It's All In A Word.

​I give credit to my sister for integrating our one word practice each year. On the first of the year, we share our word for which will be our foundation for the upcoming 365 days with each other.  We have been practicing this for the last 8 years and it truly is life changing.
 
Living by one word each year has, for me, kept me grounded and rooted to my goals for that year.  When I feel like I am at a cross roads, I remember my word.  Most times that word is enough to help me make the choice between different possibilities that can lead me astray from what I hope for my life.
 
Picking a word for the year is a thoughtful action.  Look at your goals and try and group them in one word or phrase.  While this shouldn’t be overwhelming, it should take some thought and reflection.  The word needs to mean something to you.  Remember, this is your word, not anyone else’s word.  You will fight for this word.  It will be the word that gives you strength to stay focused.  Try to prevent picking a word that directly influences others.  This word is your word, and therefore forces you to take care of you. 
 
Once you pick a word -
 

• Share your word with special friends and family to make it come to life. 
• Write it, type it, frame it.  Make it beautiful!  You are going to look at it all year long.
• Use and speak your word in the most frequent ways possible; passwords, in memos, emails, etc.
• Put your word everywhere – on your bathroom mirror, on the fridge, on your dashboard in your car, at work, in your wallet. 

 
Having a word for a whole year can either take the front seat or get forgotten about at times.  Don’t ever give up on your word.  If you drift away from it, forgive yourself, dust off and move on.  Then refocus on that word. Remember, this word needs to work its way into your life for a year.  It’s not something that will come naturally or it wouldn’t be your word you picked, right?
 
May your word take you places you never thought possible.  Happy 2016!

Written By Merianne C. Colletti, ACSM CPT
Published in January 2016 Newsletter