Resilience - Word of the Year
In my opinion, choosing a Word of the Year is much different from creating a New Year Resolution, a practice many of us may be more familiar with. Oftentimes with resolutions, even though we have the best intentions, we…
Resilience
“the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness:”
Before I get into why I chose Resilience as my Word for 2025, let me give you a little background into why this practice is important to me…
Have you ever engaged in the practice of selecting a Word of the Year for yourself? It is the practice of selecting one particular word (sometimes a short phrase) that will serve as your motto, guide, or focus for the coming year. People go to great lengths to come up with a word that will truly convey what their intention or goal may be for the year. Research may be employed to determine the best word, even prayer and meditation are used as guidance in selecting a word. The past couple of years, it has actually taken me longer than expected to determine a Word for myself… I take it seriously! So seriously, to be honest with you, that I actually set reminder alarms in my phone to check-in with myself to keep the focus as I move through the year.
In my opinion, choosing a Word of the Year is much different from creating a New Year Resolution, a practice many of us may be more familiar with. Oftentimes with resolutions, even though we have the best intentions, we have the tendency to create unrealistic and rigid goals for ourselves that do not always foster growth and awareness. Instead, resolutions give us a task that is to be completed, a box to be checked upon completion. When that task is not achieved, we may feel defeated and give up on that focus altogether. In my opinion, with a Word of the Year, we have more flexibility to establish exactly what that word means for us individually. Any given word may have a complete different meaning and impact from one person to the next, and that is perfectly fine. That’s actually the beauty of it! You, and you alone, are in control of the interpretation and execution, in your own way and in your own time.
Now, how did I come to choose the word RESILIENCE?!
Well, 2024 was tough (to say the least)! And if I’m being honest, I wasn’t able to handle some of the hits my family and I took as well as I would have liked to. BY WHOSE STANDARDS, you ask… my own. Now I surely understand that there is no right or wrong way to handle losing a loved one (or three)… no right or wrong way to handle illness in the household… no right or wrong way to handle many of the unexpected occurances that life throws at us. But, moving forward, I pray to be able to equip myself with the tools that are important to me to cope…. tools that I have since gained.
According to the American Psychological Association, “resilience is the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences, especially through mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility and adjustment to external and internal demands.”
Verywell Mind states it simply as: “A resilient person is someone who has strong coping skills and is able to marshall their available resources, ask for help when needed, and find ways to manage the situation they are facing. People with psychological resilience are able to use their skills and strengths to respond to life's challenges. People with resilience do not experience less distress, grief, or anxiety than other people do. Instead, they use healthy coping skills to handle such difficulties in ways that foster strength and growth, often emerging stronger than they were before.”
KEY POINT: I do NOT expect to experience anything less than anyone else, I just pray to cope in a healthy manner… physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Trials and tests will always occur, but I’m striving to make 2025 the year that I grow more hopeful and optimistic AND prayerful in the MIDST OF and IN PREPARATION FOR whatever may lie ahead of me this year. Sounds relatively easy, huh? On the surface, yes. But when I think deeply about it, I know that this will be quite the process. Even the definition of resilience that I shared above is a bit too simple. Resilience is personal and individual. It is absolutely affected by our personal traits, our environment, our family, and so many other factors.
This Word… this year’s focus… is going to take some work on my part. Thankfully, I’m willing to put in that work. I’m not perfect, but God is. So, I will pray AND put in the work.
My challenge to you is to do the same…
Choose your Word, then put in the work!
Reclamation… The Act of Reclaiming My Best Me
No resolutions for me, nor setting any unattainable, unrealistic goals. I’m sticking to my annual commitment of establishing my word of the year… this is the practice of selecting one particular word that will serve as your motto, guide, or focus for the coming year…
2024 is in full swing, I’m experiencing wonderful blessings and exhausting trials already… But, I have the clarity to realize that just because the date changes, it doesn’t mean that life will stop life’ing! My ongoing goal is to better manage how I react to life’s ups and downs. One lesson I was forced (um, I mean encouraged) to experience last year was that you must make time for yourself in the midst of all that may be going on around you.
Listen to yourself as well as you would your very best friend…
Take care of yourself just like you would your firstborn child…
Speak to yourself as kindly as you would to someone who is preparing your food…
Speaking of food, feed your body with the goodness and nutrients that will fuel it to perform at its highest level…
And finally, move your body because you can. So many are not blessed with the ability to move, do, run, jump, go, or even walk!
With all of that being said, I’m committed to doing better BY me, FOR me, in this new year. No resolutions for me, nor setting any unattainable, unrealistic goals. I’m sticking to my annual commitment of establishing my word of the year… this is the practice of selecting one particular word that will serve as your motto, guide, or focus for the coming year. Read more about this practice here: "Word of the Year: Faith" Blog Post — The Body Quarry.
RECLAMATION is my Word of the Year for 2024!
“the process of claiming something back or of reasserting a right:”
I wonder if you can relate to my reasoning for selecting RECLAMATION as my word of the year. Have you given more of yourself than you’ve poured into yourself lately? Have you failed to hold yourself to the highest standards of care…mentally, physically, and spiritually? I have. However, I’m focused on getting myself all the way together right now, so I can continue to give my best to others (knowing that it begins with ME)!
One of my main reclamation goals this year is to continue focusing on the proper NUTRITION for me. One year ago, I began my vegetarian journey by eliminating meat from my diet. I must say it hasn’t been the easiest, but I’ve been led by my desire to feel better through improved digestion and more energy. This is not a way of eating that works for everyone (my family is not vegetarian), but the KEY is to really dig in and take control of your nutrition and find what works best for you. I mean, really take the time to plan your meals. That would include a fair share protein, fat, & carbohydrate, and even figuring out how much to eat and when to eat it. Maybe you have the knowledge but have not been doing what you know you should be doing… maybe you haven’t had the time or ability to get the proper information and knowledge necessary to live a healthier lifestyle. No matter the concern, I can help. Take a minute to check out some of my nutrition guidance services! Nutrition Services offered by The Body Quarry — The Body Quarry
I also have a variety of ways to help bring MOVEMENT into your life! I am a Certified Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor, and Zumba Instructor helping others achieve an active lifestyle since 2017. Whether you’d like to begin your journey in a one-on-one manner or with a group of like-minded people, I’ve got you covered. Just reach out! The Body Quarry's Customized Service Packages — The Body Quarry
Whether you choose to join me or not, just strive towards making the changes you need to make for yourself & for your health. If you choose to join me, just click the link below to reach out to me. We will discuss your options and how I can help! RECLAIM your definition of your best you, not someone else’s idea for what’s best for you. Do the research, make the changes, and move forward!
New Year, Better Me
We’ve made it, 2021 is right around the corner….. tomorrow, to be exact. And, what a year 2020 has been! I hope this article finds you and your loved ones healthy and well. One thing I know for sure is that we each have the power to make this coming year better for ourselves by planning and setting an intention.
We’ve made it, 2021 is right around the corner….. tomorrow, to be exact. And, what a year 2020 has been! I hope this article finds you and your loved ones healthy and well. One thing I know for sure is that we each have the power to make this coming year better for ourselves by planning and setting an intention. We mustn’t leave anything to chance, especially those things in which we can control. Specifically, I’d like to share about the control we have over our eating and nutrition goals.
“A new year doesn’t necessarily have to mean a new you, but it can definitely be the opportunity for a better you!”
Let me ask you a question…. Have you ever heard the quote, “You can out exercise a bad diet”? Well, it is quite true! I bring this up, because usually during this time of the year, we set up goals to workout out more, lose weight, fit into some particular outfit, or even exercise more. However, sometimes your exercise and weight loss efforts may be in vain, if you do not follow-through with the proper nutrition focus.
One of my main goals this coming year is to focus on proper nutrition, including centering my attention on macronutrient review and portion control. Have you ever taken the time to really dig in and take control of your nutrition? I mean, really take the time to plan your meals. That would include a fair share proteins, fats, & carbohydrates, and even figuring out how much to eat and when to eat it.
Please remember, do not place undue pressure and unrealistic expectations on yourself during this journey. One of our goals should be to keep things simple and minimize stress, not the opposite. Keep in mind that any positive changes or adjustments you make for yourself are just that, for YOURSELF, for you! Also, keep in mind that you do not have to go on this journey alone. I’m willing to share and guide you forward as you make these life changes. With that being said, I'll be providing my clients with weekly check-ins and personalized, detailed information on the following:
easy-to-understand nutrition education
food diary templates
guidance for reading food labels
snack and hydration options
and more!
I should let you know, no matter whether you choose to join me or not, just strive towards making the changes you need to make for yourself and for your health. If you choose to join me, just click the link below to reach out to me. We will discuss your options and how I can help! A new year doesn’t necessarily have to mean a new you, but it can definitely be the opportunity for a better you. Do the research, make the changes, and move forward into a blessed 2021.