My theme for last year was music and I'm afraid that I didn't use my theme as much as I would have liked. But I'm not beating myself up about the past; rather, I'm looking forward. I still haven't come up with a theme for this year, although I am thinking of 'consistency'. Once I've chosen something, writing about it, as you have done, seems like a very useful way of setting my intentions. Thank you for your example.
I look forward to seeing what you choose and how you write about it if you choose to share!
I also typically get myself tangible reminders of my word ... a necklace or a stone or a temporary tattoos with the word on it. I fill my library's "for later" shelf with books that have the word in the title ... randomly, whimsically. I look up the etymology and write it down and hang it in my space. Whether or not I use the word throughout the year in the way I think I will, I think this all infuses my life with it in whatever magical way needs to happen.
For what it's worth, a quick glance at the etymology of "consistency" ... "The word "consistency" has its roots in the Latin word "consistentia," derived from the verb "consistere," which combines "con-" (together) and "sistere" (to stand). Originally, it meant to "stand together" or "to agree." Over time, the meaning evolved to encompass the idea of coherence, steadiness, or uniformity in substance, quality, or texture. In modern English, "consistency" generally refers to the degree of thickness, firmness, or reliability of something. It can describe the quality of holding together or having a unified and dependable nature. It's often used in various contexts, such as in discussions about materials, behavior, performance, or logical arguments."
Happy new year, Kathryn! I would be delighted to work together again. Just hit me up if/when something that would be a good fit occurs, and I'll do the same, if that's all right.
Sounds good. Feel free to email a summary if you have some extra time this week or next. There's no rush at my end, but happy to help think/allow an idea to percolate a bit.
Eudaemonia being pretentious made me chuckle! I love how you describe wellness as being so many, sometimes contrasting things – wellness is doing the thing and it's also not doing the thing. And I'm so sorry you lost your dad a year ago, that's so tough and I'm glad you've felt supported here as you've navigated the first anniversary x
Thank you ... it has been weird being at the one year in ways I don't really have words for yet, perhaps never will. My dad kept journals, especially in the last year of his life, and they have also been a place of solace this past year. Sometimes I read them and sometimes I don't because, exactly, "wellness is doing the thing and it's also not doing the thing"
"Pivot" is my word this year, mainly because my guides have been emphasizing it for at least the last year and a half. So, I take it as being light enough on my feet that I can change direction quickly if I need to.
That's an intriguing one and I really like your description of what it means for you. What comes to mind for me is how we can rotate slightly in order to see a different perspective in the face of a challenge.
I love your Word of the Year, your intentions, and especially the broad approach you’re taking to wellness. I immediately subscribed and am excited to go along on your creative wellness journey.
Beautiful word, I love this for you and what it means to you and intentions around it. Can’t wait to hear of how this supports you in your journey and creativity. I never saw it as a word of the year at the time as I want using them then, but wellness was the word I brought into my life back in 2018. I was completely disabled by illness at the time and wellness became my focus. All the changes I made were based around wellness (irrespective of whether the change worked or not, I continued on regardless because each change aligned with wellness). I also (unconsciously) used a kind of mantra to go with it: health first, no matter what. L though my favourite mantra which was consciously created was “if it ain’t healing, it ain’t happening”☺️ looking back, it helped navigate difficult decisions, put in place tricky boundaries and made a big difference when it came to making choices. All of them aligned with what it was I wanted, vs what I didn’t want. Total game changer - I hope you find the same.
Thankyou Amber for your kind words. your observation is correct. In the Netherlands, where I now live they have an expression.... "Het is nie voor nix" i.e:- "it doesn't happen for no reason"..... Peace Maurice
Thank you for sharing this. I can absolutely see how prioritizing health allowed you to set boundaries and make decisions. I hope for some of the same.
I think it's a shift for me from illness to wellness ... the past few years have been really rough and I felt like I was mostly just surviving and getting through. 2023 wasn't so bad, pretty good actually, but it was like this long period of recovery from the years previous. And in that time, it feels like illness grew. Now I feel ready to focus on wellness, not just being un-ill but exploring what being well really means for me.
It’s an interesting debate what wellness means. When I think back, the illness I experience now would’ve been a well day a few years back. The wellness I experience now isn’t something I ever recall feeling in the last decade and a half - if at all in my adult life! I’d love to hear more of your reflections on what comes up for you on this topic.
A word for the year ? hmmmm, ok.... "Autism" then..... A diagnosis last April, which after a few weeks put 7 decades into perspective, then acceptance, and embracement, then openness. Leading in turn to being asked to collaborate on a new stack on mental issues...... We start in February. Peace, Maurice
I am so glad for you that you experienced the relief of diagnosis and am curious for you as you continue to explore this in your life and work. I'm always open to collaboration here and would be happy to work with you on something around this if you're interested.
Thankyou Katherine for your kind offer. I shall forward same to my collaborator as the new stack will be in his name. I am sure he will be delighted, I mentioned your name to him a few weeks ago, as someone I read and enjoy....... Peace, Maurice
Hi Kathryn. My name is Douglas and I am Maurice's collaborator on this project. Firstly, I am bowled over by the breadth and depth of your endeavours. I originally wrote a pice on my ADD and suggested to Maurice that we could start a kind of informal support group. Other projects have, predictably, intervened, but I am keen to place my own experience within the context of the kinds of things you explore. It may be that our work is better situated under your umbrella. I'd love to have some dialogue with you when you are able. Best contact is 54macdog@gmail.com.
I have a passion for holistic health, wellbeing & the mind-body connection. As a result I work as a bodytalk practitioner helping people to heal by addressng what's occurring on all levels, not just the physical. It's incredible the healing that can occur when all parts of a person are addressed. I witness it daily.
I also have a substack newsletter entitled Holistic wellbeing with Elana.
My theme for last year was music and I'm afraid that I didn't use my theme as much as I would have liked. But I'm not beating myself up about the past; rather, I'm looking forward. I still haven't come up with a theme for this year, although I am thinking of 'consistency'. Once I've chosen something, writing about it, as you have done, seems like a very useful way of setting my intentions. Thank you for your example.
I look forward to seeing what you choose and how you write about it if you choose to share!
I also typically get myself tangible reminders of my word ... a necklace or a stone or a temporary tattoos with the word on it. I fill my library's "for later" shelf with books that have the word in the title ... randomly, whimsically. I look up the etymology and write it down and hang it in my space. Whether or not I use the word throughout the year in the way I think I will, I think this all infuses my life with it in whatever magical way needs to happen.
For what it's worth, a quick glance at the etymology of "consistency" ... "The word "consistency" has its roots in the Latin word "consistentia," derived from the verb "consistere," which combines "con-" (together) and "sistere" (to stand). Originally, it meant to "stand together" or "to agree." Over time, the meaning evolved to encompass the idea of coherence, steadiness, or uniformity in substance, quality, or texture. In modern English, "consistency" generally refers to the degree of thickness, firmness, or reliability of something. It can describe the quality of holding together or having a unified and dependable nature. It's often used in various contexts, such as in discussions about materials, behavior, performance, or logical arguments."
This is such a wonderful reply. Thank you!
Happy new year, Kathryn! I would be delighted to work together again. Just hit me up if/when something that would be a good fit occurs, and I'll do the same, if that's all right.
Definitely! I have a few ideas that are still coalescing.
Sounds good. Feel free to email a summary if you have some extra time this week or next. There's no rush at my end, but happy to help think/allow an idea to percolate a bit.
Eudaemonia being pretentious made me chuckle! I love how you describe wellness as being so many, sometimes contrasting things – wellness is doing the thing and it's also not doing the thing. And I'm so sorry you lost your dad a year ago, that's so tough and I'm glad you've felt supported here as you've navigated the first anniversary x
Thank you ... it has been weird being at the one year in ways I don't really have words for yet, perhaps never will. My dad kept journals, especially in the last year of his life, and they have also been a place of solace this past year. Sometimes I read them and sometimes I don't because, exactly, "wellness is doing the thing and it's also not doing the thing"
What a gift for your dad to leave you📝🥰💜
I just shared a couple small snippets in my Notes. It really is special.
"Pivot" is my word this year, mainly because my guides have been emphasizing it for at least the last year and a half. So, I take it as being light enough on my feet that I can change direction quickly if I need to.
That's an intriguing one and I really like your description of what it means for you. What comes to mind for me is how we can rotate slightly in order to see a different perspective in the face of a challenge.
True as well, and we're going to need all of the perspectives we can get!
Brilliant word, I love that one!
Time is my word.
Oh intriguing! There are so many different connotations and aspects of that!
I love your Word of the Year, your intentions, and especially the broad approach you’re taking to wellness. I immediately subscribed and am excited to go along on your creative wellness journey.
Thank you ... I expect the journey, as always, will have many ebbs and flows ... and I look forward to sharing how I swim along in it.
Beautiful word, I love this for you and what it means to you and intentions around it. Can’t wait to hear of how this supports you in your journey and creativity. I never saw it as a word of the year at the time as I want using them then, but wellness was the word I brought into my life back in 2018. I was completely disabled by illness at the time and wellness became my focus. All the changes I made were based around wellness (irrespective of whether the change worked or not, I continued on regardless because each change aligned with wellness). I also (unconsciously) used a kind of mantra to go with it: health first, no matter what. L though my favourite mantra which was consciously created was “if it ain’t healing, it ain’t happening”☺️ looking back, it helped navigate difficult decisions, put in place tricky boundaries and made a big difference when it came to making choices. All of them aligned with what it was I wanted, vs what I didn’t want. Total game changer - I hope you find the same.
Same Mantra here, Amber, my response to a simple accident last May that escalated into months of agony. Peace Maurice
Whilst I am sorry to hear that, it sounds like the experience has been life changing for you in a way that has brought you to where you are now.
Thankyou Amber for your kind words. your observation is correct. In the Netherlands, where I now live they have an expression.... "Het is nie voor nix" i.e:- "it doesn't happen for no reason"..... Peace Maurice
What a meaningful expression 🙂
Thank you for sharing this. I can absolutely see how prioritizing health allowed you to set boundaries and make decisions. I hope for some of the same.
I think it's a shift for me from illness to wellness ... the past few years have been really rough and I felt like I was mostly just surviving and getting through. 2023 wasn't so bad, pretty good actually, but it was like this long period of recovery from the years previous. And in that time, it feels like illness grew. Now I feel ready to focus on wellness, not just being un-ill but exploring what being well really means for me.
It’s an interesting debate what wellness means. When I think back, the illness I experience now would’ve been a well day a few years back. The wellness I experience now isn’t something I ever recall feeling in the last decade and a half - if at all in my adult life! I’d love to hear more of your reflections on what comes up for you on this topic.
That makes sense - it's all a shifting relative thing. This gives me more to think about which is exactly what I want to do! THANKS.
A word for the year ? hmmmm, ok.... "Autism" then..... A diagnosis last April, which after a few weeks put 7 decades into perspective, then acceptance, and embracement, then openness. Leading in turn to being asked to collaborate on a new stack on mental issues...... We start in February. Peace, Maurice
I am so glad for you that you experienced the relief of diagnosis and am curious for you as you continue to explore this in your life and work. I'm always open to collaboration here and would be happy to work with you on something around this if you're interested.
https://createmefree.substack.com/p/opportunities-for-create-collaboration
Thankyou Katherine for your kind offer. I shall forward same to my collaborator as the new stack will be in his name. I am sure he will be delighted, I mentioned your name to him a few weeks ago, as someone I read and enjoy....... Peace, Maurice
💙🦋💙
Hi Kathryn. My name is Douglas and I am Maurice's collaborator on this project. Firstly, I am bowled over by the breadth and depth of your endeavours. I originally wrote a pice on my ADD and suggested to Maurice that we could start a kind of informal support group. Other projects have, predictably, intervened, but I am keen to place my own experience within the context of the kinds of things you explore. It may be that our work is better situated under your umbrella. I'd love to have some dialogue with you when you are able. Best contact is 54macdog@gmail.com.
Cheers
Douglas
I have a passion for holistic health, wellbeing & the mind-body connection. As a result I work as a bodytalk practitioner helping people to heal by addressng what's occurring on all levels, not just the physical. It's incredible the healing that can occur when all parts of a person are addressed. I witness it daily.
I also have a substack newsletter entitled Holistic wellbeing with Elana.
So my word for this year is integration.
Would love to connect.
Integration is a beautiful, powerful world.
In case you didn't see it, here's a post I shared recently on ideas for collaboration that might offer a starting point for connecting?
https://createmefree.substack.com/p/opportunities-for-create-collaboration