2015’s word is silence.

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Last year was all about the truth.

  • nudging others to talk

I talked and talked and talked.

*We* split wide open.

*We* were candid about our struggles & the unspoken truths of our lives.

We rallied to support each other rather than tear each other down (except for a few of us and those few cracked us the hell up kept us humble).

And it was amazing.

The thing is, after 365 days of talking, Ive been pondering the reverse.

Considering the power of silence.

Thinking about spending more time listening not to respond but to understand.

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December is always filled with chatter about choosing a word for the year (I was silent. I read. I listened.).

Selecting one word to serve as reminder of what we aspire to and what’s important to us in the 365 days to come.

In the past Ive chosen RUN or CLARITY.

One year I went rogue and selected an entire phrase (we can all see how well that went down).

I had no plans to join in the word-picking.

  • I’ve reworked mission statements (silently. alone.) and, as I did, the notion of  choosing *one* word felt stifling not empowering.
  • I’ve sat in the uncomfortable silence of our Austin home and jumped at each new creak & noise and dreaded the year ahead.

I’ve been silent through choice.

I’ve been silent in solitude.

I’ve realized that’s my word for the year.

Silence.

To listen more and talk less.

To write more and plan less.

To achieve more and distract less.

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This year I’m striving to be the quietest one in the room.

This year I’m striving to create all conversations as two-way interactions and not blathering monologues simply me having a BrainDump.

This year I’m focusing on the silence.

Now you.

  • Did you choose a word to represent 2015? I’d love to be silent, hear your word and the WHY.

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Comments

    • I find I do this pretty frequently without meaning too.
      I’ll be excited by my own thoughts and what I want to say and stop really listening.

  8. I’m not a word chooser/resolution maker/big goal setter person. It’s not me. BUT: I can certainly appreciate your word and in fact, would adopt that word if I were to be a word chooser. It’s an admirable word.

  9. strangely enough, my word for this year IS respond. But in a different way. Sorta. My take on respond is action and behaviors, not words.

    To me, respond is the step after silence and listening. I will respond to my body’s wants for food and movement. I will thoughtfully respond to opportunities despite fear and effort required. I will take what I learn from listening and respond.

    Happy New Year!

  12. i might take you up on that word, except i feel like HEARD so much this past year, mentally drained. SO i will focus on wisdom and slow to speak.

  15. Still working my word….strong. Silence is a good one! God did give us two ears to hear and only one mouth with which to speak. I try to remember that when I get overly verbose. 😛

  16. Courage. There are a lot of things that need to happen this year and I can’t let fear stop me from making them happen anymore.

    I so like your word, though. Can we have a “major” and a “minor” like in college? If so, I’m majoring in courage and minoring in silence, as I need that as well…

  19. my word is REDEFINE. My relationship with food and with myself. With my blog. My fashion choices. My home decor. My life & the people I allow in.

    I’m coming out of a 6 month depression & I’m ready to grab my life back!

  22. Oooohhh, I had told my kids a few days ago that my resolution was to “listen more and talk less.” Great minds…

  23. *cue crickets* Ok, I can’t stand it, but I really love your word! Brings to mind a proverb about better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and confirm it. The word I selected for 2015 is intention.

  25. My word for 2015 is CANOODLE (okay, okay… I’m working on a better word, but I didn’t realize we were being quizzed about this today!)

  27. Been reading all the words too…. No word BUT…

    life has been a mixture of good, bad & the in between last year & years before… I am only choosing for peace of mind & peace with myself… with that I am a better person for all. Taking each day as it comes… with the losing of another family member soon… I am more about staying away from too much that causes stress that leads to forgetting about the present & grateful….

  28. What a thoughtful post, Carla. I think it’s often a lot harder to be silent than to speak. When it comes to 2015, I don’t really have a word, and I wanted one (because that’s cool and it’s something to focus on!), but nothing came to me. Maybe I’m more in the silence camp? I definitely have thoughts on the year ahead (which I blogged about to help me process), but nothing super concrete that can be nailed into a word or phrase. Thanks for making me think (as usual!) this morning…And sure thinking of you all as you settle into your new routine in a familiar but also unfamiliar place at this time!

  29. Powerful word choice. I’m pretty good at silence and listening… but could work on voicing my truth more often in social settings. My word for the year is hope! I haven’t decided whether or not I’ll write a post on it.

  30. Gosh, I’m too verbose for one word! The three I picked to summarize 2014 were grateful, fun, and focus. I suppose if I had to pick one word, I’d pick the same one every year pretty much – BALANCE.

  33. My word would be SURRENDER, but not in the sense that I give up on things. I just find myself getting too caught up in opposition of things and then I find myself getting really angry or defensive which makes me lose sight of what I’m trying to communicate. I think I could incorporate a lot more listening to make that word work for me. I hope you’re adjusting to your move well! 🙂

  35. After accidentally making my brother angry last night when he misunderstood me, i am thinking silence is the best policy.

  36. i like the word SILENCE for 2015. so often i find myself (and others) just talking without stopping to hear what the other person is saying. also, there are many situations i could have avoided if i just kept my mouth shut. lol.

    i think my word in 2015 will be CALM. my resolution for 2015 is to spend more time on self-care. i spent a lot of 2014 getting really stressed out because i was trying to do way too many things, and in doing so, let my physical & mental health fall by the wayside. so this year i’m going to try to make time for the things that matter to me rather than just trying to do everything and stressing out about it all.

  37. I didn’t choose a word (I have a small phrase I’m repeating daily though!!!).
    I do like the choice of silence – there are many times that I need to step back and observe/listen without talking – sometimes I fail in a big way!

  39. It I amazing what you learn when you simply stop and listen. It is a lesson I am learning more and more all the time! LOVE!!

  41. My word is HOPE. Last year was a really bad year for me. I lost hope. I grew weak due to my health and skin. But this year I have hope again! I am holding onto every ounce I can get!

    xoxo
    M

  42. My intention for 2015 is to “believe in LOVE”…After a year of “nourish” it is time to take the next step. Scary yes, but I think I am ready to be open to love, open my heart, embrace it, and see what happens…both the good and the bad.

  44. Determined is my word for 2015. I turn 50 in July and I am determined to be a different woman by then. Both the inside and the outside have a lot of changing and I am determined to do everything I can do to make sure that those changes happen. So far, it’s going well….

    • My word is comfortable. I need to be comfortable with myself, with my life, my finances. Mostly, I have always been striving and not achieving. This is my year. I hope.

  46. My word is HUMBLE.

    Aspire to be more humble. Stop looking to others for affirmation that I’m a good/great person; that I make good choices; that I’m making someone else proud. Quietly do the best I can, for all that I can….because

    I AM good enough, I DO make good choices (most of the time), and I’M proud of myself for aspiring to be a better person (not in the “I’m better than you sense” but the “I’m growing, learning, making a positive influence on society” better).

  47. I have never been one to pick a single word. For me that means trying to make things fit that definition and I immediately chafe at that idea. So for me, that doesn’t work since life is always in such a flux that a word that works in January doesn’t fit so well come October.

    Hope your move was a smooth one!

  48. Great word!

    I love how much choosing a word / phrase can help us grow as individuals–there’s so much opportunity for us in life, and choosing a word can be such a great way to set us on the path that fits who we are, right now.

    (And as you know, I’m Owning It in 2015 ;))

  49. love the idea to pick a word for the year. I’d really have to think about this… Maybe an idea for a post. 🙂 thanks for getting me thinking!

  51. My word for the year is GRACE. I want to embrace it, share it, exude it, slather it all over all areas of my life. Here’s to 2015!

  53. Mine is: INDEPENDENCE

    My goal is to stop relying on others and seeking approval before doing things. Independence is what I’m looking for, so it’s a great word to sum everything up!

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