WOTY Link Party: Connected in January
You may recall that my Word of the Year (WOTY) for 2022 is Connected. It’s easy to choose a word in January, get all excited about it, and then slowly let it slide over the next several months until you’ve forgotten all about it. Like all good things, it takes a little effort to keep your intention in the forefront of your mind. So I was pleased when Deb, Jo, Donna, and Sue invited me to participate in their monthly 2022 Word of the Year Link Party (#2022wotylinkparty).
I mean, my word is Connected, and what better way than a link party to connect with my blogging buddies, right?
Connected in January
So…you may ask…other than join the WOTY Link Party, what have I done to plant the Connected seeds in the fertile soil of January. (Even if you didn’t ask, I am about to tell you. That is after all the point of this link party.)
Connected quotes
Immediately after choosing my word, I spent some time searching for quotes about connection and gathering those that resonated with me. I will be sharing one of those quotes in each of my Thank You Notes posts (the last Tuesday of each month) and in the WOTY Link Party posts (the last Friday of each month)…or maybe I’ll end up combining the two. Who knows? I certainly don’t.
Think back to the most important experiences of your life, the highest highs, the greatest victories, the most daunting obstacles overcome. How many happened to you alone? I bet there are very few. When you understand that being connected to others is one of life’s greatest joys, you realize that life’s best comes when you initiate and invest in solid relationships.”
~John C. Maxwelll
Connected journaling
I recently started a practice of free writing following my morning meditation. And by free writing, I mean rambling…spilling out whatever words come into my head. But one morning this month, I started by asking the question, what does being Connected mean to me? I just let the words flow, without censorship or thinking too hard. That journal entry became the heart of the next action…writing a new affirmation.
Connected affirmation
I have a long-established habit of reciting affirmations as part of my morning routine. I periodically mix them up, taking out those that no longer serve and adding in new intentions. Based on what came up in my journaling, I created this…rather long…affirmation:
I live today connected.
Connected to this moment.
Connected to my authentic self.
Connected to my amazing body.
Connected to my loved ones.
Connected to all beings and Mother Earth.
Connected activity
I was blessed to connect with family is some particularly celebratory ways in January. First, it was our son-in-law’s 40th birthday, and his wife and children threw a surprise party for him…a party at which I failed to take a single photo. That just tells you I was so Connected to the moment and the people around me that I didn’t even think about my camera.
Also in January, my husband and I celebrated our 23rd anniversary with our traditional dinner at Ruth’s Chris. I cannot think of a better way to kick off an intention to be Connected than by celebrating our marriage and the life that we have built over more than two decades together.
Your turn
This linkup is open to everyone. Share in the comments what you are doing to keep your focus on your WOTY, goals, or intentions for 2022. If you have a blog, link up through Debs World, And Anyways…, Retirement Reflections, or Women Living Well After 50, or on other social media of your choice. Include the hashtag #2022wotylinkparty so we can find you.
My word of the year is ENJOY and I’ve found that in some areas of my life, like de-cluttering and cooking, I’ve been on it. But in other ways I’m finding it difficult to embrace it fully. It’s early in the year so I’m not worried, just aware, I suppose.
As for using a hashtag to find me, couldn’t you just stop by? No need for a formal invitation which is how I think of hashtags. Just show up and join in. ?♀️
Enjoy is a great word, Ally, if only to remind yourself to really notice when you are enjoying something and savor that. Of course, you are right that I can find you without a hashtag and pop in without a formal invitation–which I frequently do already! To be honest, I copied that verbiage from the link party hosts. I suppose they would like to be able to round up all the participants’ social media posts and look at them in a single session.
Hi Christie. My word in Happiness. I’m so happy to be connecting with you again. It’s been far too long. I’ve subscribed so I don’t miss out. Your affirmation covers all that you would want in life really. I love it.
Hello Jennifer! Yes, we somehow lost touch, but I am so glad you stopped by. I’m ready to reconnect. I love your word of the year; happiness says it all, doesn’t it?
Thanks for connecting your post (did you see what I did there?). Seriously though, it’s such a great word and I love the idea of the affirmations attached to it. Freewriting is something I’ve let go of, yet really need to pick back up again. Congratulations too on your wedding anniversary.
Thank you, Jo, and clever choice of words. It’s funny that once you choose a word, it seems to show up and fit in everywhere you turn…which I guess is a big part of the reason to choose a word, to bring it into your focus. I hadn’t done any free writing for quite a while either. Then I read somewhere that it’s helpful to write immediately following meditation, so I decided to give it a try, and I’ve really enjoyed the practice.
Hi Christie, we share January as our wedding anniversary month so many happy days to you both! Your WOTY is a fabulous one and I love how you are living it already :). The link party is a great way to stay connected and I’ve so enjoyed reading everyone’s posts, so inspiring and shows me how connected to each other we are.
Happy anniversary to you Debbie! I love the connection we have with our blogging friends. I’m excited about this link party.
Hi, Christie – Thank you for joining us to share how your WOTY has been influencing you so far. I really like the affirmations that you made and just may steal (er, I mean borrow) this idea!
Happy 23rd Anniversary. Richard and I just celebrated our 22nd Anniversary (on January 21).
Thank you for hosting, Donna. You, of course, are welcome to steal or borrow my affirmation idea. It does help me start each day with intention. And thank you for the anniversary well wishes. Happy anniversary to you and Richard as well. I see that Deb just celebrated her wedding anniversary too. January is a good month to be married.
Connected is a lovely word, and I love how you’ve defined it, described it, and how it’s so much more than being connected with your friends, family etc, but also your authentic self, nature and more. Wonderfully inspiring!
My word of the year is CALM, to create calm around me in my life in all areas that I can control, and learn more about myself so that I can choose to rea t to things being calm, or strive towards calm always. Last year was total chaos and I need CALM for this year!
Thank you Susanne. Calm is an excellent word choice, especially in this time of so much chaos. Anything you can do to create calm in your life is a blessing for yourself and those around you.
Hi Christie, I’m delighted you have joined in our 2022 Word of the Year Link Party. It is such a great way to focus on our WOTY, goals or intentions and also to CONNECT! Happy Anniversary to you both the photos are lovely. I also will borrow your Connected affirmation as a way to focus on staying connected to self, the moment and the world around us. Have a lovely February and I look forward to connecting with you in next month’s #2022WOTYLinkParty.
Thank you for hosting, Sue. This link party fits in perfectly with my desire to be connected. Thank you for the anniversary wishes too. I’m glad now that I shared my affirmation. It seems to have resonated with others as much as it did me.
Definitely a great way to kick off your year of connected!
Yes, it is, Joanne! I’m looking forward to the connection with my blogging buddies.
Wonderful to be reading your words and checking out your thoughts and photos.
I love the word connect and it’s been part of my blog byline for ever…
Denyse Whelan Blogs To Connect!
Yes to morning mantras and words which help us along. Yours sound ideal. I do a Calm meditation each morning and then reflect using the prompt. That often sets me on a good path into my day. Then, as I have now incorporated I am back to adding what I am grateful for.
Happy January Wedding Anniversary, there are many of us for sure. Our 51st was 23 January. In Australia, and being teachers back then, many of us married in the summer school holidays!
Cheers
Denyse
Hello Denyse. When I visited your blog recently, I noticed the byline. Isn’t funny how once you choose a word, you seem to see it everywhere! I love my morning routine, and it sounds like we have a similar one. It just starts the day out right. Happy belated anniversary to you. That makes sense in Australia that a lot of marriages would take place during the summer holidays. January is the middle of winter here. I’m not sure what I was thinking. Maybe that an anniversary would brighten up one of the drearier months. And it does. Cheers!