At the beginning of the year I wrote a post talking about my process for picking a Word of the Year.
I like to pick words of the year rather than set New Year’s Resolutions. The Word functions as something of a check point throughout the year. Back when I tried to do New Years Resolutions I would completely forget my goals by the second half of the year. But with a Word I can easily check in to see how I’m living up to my intentions for the year.
I picked the word “Community” for this year. In July, I gave you an update on how things were going with my Word. Now, I want to give you an end of the year update.
Throughout this second half of the year there have been many things that have tied into Community. Some things were an extension of what I’d been doing all year. I continued to serve as Treasurer for the PTO at my children’s elementary school. I continued to put together the pre-concert slideshow for the Magic Valley Symphony. I continued to send each of my nieces and nephews a birthday card. I continued to write for East Idaho Moms.
New opportunities for participating and building community also came up.
My husband joined the Magic Valley Repertory Theatre’s production of Guys and Dolls. Supporting him in that was a way of supporting the local theater community. It was so much fun to take my children to see the play. They could see their dad doing something with other dedicated members of our community.
In September I was able to attend a Leadership Retreat with 60 other amazing ladies. During that three day retreat, we discussed ways to build community where we live (hint: it has a lot to do with building connections through being authentic and vulnerable).
Perhaps my favorite thing that had to do with Community happened on Halloween. One of my favorite things about Halloween night is the opportunity to see and interact with my neighbors. When else does everyone go for a walk around their neighborhood at the same time? When my family lived in the southern United States I discovered that most people sat on their porches to hand out candy. It was warm enough to do that. I loved sitting on my porch and seeing everyone walk around. I wanted to figure out a way to do that here in cold Idaho.
This year, I decided to have a fire pit in my driveway. I borrowed my neighbor’s portable fire pit, and set it up where the driveway meets the sidewalk. I set up a lot of chairs and had a platter of s’more supplies. And of course I had a pile of wood. I’d sent out a text to my friends in the neighborhood inviting them to stop by while they were out trick-or-treating. A few took me up on it. I had a great time talking to my neighbor while watching her teens take selfies in the firelight. I loved when random strangers would stop by and sit for a minute. A few even took time to roast marshmallows. It was fun to overhear people saying things like, “Look at that fire house!” This is going to be an annual tradition.
As this year ends I’m reflecting back over the things I’ve done.
Would I have participated in as many things this year if I’d had a different Word? Maybe. I like to be involved. Maybe all this would have happened anyway. But I like knowing that each of these things was part of an intentional desire to include Community in my life this year.
I’m still a little unsure about my word for 2023. I’m feeling drawn to the word ‘self-care’. Which, in some ways, might be the exact opposite of Community. Maybe after a year of focusing outward it is time for a year of focusing inward? Or maybe self-care is a logical extension of the word Community. After all, feeling part of a community is an important part of mental health.
