New Year — New Word — Old Me
I don’t want to sleepwalk through my life. I want to be an active participant in its creation.
During Christmas (literary Christmas dinner), one of the websites I am responsible for got hacked, and I spent a big chunk of the holidays trying to fix it. It was not ideal, as this week after Christmas and before the New Year’s is my favorite time of the year to slow down and reflect. Yes, I take my reflections and plannings seriously — days at a time.
Each December, as the holiday season reaches its peak, I find myself searching for a word—a single, distilled intention—to carry with me into the new year. This practice, introduced to me through Claire Diaz-Ortiz's book Design Your Day, feels less like a resolution and more like planting a flag on the horizon.
In the book, Diaz-Ortiz suggests choosing a word to represent the year ahead, a touchstone to ground our decisions and guide our growth. At first, I balked at the simplicity of the concept. How could one word hold the weight of an entire year? But as I considered the notion, I understood its elegance. Unlike rigid resolutions that crumble under the pressure of perfection, a word is expansive. It’s a lens, not a rulebook. I am of course also a sucker for rigid resolutions. However unachievable, they are treasured dearly. (I am amazing at planning. I’m not so good at execution.)
One word that will remind you of what’s important when you need it most. One word to mean everything you want your year to be, and one word that will be a guiding light when times get tough and you’re not clear on what your priorities are.
There aren’t a lot of rules. Your word can be a verb or a noun. It can be long. It can be short. A word that has funny sounds in it or a word that rolls off the tongue. Depending on the type of year you’re going for, some examples of great words might be: Breathe, Push, Persevere, Give, Abundance, Direction, Moxie, Contentment.
Diaz-Ortiz, Claire. Design Your Day: Be More Productive, Set Better Goals, and Live Life On Purpose
This practice is about intention. The word becomes a filter, a way to see the world differently. It’s less about what the word demands from you and more about what it reminds you to notice.
In 2024, my word was elevate. I chose it because I wanted to rise—not in some grand, dramatic sense, but in the small, deliberate ways that shape a life. It was about lifting the everyday: taking what was ordinary and infusing it with intention and care.
At first, I wasn’t entirely sure what “elevate” would mean in practice. The word felt ambitious, almost too big for me. But as the year unfolded, it revealed itself in quiet, unexpected moments. Elevating my work meant finding ways to approach it with greater clarity and creativity. Elevating my relationships meant being present in ways that felt meaningful, showing up fully rather than going through the motions. And elevating my mindset was about seeking perspective—choosing gratitude and growth over fear or frustration, even when it felt like the harder path.
I became good at noticing life’s beauties. The smell of coffee in the morning makes me happy. I love eating a ripe peach and a sour lemon alike, and I smile when I feel sunlight on my skin. I learned to enjoy all seasons. I take my time to wonder. The biggest elevation came from small moments of utter appreciation.
Of course, there were times when I fell short of my word. Some weeks, the weight of the mundane threatened to pull me down, and “elevation” seemed unachievable. But even then, the word lingered in the back of my mind, reminding me that I could always start again.
This process may take days or it may take weeks. You may start with one word, try it on for size, and discard it for another. That’s fine. That’s good, in fact! More than anything, you need to find a word that feels right, sounds right, and means right. Find the word of the year that’s the word of you. — Diaz-Ortiz, Claire
This year, I’ve been mulling over a few contenders for my new word. "Expand" tempts me with its promise of growth and adventure. "Enjoy" promises softness. And then there’s "create," a word that feels alive with potential, suggesting both transformation and the act of bringing something new into existence. Each has its allure, and choosing feels like an act of reflection in itself. What do I need most? Where do I want to go? Not just in the sense of producing something tangible, like art or writing, but in crafting moments, relationships, and meaning. To “create” is to take ownership of what you bring into the world. It’s a reminder that we have the power to shape our experience.
I don’t want to sleepwalk through my life. I want to be an active participant in its creation.
This year will be the last of my 20s. In 2026 I will turn 30. I have always loved my life and love it more and more with every passing year, but I am still slightly scared of losing the potential of youth. I know it’s all in my head and I have to deal with it. The word “create” sort of cultivates that potential. There is time and there is space. I don’t particularly love the idea of New Year - New Me. I love the old me. But slightly happier, more intentional, more creative me — yes to that.
What I love about this process is its inherent flexibility. The word you choose doesn’t have to be monumental. It doesn’t need to impress anyone or solve every problem in your life. It simply needs to resonate. It should feel like a seed you’re willing to nurture, even if you’re unsure of exactly how it will grow.
In 2025, I want to write more, write for fun, write for pleasure. I want to learn illustration and embroidery. I want to take cooking lessons. I want to feed everyone with big hearty meals. I want to bake cookies and make hot chocolate. I want to get enough sleep. I want to move a lot. I want to go on long walks and longer hikes. I want to create art. I want to create poetry. I want to sunbathe and swim in the ocean. I want to surround myself with colors, words, and textures that inspire. I want to create a life that honours the intentional way of being. And, of course, I want to follow Mary Oliver’s instructions. I want to pay attention, be astonished and tell about it.
Happy New Year!
“Instructions for living a life.
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.”
― Mary Oliver