Word of the Year 2019: Open (and a round up)
Can you believe it’s 2019 already? Can you believe tomorrow is the last day of January? I can’t. I mean, sure, it is generally known that January is the longest month of the year at approximately 900 days, but still…!
Right around the end of the year, I started thinking about what the word of the year was going to be. You might remember that 2018’s word of the year was RISK. (And boy, did I, more soon). I feel like, however, I’m ready for a new word and intention. After a lot of thinking about where I wanted my year to be and how I wanted it to feel, I decided on a single word that feels powerful to me.
That word is Open.
I want to walk through this year with an open mind, heart, body & spirit. I feel like I’ve walked the hard road of self discovery and healing, and I want to be open to new experiences and new opportunities.
I want to be open to new relationships and partnerships.
I want to be open to what the universe has in store for me.
I want to be open to new ideas and new ventures.
I want to be open in my communication. (This is something I really, really struggle with, but I really want to work on it!)
Openness. Light. Power. Vulnerability. May I be open to all that the universe has in store for me in 2019.
And now… a quick round up from 2018:
In JANUARY:
- I took on the interim costumer job at University of Dayton for three months, designing 2 shows (one in February and March)
- A dear friend adopted the CUTEST baby girl
February:
- The first UD show went up, as we worked with a west coast slam poet to devise some theatre together.
- 2 glorious Galentine’s Day parties with my teams.
March:
- I opened Once on This Island for Chaminade Julienne High School
- I opened my first dance show, Transparency, with UD’s dance department
April:
- I traveled to Utah and had a glorious vacation with two of my very best friends- and found that mountains are almost as good as the ocean
- I started at Kings Island as the Department Manager of Costumes- essentially the costume shop manager- with 15-20 direct reports
May:
- Had my wisdom teeth out
- Kings Island opened the Summer season shows
- I went to Walt Disney World with my high school kids for a week, which included a tour of the Disney Costume shop AND time spent in Avatar-land in Animal Kingdom, which was amazing
- Penelope turned 5!
June:
- I moved into a house I love and took on some home ownership ~stuff~, even as a renter
- Started volunteering with America’s Packard Museum on Sunday afternoons, which I love.
July:
- I made friends with a lady down the street, who is now one of my best friends
- I started taking Aerial Silks, which I HAVE LOVED, but it is so hard
August:
- I decided to launch some wedding costuming, and have now worked on two weddings
September:
- The Haunt opened at Kings Island, prompting my first 10 pm-2 am trip down there for this season.
October:
- I’m sure stuff happened in October- but I feel like it was just LOTS of work!
November:
- I turned 29
- We opened Winterfest- 14 shows on the same day- no overnights required
- CJ’s fall play “A Murder is Announced” is a great success
December:
- The long, 18 month court situation I’ve been walking through with a friend ended, at long last.
- The Christmas theme was “pompoms and plaid”, and turned out very pretty
- I paid off the first of my three student loans
Whew, what a year!
Since there’s still 11 months of 2019 left, here’s some of my hopes for the year:
- more journaling
- more sleep
- more fulfilling work, less busywork
- deepening friendships and relationships
- learning to feed my body nutrition as a reward
- finding new and challenging ways to move my body
- work more towards being my own boss all the time
- work on paying down my debt
- more reading
- work on my craft more (better sewing skills)
- stay open to the process and to new things
Seems like a lot, I know! But you know how much I love to be busy. As usual, I’ve got big dreams and big ideas. I’ve got more projects than I have time for. But you know what? I can feel it. Good things are coming. I’m willing to put in the work- what are you working for?