Amidst the flurries of advice that swirl from the skies every turning of the year, I grasped onto one that resonated: nudge words. Resolutions sometimes cause a mental backlash, but a gentle nudge can take hold in me. I can also be persuaded by a word or phrase to latch onto as my theme for the year.
The Washington Post “Well+Being” writer Tara Parker-Pope worked with designer Leslie Shapiro to create a word-finder tool that can help you find your own personal nudge word. They suggest narrowing it down to one, which I may do, but the exercise delivered a dozen words that all speak to me in different ways.
Create. An obvious prompt for a writer, visual artist or musician, but it should not be solely the provenance of someone working in the arts. Craft a balanced contract, grow a palette of complementary flowers, assemble a delectable meal, inspire a team. Seek creation in work, play and personal growth.
Onward. A reminder to not keep repeating the same work or be satisfied with past accomplishments. Or a message to keep moving, which can stave off my physical decline.
Flourish. Beyond existence or just-getting-through, this thought encourages me to infuse my efforts with extra energy and seek a more satisfying outcome.
Explore. Not just spurring me to plan travel, this word entices me to consider the ideas I might quickly reject if not pausing to give them a bit more thought. A complementary word: contemplate. Perhaps it shows up in things I choose to read, people I might engage, work projects I could tackle.
Thrive. In my garden, this is the hoped-for state of the plants I am tending. Thriving plants deliver the best blooms, the most vigorous growth, the tastiest fruit. Conversely, struggling plants are most susceptible to pests and diseases. Cue the metaphor.
Advance. Pretend I’m a marker piece on a board game, hopping from square to square. Or just take it as advice to play more board games with loved ones!
Action. Movement uses energy and triggers a reaction. Taking action will keep my joints supple, blood moving, synapses snapping
Momentum. There is a fun moment in the act of starting something where I feel it click and gain speed. The path is obvious and the way is clear. It is exhilarating.
Act. Infuse an activity with an element of theater. Perhaps it’s when sharing my work, entertaining friends or celebrating a beautiful day.
Stretch. Counteract entropy, get fluid and space into my joints. Some priming for an aging body. In another sense, guiding my choices of educational enrichment and entertainment. Get out of the comfort zone.
Move. A word that echoes the sentiments of so many others on this list. Relocate myself physically, mentally and spiritually to keep growing.
Forward. Today is yesterday’s tomorrow. Now is the only moment that matters, and how I choose to use it will determine how my future will proceed, and what I will see as valuable when it’s history.
These words hold magic, but only if I grant them power by spending time with them, thinking about their possible meanings and letting those thoughts influence my actions. Perhaps the theme of my year is: nudge.
The Tibetan singer Yunchen Lhamo, whom I had the pleasure of seeing perform years ago, is returning to Seattle later this month and I will be in the audience again. In advance of her appearance at Town Hall, she shared some thoughts in their publication. Some of her songs, she said, come to her in dreams, “which often have repeating storylines that tell you what you need to achieve, or need to get over, in order for your life to improve.”
So perhaps that is a worthy resolution too: pay attention to what your dreams might be revealing to you.
Happiness is… this beautiful song from Yunchen Lhamo. It stuck with me after that WOMAD concert.
Flower photo close-ups by Susie Thorness. From top: clematis, crocosmia, eryngium, poppy, hibiscus, primrose, ranunculus
Nice post, Bill. I went to the WP article and chose Hope as my nudge word for 2024, feeling like an election year may require an extra helping of it. Also listened to the song at the end of your post -- gorgeous. Thanks for the morning inspiration.
Thanks for the lovely music, and the WP article heads-up. Tara Parker-Pope used to write for the NY Times....Happy New Year, Bill! I agree with your friend, below. Hope is a hard thing to hold onto with the state of the world these days, but the alternative is despair, and we can't fall into that. I don't think I can choose just one of those nudge words, but I sure need them! Maybe I'll print some out and tape them up around the house....