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My Word for the Year 2023

January 23, 2023 By Janetti Spaghetti 6 Comments

I’m a writer, so you would think I have an excellent command of the English language.

However I’ve been struggling to pinpoint my word for the year for 2023.

woman flourishing
I think this pic sums up my word for the year beautifully … can you guess what it is? Read on, and all will be revealed!

In fact, when I started writing this post, I still didn’t know what it would be – but there’s something about putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) that always helps me find clarity.

This is my sixth year on the One Little Word bandwagon, and I do find it helps guide my steps day to day. You can read about each of my previous “words” here:

  • 2018 – breathe (and a wrap up at the end of the year)
  • 2019 – colour (and the end of year report)
  • 2020 – blossom
  • 2021 – prosper
  • 2022 – triumphant

So why is it so difficult to choose my word for the year this time around? I know what I want, but have struggled to find just one word that encapsulates it all!

Perhaps it is because of what happened with last year’s “word”, which was “triumphant”.

Photoshoot Janet laughing
More of this please!!!!

Did I feel triumphant at the end of last year?

To be honest, no.

More like defeated.

I should have felt more triumphant, because on paper, it was a great year!

  • I’ve definitely grown in confidence.
  • I have more energy.
  • I’m filled with purpose.
  • I have great relationships.
  • In the 2021/2022 financial year, I managed to triple my business’ turnover and double the profits (and am continuing on the upwards trajectory).
  • Our children are happy and prospering: our daughter and her husband have moved to acreage, and she has recently been promoted; while our son married a delightful young lady, and has almost completed his Masters degree while working fulltime.
  • Oh, and how could I forget, my business won SEO Agency of the Year just before Christmas!

So why wasn’t I on top of the world and feeling triumphant?

I think Covid quickly followed by a middle ear infection really knocked me around. As I wrote my Sentence A Day post for November and December last weekend, I could see that I’d been struggling with weariness and burnout all through November.

So yes, while I achieved lots of amazing things and should have been feeling triumphant, instead I was feeling rather low. But here’s what I reminded myself:

Firstly – I did achieve a triumphant year! The fact I wasn’t “feeling” it, doesn’t alter the fact 😉 .

Secondly – I knew it was the “post-Covid” blues and that it would soon pass (and if it didn’t I would need to get some help), and sure enough it did. Two weeks at the beach with my beloved husbear definitely helped restore my usual optimistic and sunny nature, and buoyant personality.

Which brings me to what I want out of 2023.

I want to NOT end the year exhausted and worn out!

exhausted woman
Feeling run down and worn out in December 2022

Words that have crossed my mind include balance, rest, grace, and self-care. I want to be kinder to myself; I worked stupid hours last year, and although I love what I do, all work and no play makes Janet a dull (and weary) girl.

My goals for 2023 include taking every second Friday off (ideally so the husbear and I can spend the weekend at our beach shack), and increasing the responsibilities and hours that I give to my team members so I can get “off the tools” and not get bogged down in work.

holiday fun
High on my priority list – kicking back and relaxing more with my beloved husbear

And so to my one little word for 2023:

I want to FLOURISH!

Flourish: because I’m already well established and have achieved a lot, but now it’s time to start enjoying the fruits of my labours, both personally and professionally. Flourishing is about doing well and heck, even enjoying life – thriving.

In fact, I stumbled upon a wonderful article all about the concept of flourishing, and it pretty much says it all for me. For example, it included a definition of flourishing from the father of Positive Psychology, Martin Seligman:

To flourish is to find fulfillment in our lives, accomplishing meaningful and worthwhile tasks, and connecting with others at a deeper level—in essence, living the “good life”.

with my grandpup Rufus
Enjoying more of the things that light me up … spending time with my kids, and our assorted pets!

It hasn’t necessarily started off well. Since I returned to the office on 9 January, I’ve had to work both weekends 🙁 .

I’ve had some health issues and need a small procedure, most likely requiring an overnight hospital stay, in the near future.

However the good news is, my new team member started this past week so that should help, having another set of hands to get the work done. (Though it’s busier than ever while I’m training him and getting him up to speed!)

I’ve booked out every second Friday in my calendar so it can’t get filled up with meetings. It’s not much, but a step in the right direction.

woman playing in sand and laughing
Relaxed, happy, carefree … yet still living with authenticity and purpose. This is a woman determined to flourish in 2023!

So “flourish” is my word for the year … I would love to hear what you have chosen for your One Little Word!

Filed Under: Health and Wellbeing

About Janetti Spaghetti

My real name is Janet Camilleri, and I love to write. Janetti Spaghetti is my third or maybe fourth blog ... but who's counting?

You can also follow Janetti Spaghetti on Facebook and Instagram!

Comments

  1. DC says

    January 23, 2023 at 10:18 am

    My word for 2023 is… “Vigour”.

  2. Janetti Spaghetti says

    January 23, 2023 at 9:24 pm

    Great word!!!! Sophie approves 🙂

  3. Leslie Susan Clingan says

    January 24, 2023 at 1:15 am

    Flourish. What a fabulous goal to work toward…flourishing. You do have so many blessings but life or LIFE is hard. And Covid took its toll on all of us. I think we all just tried to stay afloat in 2022 and recover from the effects of the pandemic. This year will be the year to FLOURISH.

    I am toying with the word ‘steady’. But that doesn’t exactly encompass what I am thinking of. Consistency. But that is boring. Help me here!! I like to think of myself as a writer but I hang out with a lot of preschoolers and my vocabulary sure reflects that.

  4. Denise says

    January 25, 2023 at 10:11 am

    Flourish is an excellent Word of the Year, and I may use it next year. This year mine is Balance. There is an art to finding balance in life, and I aim to find it!

  5. Janetti Spaghetti says

    January 27, 2023 at 2:16 pm

    Denise, I hope you share the secret with me once you find how to achieve it!!!!

  6. Janetti Spaghetti says

    January 27, 2023 at 2:18 pm

    Hi Leslie, it’s not always easy to come up with the exact right word, is it?! The first words that came to my mind when you said ‘steady’, were constant or consistency. But perhaps stable, balanced, even-tempered, dependable or reliable might suit?

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Janet Camilleri Welcome to the world of Janetti Spaghetti! Perhaps we've already met - after all, I've been blogging for over ten years now. You may remember me from such blogs as Middle Aged Mama, Redland City Living or Footprints. I must be the master (mistress) of re-invention because here I am again! Here at Janetti Spaghetti, I'm blogging purely for the love of it - and I hope you enjoy reading, as much as I enjoy the writing. So grab a cuppa, get comfy, and come join me on the journey. Who knows where we will end up?!

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