” is a perfect word to focus on 🙂 It’s kind of a best friend to “Gratitude,” which is a word I try to embrace daily. I think appreciating the good (whether there’s s lot of it or just the bare minimum) leads to a much better state of well being.
Yes, even in January there were things to appreciate… but now I feel like there’s SO MUCH. I want to make sure I fully enjoy the good times.
I think “appreciate” is a perfect word. I don’t have a word for the year, but I do try to spend time every day just appreciating and being grateful for everything in my life. I’m so glad your life is feeling better than it was. January was a tough one.
Thank you Nicole! It just goes to show… these low points are temporary.
I love appreciate! Yes, you have come a really long way! I wish it were pain free for you, though. My mom complains about EVERYTHING. It’s wearing me & my sister down. Sure, she does have things to complain about, but it could be so much worse. Anyway, I’ll stop complaining now, LOL!
You know how I keep in touch my yearly word. 🙂 That’s really worked well for me for the last few years to keep it in mind, and yes, I’m still good with the word I chose.
Yes, you’re keeping your word top of mind! i need to do that… either that, or pick a better word next time, ha ha.
Mine was to “Be Kind” and my success in this fluctuates.
I’m really struggling with some parenting things lately and both want to Be Kind and also want to Be A Good Parent and sometimes it feels like (at least in the perception of a certain child” I am being very, very mean. #Sigh. Sometimes I HAVE to say no and it feels mean and I feel like a horrible parent and so Be Kind in a parenting sense feels very loaded.
I DO think I’m being kinder to myself lately, especially around the issue of food. I’ve blogged a bit before about my checkered history with eating and the last few months I’ve really been reading and thinking a lot about “anti-diet/intuitive eating” movements and right now that’s largely how I’m approaching food/body image and it feels very, very kind in a way I’ve never been kind to myself. Eating what I want when I’m hungry is one of the kindest things I’ve done for myself so far in 2022.
Thanks for the reminder; it had been a few months since I specifically thought about my word for the year, and this post was a great reminder on the topic!
So
Yes, parenting is probably the biggest challenge that we face. I would say you are being kind by being a good parent- even though the kindness isn’t readily apparent to that particular kid.
It’s good to hear you’re having some success with the food issue- “Be Kind” is definitely working there. And you can thank Gretchen Rubin- if it weren’t for her podcast I would have forgotten about my word for the entire rest of the year.