Happy New Year! It’s that special time to turn a new page and pick a word of the year. A word that will define our choices, actions, and goals for the next 365 days.
I am not usually one to choose a word of the year. In truth, I had a big year of overcoming huge hurdles, in the form of rehabbing from my broken leg, and dealing with the pandemic.
However, “reclaim” is my word. I was hoping for something more exciting, but this is what resonates.
There are a lot of undesirable states in my life right now. It’s time for me to reclaim them and get back to myself!
Reclaim My Parenting Mojo
In the face of everything, I have been a less than effective mother. I own it. Am I alone in saying that everything was just so hard and overwhelming? While A has been an absolute rockstar, rolling with every punch and curveball, handling virtual school and the loss of normalcy. He has also had so many challenges, disappointments, and letdowns this year. He is not the only one struggling, which is why I have eased up on rules, screen time, and pushing him to do things he doesn’t want to do. It’s not doing him any good, though, and embracing my word of the year (and a lot more patience), means being a better mom. I love this kid so fiercely, and he deserves the best of me.
Reclaim My Role As Partner
I don’t often share super personal things here, and our marriage is fine (coming up on 15 years!), but I need to reclaim being a good wife. We have not had too many independent outlets over the past year, which leads to more nagging, less communication, and general irritations. We can do better, and I intend to make good on my word of the year to improve.
Reclaim My Creativity
Arts, crafts, and creativity are my favorites and in 2020, I had a hard time finding inspiration. For the first part of the year, my focus was solely on PT and adapting to the pandemic, and then I was just too tired and numb to really start making beautiful things again. Heck, I couldn’t even rise to the occasion of preparing yummy meals! In 2021, I plan to really dig deep into my word of the year. and get back to my creative nature. I am much more confident with my Cricut vinyl cutter, and I have felt the urge to start writing again. Time to make it happen!
Reclaim My Love of Learning
Learning is such a love of mine, but in the past year, I just didn’t have the bandwidth for a lot of new information. I was a lump, watching way too much bad TV and scrolling through Twitter. If I stay true to my word of the year, I will be doing a lot more reading and filling my brain with useful (andmaybe not so useful knowledge). Want to join me on GoodReads? Click here!
Reclaim My Sense of Self
Hello, anxiety, my old friend. 2020 opened the door to so much fear, doubt, and a loss of self. I worried about EVERYTHING, and that’s not really like me. Afraid to go out, afraid to stay in, afraid to test myself, afraid of being alone, and afraid of being with others, I feel like I lost all the things it took me so long to find. Enough of that! It’s time to reclaim myself and enjoy what I can within the limitations we now face! I’ve started with my plan to take a weekly hike on different local trails, and I intend to continue finding things that test my boundaries and help me find better versions of me.
Do you have anything you’d like to reclaim?
Even if reclaim isn’t your word, are there any undesirable states from which you’d like to rescue yourself?
Do you have a word of the year? How are you moving forward into 2021?
I think reclaim is the perfect word for 2021 and it’s one I would have chosen for myself! Can I say this–I think you’re being too hard on yourself! You are such an amazing mother, wife, and woman–I admire your pursuit of being the best at everything you do. It’s been fun following you this year. Here’s to reclaiming life again!
I do appreciate that, but it’s been a pretty dismal year from my point of view. I feel like I am always at odds with A, and never doing anything right. I know he’s testing and it’s his age, but that doesn’t make me feel any better. 🙁
Wow, reclaim is a great word for 2021. I feel like I have been getting by, but need to reclaim my initiative. As Wendy said, you are a great mom—this has got to have been the hardest year for parenting.
Initiative is a good one to reclaim. <3 This is the worst year of being a mom to date. I'm trying, but I feel like I'm failing just about everything.
I love your goals. Even in the best of marriages, there are always ways to improve and be a better partner. Maybe that’s something for me to think about as well.
I’m not a mother and I can only begin to imagine how hard virtual schooling must be. I think you’re doing great!
You have a wonderful family!
Happy New Year, Jenn!
Virtual schooling has its pros and cons. I think we’ve really made the best out of an awful situation, and we are lucky that it’s gone ok.
Marriage is hard, and this year has tested even the strongest relationships. We will get through it, but I hope we can get through it even stronger.
What a perfect word for 2021 after experiencing 2020! As the previous commenters have stated, you’re a great mom and A is lucky to have you. I know it’s easy for me to say, “Hang in there,” since I’m not in your shoes, but you’re doing the best that you can and a good job, at that. One day A will look back at this year and just might remember it as the year that he got to spend more time with Mom and Dad.
I do appreciate that. I think we have all done as well as we can, but I have not been patient and I don’t like that about myself. I can do so much better than that. And it’s also hard because he’s going through that testing phase, so we are all just pretty on edge. It will get better, but there are things I can do to help it along.
I like it! These are all important and attainable goals. 2020 handed you a heavier load than most with the broken ankle (before the pandemic) so I just want to say that you have done an amazing job in spite of it all! Creativity and learning are two areas that I have really let slide, and though I don’t have a plan to get them back on the list, I’m hoping to do better.
Beckett @ Birchwood Pie recently posted…2021 State of the Run
I appreciate it. I miss my creative sense of self, and really need to stretch my imagination and artsy side a little.
What an excellent choice of word! And, by the way, I so agree with everything Wendy said!
Here’s a healthy and happy 2021!!
<3 Thank you. Happy New year!