WOW! Women On Writing Blog: 2021

One Word for 2021

Saturday, January 09, 2021

When I wrote the title of this post, I thought when everyone reads it they will say to themselves, "One word for 2021 is BETTER!" Well, yes, let's hope. Fingers crossed. But this is my annual New Year's post about how I have given up a bunch of S.M.A.R.T. goals and resolutions; and since 2016, I have been choosing one word for the theme of my year: Organization, Peace, Calm, Grow, Create, and now...

FINISH!

Yes, my word for 2021 is FINISH. Since last year's word was create, it makes logical sense that this year's word is finish--"How about finishing some of that stuff you created in 2020, Margo?" (That's what my brain said to me on January 1, 2021 this year.) I have so many things to finish, and I'm not even about to list them all here, and I probably won't finish every single one of them. But what I really want to show you is that you can take the one word theme and work it into several areas of your life--not just the obvious one. But let's start with the obvious one:

Finish Manuscripts

Yes, I need to finish manuscripts or at the very least, look at my drafts and see if they are worthy of finishing.

Finish Online Course

I am enrolled in an online course (self-paced) since last summer, and I am not even 50% through it. I want to finish it.

Finish Bad Habits

Now you see, I'm thinking outside of the box here. I know it may be hard to believe that I have a few bad habits, but I do. These come in the form of eating too much candy during the day, drinking too much coffee in the morning, wasting time on Facebook, not balancing my life, and so on.

Finish Planning a Trip

My daughter and I want to go on a trip. Now I probably won't start planning it until life is somewhat back to normal with the vaccine, but we will be going to upper state New York to visit my best friend and hopefully Harry Potter world.

Finish Trying to Control Things I Can't Control

Pandemic, anyone?

As you can see, I have a lot of things I want to finish. And if I start something this year, I want to finish it. I have some big plans for my publishing company and my own writing, plus my family and fun!

The last two years, I've also gotten my daughter involved in Word of the Year--she's 10. So last year, her word was organized, and this year it is EXPAND. In her mind, she wants to EXPAND her YouTube channel and get more followers, but I can also see all sorts of ways she can expand. Of course she is also at that age where she doesn't want Mom to tell her how she can use her word of the year to make her life better.

So, do you have a word of the year? If not, how do you manage your New Year's goals? Share with us in the comments.

Margo L. Dill is a mom, writer, publisher, editor, writing teacher and coach, living in St. Louis, MO with her 10-year-old daughter and almost 2-year-old dog. Join her writing classes in the WOW! classroom by going here.

8 comments 2021, Margo L. Dill, New Year's goals, one word, resolutions, writing goals

The Dance of 2020 - Remembering...

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

The Dance by Garth Brooks was a song I learned on the piano way back in 1989. I was 12 and saved up my babysitting and stall cleaning monies and purchased the Garth Brooks Easy Piano Song Book from my piano teacher Mrs. Hansen. I remember this time in my life quite vividly. My friends were busy figuring out hair spray and lip gloss dreaming of what it might be like to get asked to the school dance. I spent my free moments playing piano and singing for my sick father. I remember singing this particular song and feeling quite wise. I thought the lyrics had been written just for me (not really, but I absolutely felt each emotion as I came to grips with losing and going through oh so many of life's milestones without my best friend).

I still play that same piano. I still sing that same song. I'm not sure how wise I was then or how wise I feel right now. I do however love the last day of the year because it gives me an opportunity to reflect on the year and years prior. I think we can all agree on one thing:

2020 WAS A DANCE TO REMEMBER

I don't think there's an appropriate font for 2020 but it feels like maybe El Messiri might be appropriate since MESSY is one word I often used to describe how life felt this year. Is that what we are going to remember a few decades from now? I don't really know to be honest with you and a part me wants to forget oh so many things about this year, yet there's lessons to be learned in every painful moment, right? As Garth says:

I could have missed the pain

But I'da had to miss

The dance

That brings me to another country song with a special place in my heart. How They Remember You by Rascal Flatts

Did you stand or did you fall?
Build a bridge or build a wall
Hide your love or give it all
What did you do? What did you do?
Did you make 'em laugh or make 'em cry?
Did you quit or did you try?
Live your dreams or let 'em die?
What did you choose? What did you choose?
When it all comes down
It ain't if, it's how they remember you

I'm doing a lot of remembering today. My Auntie Jay died just a few days ago at the amazing age of 104. She lived in her own home and lived alone until the day she died. She did NOT die of Covid-19. She saw a lot in her life and had the most phenomenal perspective on life and love. I will remember her holding babies and smiling. I will remember her raking leaves in hear yard during the fall of 2020 - (she spent 3 days getting the yard ready for the lawn guy to come mow one last time before winter). I will remember her urging friends to stop and visit because being lonely was far scarier than the pandemic. This wise woman was interviewed by the local paper just months before her death and there's a great deal of wisdom in the Herald Times Reporter article. As I remember Auntie Jay (real name Julia) and as I reflect on 2020 I can't help but wonder how my friends and family will remember me.

I didn't make all the right decisions during 2020. I probably took the wrong risks here and was too cautious there. I could have been happier and less anxious. Did I make sure everyone had enough joy? Was my glass full enough?

HERE IS YOUR CALL TO CATION:

Let's take a moment to think about all the things we did RIGHT during 2020. Let's take time today to concentrate on the JOY that came during the last 12 months. Leave a comment on this post about something positive you did or a positive experience you had during 2020 and when you're done doing that, pick up the phone and call someone and tell them how your life is better with them in it! Drop someone a note wishing them a happy new year and tell them what you admire about them. It's great to show up at someone's funeral and share memories of how you remember them, but imagine what joy it would give them to know how you feel while they are still alive!

If you've read this far - thank you! I'm glad you are here and I'm glad you've overcome oh so many obstacles to get here - I'm hopeful that 2021 is going to be filled with extreme joy and gladness for you and your family!

Hugs,

~Crystal

and now...a little more about me...

Shown from left to right:
Delphine riding Honey
Mr. Otto holding Eudora
Crystal riding Marv.
Thank you Forward Farm, LLC

Crystal is a hot mess of busy-ness who has decided to shorten her bio...

You can find Crystal milking cows, riding horses, and the occasional unicorn (not at the same time), taking the ordinary and giving it a little extra (making it extraordinary), blogging and reviewing books here, and at her own blog - Crystal is dedicated to turning life's lemons into lemonade and she has never (not once) been accused of being normal!