2021 Word of The Year – Health
I can clearly remember when I created my Word of the Year for 2021. We had just been through the year of hell, due to the pandemic, and I think most people were hopeful that Covid was over and 2022 would be a year of us getting back to some sort of ‘normal’. As we all know, that didn’t happen, and 2021 has ended up being an extension of the worries of 2020. Dare I say, even worse than 2020. The Word of the Year that I chose back then, as 2020 was coming to a close, was ‘Health’. It just seemed right to me, after being on Covid leave for a full year and losing my way a bit. During that year, routines that I’d had for years, became non-existant. My plan was to get a grip and revert to my good healthy habits in 2021. Well, that was the plan.
Now, at the end of 2021, I look back and have to acknowledge that my year of Health really didn’t happen. During the past year, I’ve pretty much continued on with the way things were in the previous year. When I thought of writing this post, looking back on my Word of the Year, I was shocked to realise that I could not remember what my word was. This tells you how much I thought about it during the year. Not much at all! As things became dire again, and the pandemic once again took over our lives, I really couldn’t think of anything else, but what we were going through.
Looking Back
So, what went wrong? My experience of 2020, was quite stressful for many reasons. Obviously the main cause of this stress was the pandemic. It seemed to dominate my thoughts and decisions for the entire year. I would listen to the Premier’s press conferences every day, usually, while I was out walking. Before the pandemic, I was listening to audio books while walking, which didn’t cause me any worry at all. In fact they improved my mood which was quite the opposite to the effect of listening to the bad news in the press conferences. I was studying the statistics, for Victoria and all states, and worrying about them every day, and then coming back for more the next day. This continued day after day.
It’s not really surprising with all these worries swirling around in my head constantly, there was no space in there for anything else. There definitely was no available space to think about my health, and I did lose my way. Eventually, for my own self care, towards the end of our last lock down, I made myself stop following all the covid news and statistics. I felt I needed a reprieve from all the doom and gloom. The bad news that was surrounding me, was also making me stress more than usual about things that I have been stressing about for years. I have a couple of family issues that I can do nothing about but which cause me grief at the best of times. During covid, I found my stress levels out of control. I don’t sleep well at any time, but my lack of sleep was also out of control.
There was also the sadness of not being able to see my grandchildren to add into the mix. Regular readers will know that my son and his children, my three grandchildren, live in Queensland. I last saw them in November 2019, when I spent a week there. They had moved to the Sunshine Coast, earlier in the year, and I went up to see their new home and their schools, and just to spend time with them. I’m so glad that I made that trip, as little did I know, that it would be the last time I would see them for over two years, and who knows how much longer.
As I write this, I’m waiting impatiently for the Queensland border to open to Victorians and hoping to see my family early in 2022. I’m very hesitant about getting my life back to normal, and am quite worried about getting on a plane and taking the risk of going to Queensland. It worries me that a lockdown could be called while I’m there, and that I could end up in quarantine. I haven’t yet decided what to do about all my worries in regard to travel, but I will have to overcome them,in order to see my family.
I could go on and on about all my worries during the past year. There is nothing special about my worries, and I’m totally aware that there are many out there with more serious problems than mine. Most of my worries are in my head, which is another reason that I lost my way in 2021. When all that ‘junk’ is spinning around in there, there’s not much space for anything else. Thinking about health tends to become unimportant at these times, or at least that’s what has happened to me. I am very thankful for the life I have, which basically is a happy life, if I don’t think about things that I can’t control.
For the past few weeks, it’s been in my mind that I don’t feel the need for a Word of the Year in 2022. I had made the decision to go freestyle and be open to whatever the year brings. However, while writing this post, the perfect Word of the Year has occurred to me. It seems that I needed to look back at the year that has almost come to end, and understand what didn’t work, in order to choose a word for 2022. More on my 2022 Word of the year will be coming in a later post.
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Hi Jen, I love how you have owned not living up to your WOTY. I think it is an important lesson to realise that whilst we might select a WOTY we may not always be successful in keeping it in focus. Like you, my WOTY has been a little up and down as we have had to deal with a family member contesting my MIL’s Will. It has been so stressful that at times it has been difficult to follow my WOTY. I was going to go freestyle in 2022 as well but like you have come upon a word that I think my fit, yet give me some flexibility. Maybe I’m hedging my bets LOL 🙂 Take care and fingers crossed for the Qld border to open – I don’t think Anastascia would dare to keep them closed at Christmas time.
You’ve had your problems this year too Sue. Here’s hoping 2022 is a better year. Well the borders opened up last night which is good news.
Oh Jen this was such a heartfelt and honest post. I feel your pain in regards to seeing your grandchildren and even travelling to get on a plane to get there! I have similar worries about going to the UK to see my granddaughter sometime (hopefully) next year. I can relate to so much of what you write and thank you for being so open and even vulnerable. I do sincerely hope that 2022 is better for you. #lifethisweek
Thanks Deb. Let’s cross our fingers that 2022 to a better for all of us. I think we will just have to bit the bullet and make those flights to see our families.
I sure hope you get to Queensland as I will absolutely come to meet up with you wherever suits. Or if you’re here longer you are most welcome to stay with me for a few days too! It would be so nice, I’ve been getting FB reminders of our cruise …. Seems like eons ago!
I’d love love to catch up too Sue! I’ve been getting the cruise reminders too. Much too long ago. I’m hoping for January. Will let you know.
Hi Jennifer – I’m sorry the year has been such a tough one for you – physically and mentally – and missing your son and grandies is just another layer of sadness. I don’t listen to the statistics or to the doom and gloomers. It changes nothing and just stresses me, I’m glad you’ve chosen to let it go too. Also great that you’ve had a #WOTY spring to mind – I’m picking a fun one this time to cheer me on. I look forward to seeing what you’ve picked.
I agree Leanne it’s time to get a bit of fun back into our luves.
Just because others have similar worries doesn’t make them any less pertinent or personal. You were one of the ones I thought of yesterday when the border announcement was made. I’m hoping to get to Sydney to see my family in January.
I’m hope you get to Sydney to see your family. I was excited when I saw the borders open. Working in fitting it in around school holidays etc
A heartfelt and honest post Jennifer. I too have had years when a word of the year did not resonate and I forgot it too.
In your case, and for many of us (at times me,) the listening to and watching of all ‘the bad news and stats’ overwhelmed. I saw that happen to me in our first lockdown and so decided to give it far less attention for the next one which lasted MUCH longer. Instead I made a different routine for my day which did not have me focussing on what we couldn’t have or do but what we could.
I like your thinking on changing from no word to maybe a word…and I too am going to ponder on this.
I found too, what the longer I ached for seeing grandkids and so on, the harder it was on me. Instead, if you don’t mind me sharing, I took away that feeling from me, because “I” was the one suffering. Instead, I chose to let the longing/ache go. I then settled more into the phase of accepting what I could not (then) change. Took a bit of practice but really helped.
Great to catch up with your blog post after linking it to #LifeThisWeek on Denyse Whelan Blogs. Next week, hard to believe, is the 2nd last Monday link up for 2021.
Hope to see you then! I will be sharing my snaps. Denyse.
Hi Denyse I appreciate your advice re acceptance. I’m sure what you say is sensible and I will take it on board.
I too had a dud WOTY in 2021 and am considering not choosing one for 2022. I’m curious what came to you, and some others. Maybe I’ll get inspired.
Pat I find the as t inspiration is more likely when my mind wanders.