Running from the Law: 2016 Word of the Year

Monday, January 4, 2016

2016 Word of the Year

Happy New Year, friends! 

By now (four whole days into the new year), I'm sure you've seen a couple dozen posts about resolutions and goals for 2016. And of course, I have them as well. I've made a list of goals, milestones, resolutions and accomplishments that I'd love to hit this year and after writing them down I realized that many of them all incorporate the same concept, so instead of boring you with the specifics, I'm going to share my "one word" with you today. 

I love the idea of focusing your year around one simple little word. If you remember, my word for 2013 was EMBRACE (which I wrote about here). I think I did a good job that year of embracing the chaos of being a new mom, embracing my new role as a full-time working mom and embracing the mess of having a little one (with another on the way by the end of the year). I also wanted to embrace my post-partum body and accept the way I looked and felt after carrying a baby. I wanted to embrace my child and spend as much time with him as I could while he was so tiny. It was a year all about acceptance and compassion and understanding. 
I didn't blog about them, but I also did a word for the last two year. 2014 was a crazy year, with a wild child toddler and a baby on the way in July, I wanted a word that would encapsulate how overwhelmed and exhausted I was feeling. My word for 2014 was SURVIVE. Plain, simple and straight to the point. It was a year all about adjusting, adapting and surviving. Spoiler alert: I'm happy to say that we all survived that year and lived to tell the tale. 
Last year for 2015, I wanted something a bit more encouraging, so my word was CONNECT. I really wanted to make sure I spent the year connecting with the kids and reconnecting with my husband, family, friends and former self. I wanted to end the year feeling closer to my husband and feeling closer to the person I was before I had babies. Last year I made the decision to go down to part-time at work, which gave me a lot more one-on-one time with the kids during the day. This felt incredibly liberating and freed me from some of the guilt I felt taking time for myself to focus on my marriage, my health and my friends. I made time to spend with the people I loved the most and ended the year feeling like I accomplished my goal.

I've been thinking a lot about what my word for 2016 will be and I think I've decided to go a different direction again this year. I want a word that will call me to action and force me to make some decisions and take action in my life. I want a word that will encourage me to be more deliberate and focus on what really matters. So, my word for 2016 is: 
It's definitely not the sexiest of words. It's not necessarily uplifting or inspiring. But it's really speaking to me right now, when my world seems to be jam-packed with so much stuff and so many things to do. I need to take some serious time and reflect on what's important to me and get rid of all that extra stuff I'm hanging onto. I want to reduce my stress. Reduce my obligations. Reduce my clutter. Reduce my waistline. Reduce my debt. Reduce my guilt. I want to feel lighter, be lighter, live lighter. I want more space, more air, less crap. I want to not feel overwhelmed by how much stuff I have going on or how much there always is to do. I want to buy less, need less, want less. It's going to take some work, but I think it's doable and I'm excited about making this happen. I think it'll be liberating! Wish me luck! 

What's your word for 2016?

32 comments:

  1. While so different than my word, joy, reduce was a close second for me this year as well. And even though it isn't my "word" I'm still planning on purging and trying to simplify my life this year. I also love all your past words as well!

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  2. When I think about it, I guess my word would be NOW. I want to be more present, and also want to stop procrastinating as much as I do. :)

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  3. Love love love! We are totally on the same page...I need to work on all of these too. Thanks for such a great post, I'm saving it for when I need a little reminder!

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  4. Love all the words. Especially this year's, something I'm totally working on in all aspects. Thanks for sharing, happy 2016 to you!! :)

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  5. Reduce is a great word for this year! Something I definitely need to work on as well.

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  6. What a wonderful word. Really. It allows you to work on so many aspects of your life without feeling like you are only focusing on what part (family, career, blog, friendships). I can't wait to see how you reduce in 2016.

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  7. Love all your words. Survive should've been my word for last year, if only I'd known. And connect is really speaking to me. Especially connecting to my former self, because after being pregnant 18 of the last 40 months, I barely remember who my former self was. That's a good one, I'm gonna think on that a bit. Thanks for posting!

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  8. Reduce - that's a great word for 2016. :)

    I'd really have to think about what my word would be. I thought about "relax" but I think with being such an anxious person, that's easier said than done. :\

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  9. I think this is a perfect word (and oh it resonates with me!) you should pick up the book the Magic Art of Tidying up (or something like that) it is supposed to be a great way to declutter and just in general REDUCE!

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  10. "I want to reduce my stress. Reduce my obligations. Reduce my clutter. Reduce my waistline. Reduce my debt. Reduce my guilt." YES!!! Yes. I SO agree with all of this. As I'm sitting here right now thinking I don't have a word, I should come up with a word, when am I going to post about the word, I already have 287382 things I want to post about in the next two weeks, it will be irrelevant in Feb, etc. REDUCE. Reduce the stress FOR SURE. Whoa. I feel anxious just thinking about that last sentence of mine.

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  11. I think reduce is completely uplifting and inspiring! Great choice. Some word choices can seem very abstract. I absolutely love you chose a word with a concrete action associated, of course it has an abstract meaning as well but sometimes starting with the concrete leads to the abstract more easily than just naming something without a true action plan! Can't wait to see how this goes for you!

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  12. I love this! You have me inspired. I need to do a lot of reducing as well. Good luck!

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  13. I love this! You have me inspired. I need to do a lot of reducing as well. Good luck!

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  14. LOVE this word!!! I did embrace, your first word in 2013! Happy new year, lady!

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  15. I love "reduce the guilt." Yes!! I need to do that and love that you chose reduce. You've had some pretty great words over the last few years. Cheers to 2016 and all that it holds. Can't wait to see all the wonderful things you do.

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  16. I love this word! I'm right there with you on needing to reduce so much in my life. I cannot wait to hear about your progress throughout the year!

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  17. I love that you focus on a word every year! It's so simple and to the point. And this year's might be my favourite of yours!

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  18. You go, girl! I think we all can relate!!

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  19. That's a great word! I can't commit. I have word issues :) I think I'm going with persistence, though!

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  20. I love this! I need a word for 2016. You've got me thinking! I know, that no matter what you reduce this year - all the important things will remain. You got this!

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  21. I love this. Definitely gives me a lot to think about! I might pick a work for 2016 still! Can't narrow it down!

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  22. I love this one!! I am feeling a big need to reduce the things in my life too... I just feel like my mind is cluttered and my house is cluttered with things I/we don't need.

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  23. You got this!!! It is so liberating to take control and own your word. I know youll do great!

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  24. Wow. These are great words! I really struggled with finding and choosing my one word this year but ended up settling on 'positive' and hope that it encourages me to see the bright side and silver lining in more situations (read more here: http://www.momentaryreality.com/2016/01/one-word-for-2016-pimms-recipe.html).
    I think reduce could also have been a perfect one for me as I've been looking into Marie Condo tidying techniques and am trying to declutter this year :)

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  25. I love this word! And Lord knows that I could do a lot of reducing in many areas of my life! Happy New Year, friend!

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  26. AMMMMMMMEEEEENNNNNNN sister... i think this sums it up perfectly!!!!!

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  27. Love this - you need to reduce with me at Pure Barre! Let's do it this year lady!

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  28. A.Men. There are so many aspects of life that need reducing. I know you've got this one in the bag.

    Happy 2016!!

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  29. Focusing on one word and incorporating in into your life is an amazing idea! I love it and can't wait to see all you achieve in 2016! Xo, Stephanie

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  30. I love that you brought up the fact that it isnt a sexy word, because it's not. But man oh man it is powerful and when you break it down like you did it starts to gain appeal. I love it. I think this is a great word that will lead to amazing things for you in 2016!

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  31. I think that reduce is sexy as hell. After all, you can get down to what matters once you reduce. ;) cheers to a successful 2015 (because you were) and here's to 2016!!!

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