Although sometimes I hate to admit it, I know I am a cat person at heart.
Cat people, and also cats, get a bad rap. But the truth is, cats are ridiculously smart and cute and train themselves to go to the bathroom in a designated place. Not even humans can do that!
Unfortunately, I am severely allergic to cats. Sometimes I cry about it to Jonny, knowing that we’ll never have a cat of our own. I have to love them from afar.
What I love about cats is that they don’t care what others think of them. They are independent and can be stubborn or sassy. But they are also sweet, and soft, and spend a fair amount of time napping in the sun.
I am trying to bring ~cat energy~ into 2024. I want to live in the sunshine. Bask in the warmth that comes when you feel safe and loved. The idea of restfulness and warmth and brightness was the catalyst to choosing 2024’s Word of the Year.
I sorted through many options before settling on one word…
My word of the year for 2024 is radiance.
After years of trying to force myself into nooks and crannies and push myself to be more and do more out of shame and guilt and not-enough-ness, I am taking this year to finally rest in the sun and shine!
(Maybe I will incorporate some Edward Cullen energy, too.)
I had originally chosen the word “soften” for 2024. I wanted (and still want) to be soft with myself; I want to relax into new experiences and changes as they come. I am done trying to push or strain. I want to just accept and ease into life. That still sounds nice to me, and I am still wanting to incorporate more softness into my life. However, something about the word wasn’t sitting right — probably that little overachiever inside of me squirming a bit — and I realized that softening is a step toward where I want to be, but it’s not the end goal.
The goal, for me, is radiance.
I began learning all about all things feminine energy last year, and that is continuing this year. I’ve had so many epiphanies while learning about the polarity of masculine/feminine dynamics. One word I’ve heard a few times that describes someone in their healthy feminine is that word “radiant” — it’s a word just oozing with light and creativity and playfulness and beauty.
To me, radiance feels like a byproduct of softness. If I can soften, I can let the light in to shine!
It’s easy to feel radiant when I am relaxed, in comfy clothes, painting, or writing, or sharing stories with friends over brunch. I can even feel radiant while cleaning or cooking (which I would like to enjoy more this year)… but what about the tricky times that will inevitably come? What does radiance look like with the grief, the sadness, the pain?
While scouring Pinterest for pictures for my Pinterest vision board, I found this one:
Change can be sunshine if you let it in. I’m still pondering what that looks like for me, but I felt something when I read that. Instead of running or hiding from changes or discomfort, maybe I can close my eyes, take a deep breath, and let it in. Maybe the trials of this year will be warm and nourishing if I pay attention.
Maybe, to go along with the cat metaphor from earlier, I need to bask in the sun of change. I hope that the changes that will come with 2024 will be life-giving, restful, and help me build up radiance from the inside out.
Here’s to slowing down, breathing, and letting the light in.
Have you decided on a 2024 word or phrase yet? I would love to know.
You are definitely RADIANT. You are full of excitement and vitality and talent and love. Excited to see what this year brings for you.