Back in November, I spotted a word that I considered using as my word of the year. It seemed strong, and it seemed to show up everywhere. That word was STORM. Did it make you gasp too?
There was a bit of fear that choosing STORM would cause more storms to erupt. Considering the tumultuous 2022 that I just experienced, I was a little leery of calling in more storms in the new year while at the same time, I loved an image of me standing in the wonder woman pose, weathering an intense storm with no fear in my eyes.
In the end, it is highly possible that storm was my sub-word for 2022. That image will definitely carry me into the new year in a positive fashion feeling stronger and ready for what might come.
If my word wasn’t going to be storm, what in the world was I going to choose? CHARM came to mind. And, I liked it… but not enough to make it my word. In a moment of overwhelm, I thought perhaps BALANCE made sense. And then it hit me, my word was not balance, instead it was HARMONY.
Oh Harmony, I can’t wait to spend the year with you. There is a story behind the word choice that dates back several years. I was talking with my friend Pepsi about work-life balance. With her typical wisdom, she replied quickly that she stop seeking work-life balance, instead opting for work-life harmony. There would be moments where she would give more to one area and less to another, but in the end, it all needed to work together. Harmony. That’s exactly what I was craving.
DEFINING HARMONY
As I do every year, I’ll share a few ways that I intend to seek Harmony in the year ahead. To get started, let’s see what we’re working with from our friends at Webster. I’ll also use my creative liberty to claim harmonize as well.
Harmony (noun):
- the combination of simultaneously sounded musical notes to produce chords and chord progressions having a pleasing effect.
- the quality of forming a pleasing and consistent whole.
- agreement or concord.
Harmonize (verb):
- add notes to (a melody) to produce harmony.
- produce a pleasing visual combination.
- make consistent or compatible.
Lots to work with here, I’m more convinced than ever that this work is perfect for what I have in mind.
Establish Greater Work-Life Harmony
In 2023, I’ll go from onboarding 5 new team members to onboarding 2. I also have the benefit of having 4 wildly-talented, tenured employees to lean on for help. I believe my workload will be different in 2023, and I’m looking forward to it.
I used the word different because managing a seasoned team brings different challenges to the table. All of the easy questions have been answered, and my role will be to help us level up. I know that this will allow me to be creative and innovative (which is my favorite). But I need to be careful…
I am fully aware of the fact that I am a hard worker and also that I will fully immerse in a project. When you’re looking for work-life harmony, you also need to fuel your personal life too… so there’s reason for the balance to take place. Whether a supper club, a Tuesday night yoga class, or a new class, I want to find new things to explore and to meet more people in my new town. I also completely missed Yoga at the Botanic Gardens this year, and I’m hoping to get back there! Which leads me to my next idea…
Find Harmonious Physical Activities – – and Do Them!
Yoga: I’ve been thinking about joining a yoga studio forever. Since my favorite studio in Arvada closed (gasp!) and after moving to a new town, I’ve had this weird fear around trying something new. What if it’s one of those super-strenuous classes? What if it’s all Lululemon and crop tops? What if I can’t do the poses? All of this is possible, but I won’t ever know until I try. My goal is to find a new studio to practice.
At-Home Options: I also set up a workout space in my basement that I’ve literally never used. Yep, not once. I could easily practice yoga in my basement or at least do some stretching. I just need to roll out my mat and take the next step.
Walking: I do this every day. Seems normal that I could just put on some shoes and go outside to make this happen. Adding it to the list.
Bottom line, physical activity is important as we age. Staying active helps us stay healthy and I know that more active folks live longer and more healthily. Add me to that list, please!
Establish More Mind-Body-Spirit Harmony
This is a big one that I plan to spend a little more time on. We all know that the food we eat fuels our body and makes us feel a certain way. At the same time, the habits we have contribute to our overall well being. All three have to be operating together to create the most optimal life. Overextending in one area doesn’t make up for the lack elsewhere. It’s time to invest in all three.
What if I ate food that made me feel amazing?? What if I spent time doing things that fueled my soul? What if I moved my body in a way that gave me energy and longevity? With the help of my friends at Jenny Craig, we’re going to get back to doing what makes me feel best, and it doesn’t end with food. It’s everything. More to come on this.
Create a Backyard Oasis
A backyard oasis… doesn’t that sound amazing? Late last summer, I went through a design process to create a backyard that I loved. It took some time to get connected to a landscaper, and unfortunately, we finally connected right about the time when the first snow fell in Colorado.
I have big plans to transform my “rectangle of mud” as I affectionately refer to it… into a space where I can lounge, read, dine, and even work. I can’t wait to get this started, and this project took up big space on my vision board this year. It’s happening!
Listen to the Ocean Again
My absolute favorite trip of 2021 was a late-in-the-year business trip turned bleisure adventure in Oregon. I had a chance to drive up and down the coast and fell in LOVE with it. I plan to go back in 2023, and I’d love to drive north into Cannon Beach and beyond. It’s incredibly beautiful up there, and I just love the sweet song that accompanies trips to the coast. I can’t wait to get there.
Of note: I actually won a giveaway on Instagram for the bed and breakfast I stayed at in December. It was spectacular, and I cannot wait to go back! It’s like the starts are aligning!
Listen to More Live Music
I miss live music. As I’m typing right now, I’m trying to think of the last concert I went to… and I’ve gone completely blank. It was likely pre-pandemic at this point. I’ve been to the theater a few times, but I miss the buzz that comes with a good concert. So far, I’ve got tickets to see Taylor Swift in Denver in July and potential to see P!nk in October. With an eye on more music in 2023, I can’t wait to see what I’m able to book.
Flow through 2023 with Ease
There is a phrase I use with my team when I want them to simplify things, to avoid overcomplicating things. “Easy Breezy”, let’s keep it that way. I can’t think of a more perfect phrase to encompass how I want to live this year.
- Less force, more do.
- Less struggle, more smile.
- Less challenge, more ease.
The word Harmony to me has a fluidity that I just love. While it’s definitely referencing sound, it resonates with me in liquid state.
Thank you for joining me on this journey. Wishing you the most beautifully harmonious year ahead…
Check out my word(s) of the year for previous years via the links below.