As many of you know, I’ve been selecting a word of the year instead of making resolutions for a dozen years now. Here are the words I’ve chosen so far:
2012: More
2013: Simplify
2014: Me
2015: Real
2016: Delight
2017: Power
2018: Stellar
2019: Connection
2020: Create
2021: Celebrate
2022: Love
2023: Dynasty
That’s quite a lovely list, if I do say so myself.
So, how did I do in 2023?
Here’s the honest truth: At some point in the year (probably in the summer, but I’m not 100% sure) I looked up my New Year’s post because I had forgotten what my chosen word was — this is not an uncommon occurrence, because it’s not like I think much about my yearly word. I just choose it based on my gut feeling, and then the year kind of works itself out. But what was different this summer is that when I realized my word was DYNASTY, the only thought that came to mind was “oh no.”
Here is what I said when 2023 was still fresh and new:
Yes, this year I want to focus on setting up my family as the beginning of a long line of humans who know how to live well.
I have three teenagers, and my husband and I are planning for our next phase(s). I’m not 100% able to know what the next ten years will bring, but I know this is the year to build a solid foundation. And while “dynasty” is typically associated with wealth (or that social media favorite buzzword, “abundance”) to me “dynasty “is feeling more like building the foundation of a new family line. It’s less about legacy and inheritance - the things you leave behind - and more about this new thing we’re building together.
I just really enjoy this stage in life, and this is where my focus is, building a foundation for all of us, so we can be the ancestors worthy of our descendants.
I mean, can you blame me for panicking? That’s quite a tall order! So I did what any rational woman would do in this situation…I closed my laptop and pretended I didn’t know the delusional person who wrote that letter.
And now it’s 2024, and as I reflected on the year that was, I realized that HELL YES, we had definitely built the beginnings of our dynasty in 2023 — it just didn’t happen in the way I expected, but holy hell if we didn’t set up our boys for building the solid foundations they each need.
I can’t really get much more into this because, in case you haven’t noticed, this newsletter is about me (ME selfishly ME ME) and not about my family (because I respect their privacy and my need to write is not their fault). But wow, does this process work.
Which leads me to my 2024 word, ETHEREAL.
Here is the dictionary definition, and all of the synonyms and even some trivia about the word because, my goodness, if there is anything I seek this year it’s this:
ethereal
ethe·re·al i-ˈthir-ē-əl
a
: of or relating to the regions beyond the earth
b
c
a
: lacking material substance : IMMATERIAL, INTANGIBLE
b
: marked by unusual delicacy or refinement
c
: suggesting the heavens or heaven
: relating to, containing, or resembling a chemical ether (ether was often described as an invisible light or fire, and its name derives from the Greek aithein, a verb meaning "to ignite" or "to blaze.")
My relationship to this will continue to be mostly private — I really don’t need to bore you with my personal choices, but, and this is foreshadowing, you can expect my writing to reflect this more and more. I hope you’re ready.
Here are some ethereal images I took myself in recent months. I’ve always sought the ethereal right here on earth. This year I just want to honor my instinct.
These letters are not the place for harsh realities; I have no interest in dragging us down to earth. The rest of the world is taking care of that.
I’m ready for some otherworldly magic in 2024, and I wish intangible and delicate joys for you this year as well.
xo,