There are many good possibilities, as you mentioned, Gracie!
I look forward to learning the what and why for your 2025 word since your past words were such good ones!
I’m going to go with “see” which is rather parallel to your “pay attention” but I’m thinking in photography terms of noticing and capturing things I didn’t necessarily look for specifically, but deserve notice and consideration as subjects. I’m sure I do overlook things all the time that are interesting and photogenic and I want to actually see those things when they’re present.
I like that one, Bruce! You are learning to see more via photography but I bet it spills into other aspects of your life too. Thanks for reading and responding. I appreciate your feedback.
Wow! Terrific word, Mary! I researched it a bit just to more fully understand. A person with sisukas has guts and determination. As you said, they can do hard things. Sometimes I think even showing up for life is a hard thing. It's definitely a word worth my consideration. Thanks for adding to the conversation.
I will have to mull on what word I might want for 2025. In the meantime, I must ask what the top photograph is? Is it a sweet pea? It's so delicate and reminds me of a sweet pea, but the color, with the border, just lovely.
I know! Isn’t she gorgeous! Sweet pea is my best guess too. She was in the front yard of one of the homes down the street last spring. That delicate edging? With the similar colored flowers in the background? Exquisite! A lucky moment for me!
Yes, kindness goes without saying. For me and I suspect for you too, kindness is the nudge word of my life. It is an overarching concept that has been woven into my being since childhood. That certainly doesn't mean I don't have room still to consider kindness but it is, I hope, the foundation for who I am in the world. Thank you for contributing to the discussion. Your input matters to me.
Holly, can you tell me more about "lightly"? How is it the opposite of everything you do? Can you give me just a few words to help me understand your word?. I'm still considering lots of words and this word is interesting to me. Thanks!
It is from this aldous Huxley quote: "Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly. Yes, feel lightly even though you're feeling deeply. Just lightly let things happen and lightly cope with them. I was so preposterously serious in those days... Lightly, lightly - it's the best advice ever given to me... to throw away your baggage and go forward... Lightly my darling.."
Oh my! I don't recall ever seeing this line before and I am completely taken with it. I could have used that advice forty years ago and every minute since then. Thank you for sharing this with me. I am regrettably not well informed re: Huxley but this makes me want to read more. And this quote is going on the fridge. Definitely under consideration for my 2025 nudge word. Thank you again.
Yay! I love this. The universe is showing you now.
I’ve tried to read Huxley and he’s a pretty tough read to be honest. You might gain more by searching notable quotes.
We will have to check in on each other to see that we are both walking the “lightly” path. I’ve got an essay in the drafts about this. Just hasn’t worked itself out yet.
I know from experience that , when the time is right, the words fall off the fingers and onto the journal page/keyboard. I will be eagerly awaiting your thoughts.
Your piece has me pondering what my word would be. I may have to have more than one. My first thought was “health” after my visit to the doctor yesterday. I have health-related issues to work on and I’m not getting any younger. Just the usual, diet, exercise, alcohol consumption, etc. Health would be a good one for me. But then the photographer in me says “patience” might be a good word. Just in general, “patience” is a good thing, and a trait I could practice more often. When it comes to relationships, the word “connection” comes to mind. Reaching out to those around me, and a perfect example came up yesterday in the person of an elderly neighbor down the street who is going through a really rough patch in terms of his health.
Thanks for a really thought-provoking way to begin this cold Saturday morning.
Go for it, Bob! Take on two words. And I can see a connection between the two. For one thing, you need patience with yourself to change health habits.
Patience is actually another word for me to consider. I have always struggled with impatience (except, I will add, when it comes to children... patience has been my strong point in dealing with them). But I am impatient with myself, impatient with a small handful of relatives, and, hardest of all, impatient with life.It would be useful for me to spot my personal spotlight on nurturing a patient approach in my life.
Thank you for thoughtfully considering my question and for responding so sincerely.
You might like this, Dave. Holly (above) chose the word "lightly". When I asked her to elaborate. she sent me this Aldous Huxley quote and really gave me pause: "Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly. Yes, feel lightly even though you're feeling deeply. Just lightly let things happen and lightly cope with them. I was so preposterously serious in those days... Lightly, lightly - it's the best advice ever given to me... to throw away your baggage and go forward... Lightly my darling.."
Oh wait. Tell me more. Tell me what it means to be "lighter than the feather of truth". That is an intriguing concept. Can you give me an example?
Certainly light is a word I need to consider in terms of earthly baggage.
Hmmmm - another very real possibility for my 2025 nudge word. Let me think about this. Thanks for being part of this conversation. Your comments always matter.
Roughly, if the heart weighed less than the feather, it meant the person had lived a righteous life and was allowed to enter the afterlife.
To my understanding, royalty were entombed with clues to pass the questions asked of the heart. Sounds kinda like ancient Cliff Notes, but hey, that works!
Healing. Ironic as I've been sick since the new year started... Physical and mental healing for my family and friends from the challenges faced in 2024.
Healing is a terrific word on several levels, Leanne. I'm sorry to hear that you have been sick but I will tell you that most of my world seems to be sick right now too. Lots of yucky stuff going around. 2024 was brutal, that's for sure, so physical and mental healing is needed. Taking care of oneself and each other might be the best way to heal the planet and its residents. 🤷🏻♀️ Thanks for reading and responding, Leanne. I hope you are resting and that your health returns quickly.
There are many good possibilities, as you mentioned, Gracie!
I look forward to learning the what and why for your 2025 word since your past words were such good ones!
I’m going to go with “see” which is rather parallel to your “pay attention” but I’m thinking in photography terms of noticing and capturing things I didn’t necessarily look for specifically, but deserve notice and consideration as subjects. I’m sure I do overlook things all the time that are interesting and photogenic and I want to actually see those things when they’re present.
I like that one, Bruce! You are learning to see more via photography but I bet it spills into other aspects of your life too. Thanks for reading and responding. I appreciate your feedback.
For me the 2025 word is "sisukas"-- Finnish word for being able to do hard things. Thanks for this inspiring post.
Wow! Terrific word, Mary! I researched it a bit just to more fully understand. A person with sisukas has guts and determination. As you said, they can do hard things. Sometimes I think even showing up for life is a hard thing. It's definitely a word worth my consideration. Thanks for adding to the conversation.
I will have to mull on what word I might want for 2025. In the meantime, I must ask what the top photograph is? Is it a sweet pea? It's so delicate and reminds me of a sweet pea, but the color, with the border, just lovely.
I know! Isn’t she gorgeous! Sweet pea is my best guess too. She was in the front yard of one of the homes down the street last spring. That delicate edging? With the similar colored flowers in the background? Exquisite! A lucky moment for me!
Absolutely gorgeous! One of my all time favorite flowers!
"Kindness"
Yes, kindness goes without saying. For me and I suspect for you too, kindness is the nudge word of my life. It is an overarching concept that has been woven into my being since childhood. That certainly doesn't mean I don't have room still to consider kindness but it is, I hope, the foundation for who I am in the world. Thank you for contributing to the discussion. Your input matters to me.
I picked "lightly" - pretty much the opposite of everything I do. But something to work toward.
Holly, can you tell me more about "lightly"? How is it the opposite of everything you do? Can you give me just a few words to help me understand your word?. I'm still considering lots of words and this word is interesting to me. Thanks!
It is from this aldous Huxley quote: "Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly. Yes, feel lightly even though you're feeling deeply. Just lightly let things happen and lightly cope with them. I was so preposterously serious in those days... Lightly, lightly - it's the best advice ever given to me... to throw away your baggage and go forward... Lightly my darling.."
Hope this helps.
Oh my! I don't recall ever seeing this line before and I am completely taken with it. I could have used that advice forty years ago and every minute since then. Thank you for sharing this with me. I am regrettably not well informed re: Huxley but this makes me want to read more. And this quote is going on the fridge. Definitely under consideration for my 2025 nudge word. Thank you again.
Yay! I love this. The universe is showing you now.
I’ve tried to read Huxley and he’s a pretty tough read to be honest. You might gain more by searching notable quotes.
We will have to check in on each other to see that we are both walking the “lightly” path. I’ve got an essay in the drafts about this. Just hasn’t worked itself out yet.
I know from experience that , when the time is right, the words fall off the fingers and onto the journal page/keyboard. I will be eagerly awaiting your thoughts.
Your piece has me pondering what my word would be. I may have to have more than one. My first thought was “health” after my visit to the doctor yesterday. I have health-related issues to work on and I’m not getting any younger. Just the usual, diet, exercise, alcohol consumption, etc. Health would be a good one for me. But then the photographer in me says “patience” might be a good word. Just in general, “patience” is a good thing, and a trait I could practice more often. When it comes to relationships, the word “connection” comes to mind. Reaching out to those around me, and a perfect example came up yesterday in the person of an elderly neighbor down the street who is going through a really rough patch in terms of his health.
Thanks for a really thought-provoking way to begin this cold Saturday morning.
Go for it, Bob! Take on two words. And I can see a connection between the two. For one thing, you need patience with yourself to change health habits.
Patience is actually another word for me to consider. I have always struggled with impatience (except, I will add, when it comes to children... patience has been my strong point in dealing with them). But I am impatient with myself, impatient with a small handful of relatives, and, hardest of all, impatient with life.It would be useful for me to spot my personal spotlight on nurturing a patient approach in my life.
Thank you for thoughtfully considering my question and for responding so sincerely.
Thank you for this, today.
Not sure what my word will be, but i find the concept to really resonate.
Hope your new year shines.
Oh! I like that word shine! I like the expression “Be the light”. That’s another one I’ve thought about.
My subliminal tactic worked, I see!
I'm thinking my word will be "light" in both the shiny sense and the minimal baggage sense.
In Egyptian lore, Anubis cuts out the hearts of the dead and weighs them. If they are lighter than the feather of truth, one gets to the afterlife.
Hmm, light it is!
Thank you again; I owe you a coffee.
You might like this, Dave. Holly (above) chose the word "lightly". When I asked her to elaborate. she sent me this Aldous Huxley quote and really gave me pause: "Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly. Yes, feel lightly even though you're feeling deeply. Just lightly let things happen and lightly cope with them. I was so preposterously serious in those days... Lightly, lightly - it's the best advice ever given to me... to throw away your baggage and go forward... Lightly my darling.."
Oh wait. Tell me more. Tell me what it means to be "lighter than the feather of truth". That is an intriguing concept. Can you give me an example?
Certainly light is a word I need to consider in terms of earthly baggage.
Hmmmm - another very real possibility for my 2025 nudge word. Let me think about this. Thanks for being part of this conversation. Your comments always matter.
Roughly, if the heart weighed less than the feather, it meant the person had lived a righteous life and was allowed to enter the afterlife.
To my understanding, royalty were entombed with clues to pass the questions asked of the heart. Sounds kinda like ancient Cliff Notes, but hey, that works!
And fun fact: if the heart was too heavy, it was fed to Ammit, who promptly ate it and your ass just disappeared, no afterlife for you!
Healing. Ironic as I've been sick since the new year started... Physical and mental healing for my family and friends from the challenges faced in 2024.
Healing is a terrific word on several levels, Leanne. I'm sorry to hear that you have been sick but I will tell you that most of my world seems to be sick right now too. Lots of yucky stuff going around. 2024 was brutal, that's for sure, so physical and mental healing is needed. Taking care of oneself and each other might be the best way to heal the planet and its residents. 🤷🏻♀️ Thanks for reading and responding, Leanne. I hope you are resting and that your health returns quickly.