set the tone for the new year with one word

Many people create New Year’s resolutions this time of year, with a specific goal in mind. But a year is a long time, during which life can throw curveballs, feelings can change and promises made in January can easily be forgotten come September. So I’ve taken to selecting just a single word around which to focus my efforts, and this year it’s about time.

Each year I give myself the opportunity to have my word show itself to me, and that happened a couple of months ago in mid-November. while I was attempting to master the Level 3 movements for Fall Prevention Tai Chi, which I was about to be certified in. As I practiced, I found my mind constantly racing several steps ahead to the direction-changing footwork of Repulse the Monkey, which I couldn’t seem to smooth out no matter how many times I practiced. During our first class post-election, my teacher Anne Bower encouraged us to empty our minds and be guided by our breath, allowing whatever arose to be part of our practice. “Everything in it’s own time,” floated into my consciousness. And that changed everything.

That mantra helped keep me present and centered on just the movement my body was currently flowing through. And that’s exactly what happened during the previously confounding sequence—seamless flow. These words also kept me company as I realized our senior one-eyed cat Oggie’s run with us was drawing to a close. And I repeated this same phrase to myself weeks later as we waited to hear back from area rescues about our adoption applications.

We speak a lot about time at the beginning of a new year—”where does the time go?” My mom passed on New Year’s Day in 2021, and there are still days when I have to stop myself from picking up the phone to get her tips on some kitchen dilemma. So taking 12 months to consider all the ways the concept of time—just one (simple?) word—fits into our full lives almost seems too short.

Is there a word you’re been drawn to exploring for 2025? If you’re comfortable sharing, I’d love to hear about it!

Photo by Aron Visuals on Unsplash

Does the new year start at the very beginning of January … or more toward the end? Those who celebrate Lunar New Year would say it’s January 29 this year, at the second New Moon after the Winter Solstice. Join Tai Chi Vermont for a FREE Lunar New Year celebration, online or in-person 10 a.m.-noon ET Wednesday, Jan. 29, from the Great Hall in Springfield, Vt. (100 River Street). We’ll play some tai chi, enjoy traditional refreshments and write our wishes for the time ahead—the Year of the Snake! Click to sign up for the Zoom link, and you’ll also get a recording you can watch whenever it works best for your schedule.