Have you noticed the curious New Year’s trend in which people select their “word” for the New Year?
People used to make New Year’s Resolutions, which, as studies have historically shown, almost always fail by February. (Of course, there’s nothing like the threat of expectation to ruin your expectations.)
So now, instead of making a specific, doomed promise to myself in the form of a resolution, I can take the psychological heat off myself by selecting a non-specific, non-judgmental word to be my “theme” for the year.
For example, instead of resolving to lose ten pounds, I can pick a generic word like “Healthy,” or “Nourish” and post it on my refrigerator as a gentle reminder to snack on baby carrots instead of chips.
Or a busy, harried mother might choose the word “Relax” as her 2016 mantra to remind herself to periodically soak in a bubble bath.
No pressure, no stress… just a simple, encouraging word to give us a boost.
Since a lot of people are now spending quality time contemplating the challenges and frustrations of 2015 to derive the best, most meaningful word to represent their hope for a more successful 2016, I thought I should try it.
However, in the not-surprising spirit of instant gratification, I quickly discovered that it’s not necessary to think at all to find my special word.
I saw a post on Facebook that said “What is your word for 2016?” When I clicked on it, the online test asked me for only one thing: my first name. That’s it. Based on that limited parameter, I learned that my word for the year is GRACE, which means “simple elegance or refinement of movement.”
That’s impressive, especially since, according to other websites, the Hebrew and Anglo-Saxon meaning of my name is “grace” or “graceful,” which I suspect might have been cleverly built into the “What’s your word for 2016?” algorithm anyway.
I could take the word GRACE and run with it. I could write it on a post-it note and stick it on my dresser mirror so I see it every morning in the hopes that it will inspire me to exhibit GRACE every day. But I don’t want a faceless, nameless byte of cyberspace tell me what to do… especially since I cut a corner in the office a little too sharply yesterday and accidentally walked into a wall, which, unfortunately, is not an uncommon occurrence for me.
Grace, as they say, is not my middle name.
So if I’m going to go to the trouble of picking a theme word, I think I should put some thought into it and select a word that best represents what I want, need, wish and hope for in 2016.
Uh oh…. pressure… I’ve been sitting here for 20 minutes and I can’t think of anything other than searching Buzzfeed to find fun, dumb quizzes to take.
So instead, I’m going to do it the old fashioned way and make a New Year’s Resolution to figure out my personal Theme Word for 2016.
But right now I’m busy. I’m about to find out if I’m a Real Human Being or a Department Store Mannequin Come to Life.
Happy New Year!
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photo credit: <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/51035739227@N01/9548948366″>Week 34 – 17-24 August – Words</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/”>(license)</a>