I’m not one for New Year’s resolutions. As most of us can attest, we all start off gung-ho in January and fizzle out on our good intentions by mid-February. Life just gets in the way, and all sorts of “clutter” starts filling in the gaps. Those good intentions get left on the shelf and become covered in a thick coat of dust.

But one thing I try to do – and stick with – is giving the coming year a name. I started doing this last year when I felt like 2018 was one big slap in the face. I was at a point where I desperately needed 2019 to be different. So bolstered by a challenge from my local BurnCycle studio, I named 2019: grow.

I wrote the name on my bathroom mirror and plastered it on any other space that I saw on a daily basis. I had let myself become as stagnant as standing water, and I was growing mold. Instead of taking care of myself, I let everyone else’s needs come before my own. If you’ve ever been married and had children, you know this all too well.

But last year was different. I was able to practice growing throughout the year. I didn’t make huge, drastic changes. Just little ones that on first glance, didn’t seem to matter. But the interesting thing is, those little tiny changes added up to something quite remarkable.

Now it’s 2020, and I need something different. I tried several different words to see if they would fit. But nothing seemed to stick. Until this weekend. Bolstered by another amazing BurnCycle class (I seem to do my best work here), I finally found my word: grounded.

Why did this, of all words, resonate with me? Doesn’t this sound like the opposite of my 2019 word of grow? Isn’t the idea to push myself forward rather than root myself to the spot?

Well yes. And no. According to Webster’s Dictionary, the word grounded means “mentally and emotionally stable: admirably sensible, realistic and unpretentious.” I like the stability part but sensible and realistic? Those are not words people usually use to describe me. In fact, that definition sounds quite boring the more I think of it.

To me, the word grounded means creating a solid foundation, something that I can build on. It means being connected to my environment in such a way that when the storms hit, I don’t blow away. It means lifting my head high and marching forward even though I don’t know what’s around the next bend. It means challenging myself to do things outside my comfort zone. It means taking care of myself in a way I haven’t done before. It is my 2020.

So how do I keep this word in my life on a daily basis? Well, I’m in the process of figuring that out. I started by doing a five minute meditation in my car in between work and home. I step away from the kitchen for another five minutes in the middle of the day to just breathe and let any stress drain away. And after a week of doing these two things on a daily basis, I’ve noticed I’m more present in both my work and my personal life. I’ve been spending less time on social media and more time in the here and now.

And just between you and me? I can already feel a difference. I feel a strength and a power creeping back into my mind. I feel my confidence starting to radiate out. I’m making more meaningful connections with the people I meet.

Being grounded doesn’t mean staying stagnant and in one place. It doesn’t mean I give up my dreams and desires. What it does do, is set the stage for what’s next…

Stay tuned!

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