2016 was a doozy for many of us in so many ways and already 2017 is looking like it’s going to be interesting to say the least. At the beginning of each year I like to pick a word to focus on as I move through the new year and for 2017 that word is renew. As I reflected on the year past, I realised that there were many things I let slide that I shouldn’t have. Things like self-care, boundaries, my level of involvement in my community, professional progress, blogging, my spiritual practice, dreams, crafty goals — you know … all those things which sustain us as an individual.
According to Merriam Webster, the word renew means to:
resume (an activity) after an interruption.
I love the synonyms, especially the highlighted ones:
resume, return to, take up again, come back to, begin again, start again, restart, recommence
They remind me that as long as there is life, there is the opportunity to resume, restart, recommence a way of life that is beneficial to me and the world I live in on a larger scale.
My wish is that you too find what you need to renew the habits, activities, way of living that sustains you. Now more than ever, we need to live in a way that allows us to truly thrive.
Happy new year everyone! ❤
D'NALI 
What a great word to celebrate this new year!! I’m looking forward to seeing all the marvellous things you create and inspire 🙂
Thank you sister! I’m looking forward to see what you get up to this year too! ❤
A great word!!!!!!! Let the renewal begin!!!
Yesssssssss! We need to do it now more than ever! ❤
Beautifully put. Renew is a word that can be meaningful to all of us right now. I found my usually positive spirits adrift at the end of 2016, but looking forward to this new year with it’s blank canvas waiting to be painted. Wishing you all the best in 2017!
And I you. I’m answering this comment today and I think by now we all know that 2017 is shaping up to be another doozy. That in itself should make us more determined to make daily renewal a practice.
What a fine way to being 2017. I’ll take this with me, I think 🙂
Feel free to take it. I’m glad it inspired you in some small way. ❤
I feel like I spent last year really renewing myself after losing my dad. I had to, I felt so drained and like I wasn’t giving myself as much as I had been giving to others. I even took a semester off from teaching because I know I give so much of myself to my students and last year I really needed to give back to myself. So kudos to you for recognizing what you need because some of us don’t ever take the time to focus on ourselves.
Thank you for validating the importance of taking time to renew. I’m not sure why we run away from it the way we do — like it’s some kind of weakness.
so so good. you captured a lot of what i have been feeling. my year ended in a death and it was like all of the holidays and festivities – things that normally recharge (renew) me – completely passed me by. i’m a week late, but i finally feel ready for 2017.
Awwwwww Syd! I’m so very sorry for your loss. I’m glad you’re beginning to feel like your normal self but don’t force yourself to recover too quickly.
You just gave a word to my thoughts….
Happy re-New Year!
Happy Re-New Year to you too dear Zeta! Cheers for 2017 being a wonderful year of renewal for us, ❤
Beautiful words, my friend… I feel exactly the same, I felt like some parts of my life were just slipping through my fingers. I want to become more aware of them in 2017. Wish you a beautiful and kind 2017!
I agree, sometimes it really did feel like life was slipping through my fingers. I know that’ll happen again but my goal is that these times are much less this year. Wishing you the same kind of 2017 — beautiful and kind. ❤
Lovely choice. My take: renew with hope, without fear 🙂 xoxo
Yes … always with hope and without fear. If we don’t renew like that we get nowhere. ❤
I think your word is perfect and would apply to me too. I’m looking forward to seeing what the year brings for you xx
Thank you Kate! I’m looking forward to this year too despite it’s looming challenges.
All the best! You are writing what I have been thinking. Regula
All the best to you dear lady! I’m excited to see what 2017 has in store for us and what we do with it! 🙂