TGIF | A Word for 2024
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Oh, hello there dear ones, and happy new year.
Tell you what, this is my mood lately. Do you feel me? I am straight-up tired. Traveling with young children is not a vacation, holiday break is way too long, and with snow or sickness, it feels like any plans have a .5% chance of actually occurring.
In other words, it’s January.
But with that, I’ve been reflecting a lot on what I wish for 2024. You see, it feels as though the last few years have intensely reminded or taught us that we are not in control. The external events continue to occur and we all have to make our way through them. Surprises happen, challenging and uplifting, and yet they remain surprises.
I recall one of my favorite lines from a pretty underrated movie (IMHO), Dan in Real Life. He says at the end, “Instead of telling our young people to plan ahead, we should tell them to plan to be surprised.”
The ‘Shame Triangle’
Rather than let this notion worry us, I do believe letting go of the illusion of control is freeing. It lessens our need to blame, victimize, resent, and resist. Perhaps, it allows us all to take things less personally so we can treat others with more compassion and less hostility.
This year at Reset, we’ve defined quarterly focus topics. This structure is a way for us to connect and collaborate over a relevant learning objective that benefits us all personally and professionally. I’m so excited that our first quarterly topic is Parts Work. We’ll start by re-introducing our Shame Triangle model, which we can apply to individuals, couples, teens, and groups as well as do for ourselves for deeper awareness and transformation.
What Parts Work ultimately teaches us is that at our core, when the noise, distractions, and controlling and fearful behaviors are not dominating, we are our true, authentic selves. From this place, we are grounded, calm, clear, curious, creative, alive, present, brave and kind.
Kindness. It’s a word I use a lot with my kids and hope I’m raising them to be that way, but what does it mean? How do we measure kindness?
For me, kindness is grace, tenderness, perspective, grace, generosity, empathy, and action-oriented. I can feel the above things but kindness is putting them into action. Kindness is smiling at a stranger, taking a deep breath when someone delays at a green light, “rounding up” at the check-out counter, asking for help, taking a rest, listening to your body, pausing before saying something, and taking the most generous approach to someone’s situation.
Kindness is my word for 2024. Kindness does not require external events to go my way or for there to be peace on Earth. Kindness is simple, actionable, and attainable. Kindness is a kind intention to myself this year. I do not need a list of 24 things “to do” or a rigid plan this year. That’s too much and it’s too much controlling. I’m over the hustle.
I just want to be kind, treat others with kindness and most of all, be kind to myself. I do believe if we all did that a bit more, this world would be a much nicer place.
What is your word for 2024?
As always, thanks for being here. It means a lot to know we’re not alone.
Hugs,
Kerry
And this week’s TGIFs…
TOOLS - I’ve been replacing the word “busy” with “full” and it’s been so helpful. Try it. It just feels different…in a good way!
GRATITUDE - Janet Lansbury. She dropped this mic-drop recently and it allowed my tired shoulders to soften. Yes, it only gets fuller. Also, her books are incredible. Highly recommend.
INNOVATION - We gifted ourselves an Infrared Sauna this holiday season and omgee it’s been incredible. The benefits of infrared are profound and the warmth is simply good for my entire being.
FEELS - As I mentioned, I’m tired. Sickness and lack of sleep from my children is a nasty combination. So, I’ve been stocking up on Vitamin C to prevent and combat what comes my way. Did you know you should take enough until it runs through you? At least that’s what I was told…can’t hurt, right? (Unless one of you tells me it will. Then I’ll stop).
