Piper: Make life your runway! We may not be able to control what happens to us in life, but we can control how we react to it. My girl doesn’t believe in New Years resolutions because statistically they never come to fruition. My girl however, does believe in choosing a word of the year! This word won’t change the way the world turns, but helps to focus and guide the way she views the world. She has been choosing a word to guide and represent her year for 4 years now!
Your word of the year can remind you of something you want to work towards, a way of living that you want to incorporate into your life, something that your goals are based around, a mindset you need, or something you want to bring into your life. The word is what you want to become, accomplish, think, or feel this year. Instead of a resolution that you either stick with or give up, this is something that you can sprinkle throughout your life in little ways.
For my girl, all of the words she has chosen have brought incredible change, guidance, peace, and focus into her life.
Opie sits in the grass next to my girl who is wearing ripped jeans, a navy blue pussy bow blouse, glasses, and wave vogmask. She has one arm around Opie and is holding tiny puppy me with the other arm.
2017: Persevere. My girl learned how to walk while recovering from Guillain Barre syndrome, she battled extreme blood sugar and taught Opie to alert to it, Opie became sick and I came into her life.
Piper sits on a dock in an army green puffer with a furry hood looking up at Cienna. Cienna wearing a black long fitted puffer, plaid pants, chunky white socks, and black combat boots looks down at Piper.
2018: Teamwork. My girl worked hard to build a team of doctors that would give her a better quality of life and the answers she needed(no matter what they would have been). My girl and I worked hard to bond, communicate, and work as a team. My girl and Mom teamed up to start a business. My girl and her team worked together to decide if the diaphragm pacemaker was right for my girl and then how to go about the surgery.
Cienna Smiles at the camera wearing a pink tie dye dress and rattan headband. Piper looks at the camera wearing a tie dye collar and brown guide harness. Nanny is wearing a turquoise tie dye blouse and white pants while studying the menu.
2019: Dream. After years of being told she didn’t have long to live, my girl wanted to dream again! She always lived everyday to the fullest and appreciated all the adventures and little moments that the day held. With the diaphragm pacemaker and a second chance, she wanted to dream! My girl dreams of using our experiences and journey to help others, this year we did just that! My girl met with Senator Stabenow, was a special guest at her health care forum, joined fight like a warrior as their communications manager, and started our book club, Chronically Bookish, which has become an incredible space for vulnerability, support, and acceptance. She worked hard to make Claiming Our Seat a reality, to find an organization to partner with to bring it to life, and to launch the project, and so much more. My girl dreamed of exploring the world with me! We went to the Atlantic Ocean in Ocean City, MD together for the first time where my girl shared the waves and her happy place with me. We went on our first trip independently with friends to Michigan’s upper peninsula and learned to rely souly on each other. I joined my family on my mom’s birthday trip to Traverse City and was a great travel buddy. My girl flew with me to Arizona where I kept her safe and allowed her to live life. For the first time with my help she was able to leave the parking lots of Sedona and experience the breathtaking beauty that surrounded us. We now make big dreams and bring them to life and will never stop doing that.
Cienna wears a cream chunky cardigan, brown leather skirt, brown loafers, brown vintage Coach bag, and tinted glasses while smiling at the camera with her left arm in the air. Piper wears a plaid bandana and brown guide harness.
2020: Believe. This year my girl wants to focus on believing. Believing in us as a team and the hard work we have put in. Believing in herself and the dreams that we are bringing to life. Believing that she can in fact do anything that she puts her mind to. Believing in her work, value, and ideas(boy, does she have a lot). Believing that she can truly be the change that she wants to see in this world.
Do you want to join us in choosing a word of the year? When choosing a word try not to overthink it. Some years after reflecting there was a word I felt a strong connection with. Other years the word I was drawn to made no sense at the time, but in the end made sense. Below is an example list of words, but there are so many more. Spend some time reflecting on your life, the world around you, and what you would like to embody this year. Let us know what word of the year you have chosen!
Believe
Adapt
Curiosity
Persevere
Dream
Courage
Discover
Give
Love
Build
Trust
Gratitude
Patience
Change
Vulnerable
Hope
Passion
Dedicated
Start
Passion
Reflection
Kindness
Self care
Forgiveness
Thrive
Devotion
Grow
Simplify
Forward
Peace
Grace
Compassion
Belong
Enough
Present
Harmony
Create
Integrity
Expand
Shine
Purpose
Do
Lead
Imagine
Celebrate
Journey
Relax
Teamwork
Consistency
Observe
Intentional
Mindful
Deliberate
Bloom
Balance
Thoughtful
Beauty
Shine
Faith