Sunday, December 31, 2017

The Word for 2018

The last three years, I had chosen a guiding word for the year, a word that would represent my goals for the coming year.  I haven't made New Year's resolutions for years; I figured one word shouldn't be hard.

For 2016,  I chose "Determination" and then promptly forgot about the word.

For 2017, I decided perhaps I was a year too soon with that word, and chose Determination again.  In part, I said:

"DETERMINATION - not to stay silent if speaking out against hatred is needed.

DETERMINATION - to stand up against events that need standing up against.   I think about authors who have written books that have changed the world.  It is possible.  I must remember that one person CAN make a difference.  Could a blog post change the world?

DETERMINATION - to make my voice heard if the quality of life of my brother in law, who is developmentally disabled, is threatened.  

DETERMINATION - once again, that I will grow my writing, and my photography, no matter what my personal challenges are this year.  Even if it only grows a little, it will be a victory. "

And then I promptly forgot about the word. 

No focus.

So, what did 2017 hand me, and others I know?

One of my first cousins died.  At that time, I learned that he was in the early stages of Parkinson's, which contributed to the cause of his death (choking on food).
A co worker's mother died on Christmas Day.
A fall my spouse took that he may not ever heal completely from.
Someone I went to high school and college with was diagnosed with cancer. 
My family faces many challenges with future planning for my developmentally disabled brother in law.

As we age (I am officially a senior citizen now), people we know sicken, or, sometimes, die.  We will go down that last path one day ourselves, and that realization has hit me hard in the past year. That realization makes relationships more important than ever. 


We like to think of ourselves as independent.  But when my spouse fell in October, and ended up in the ER, I suddenly found myself being helped with various issues, and I am grateful for each and everyone of them.  In fact, we are all interdependent.  

I need to pay this kindness forward.

Tomorrow, I join, once again, the Ultimate Blog Challenge.  I am thinking of how I cherish some of these blogging relationships - I look forward to making cyberfriends this year through this and other challenges.

So I am not going to choose a word this year.  But I do have some goals that I need to work on.

I hope I can be a good friend to my friends, old and (hopefully) new.  I hope I can be someone who will be honest, someone who will make you laugh, someone you can trust, someone who will stand by you.  And, in my own little way, perhaps I can start to change the world with one little ripple.  


One little flap of my butterfly wings.
Courtesy of my guest photographer
Happy New Year to all my readers, near and far!  

 I look forward to interacting with some of you this January, in the Ultimate Blog Challenge #blogboost.

13 comments:

  1. May 2018 hold good things for you. Getting older is a challenge but it sure beats the alternative. Happy New Year.

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    1. Happy New Year to you too, Denise. Thank you for being a faithful reader of my blog.

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  2. Happy New Year, Alana. May we all pay forward the many kindnesses we receive from those around us and perhaps the beats of our "butterfly wings" will make the world a better place.

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    1. Happy New Year to you too, Dorothy. We need so much kindness in this world. I hope there are enough butterflies to go around. I need to do more than I have been doing. Thank you for being a faithful reader of my blog!

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  3. You’ve had a tough year Alana . Thanks for joining in with #FlavoursomeTuesdays and hope to see more of you in 2018. May the new year bring you peace, health and happiness

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    1. Not as tough as many, Bellybytes. I enjoy FlavoursomeTuesdays, although don't know yet how much I will be able to participate in January. Still....and thank you again for reading my blog. Happy New Year to you too, with much joy (and eating).

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  4. Here we are another year of blogging under our belts...so to speak. It seems every year has it's ups and downs, and 2017 may have given us more than our share in many areas of our individual lives as well as our nation. I so admire your devotion to your blogging. Although your word 'Determination' may have been forgotten as a 'Word', your writing voice spoke it and continues to speak of it's value to us all. Thank-you! Happy New Year!

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  5. That's really interesting. One word for the year. I may give that a try.
    Good word choice, too. I like determination. I think, if I were to pick one for 2018, I'd go with Fortitude.

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  6. Hope you have a much better 2018. I know planning in an unpredictable life is not a great idea. But, I liked your thought on interdependence. If we help others in their times of need, we will be helped during our crisis. After all, life would be boring without sharing.

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  7. Vest wishes on everything you do .I hope your spouse is better.Let's grow together this year.

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  8. Yes, we are all part of the whole. We help others, and they return the favor. Sorry to hear your spouse fell last year. I hope he's feeling a bit better.

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