It happened again – unbidden and out of the blue.

POLISH

Not relating to the country, but the verb and the resulting noun.

Polish something to make it gleaming. Note the fine polish.

The 2020 Word of the Year just floated into my mind sometime during the scurry and flurry of activities in December.

I put several irons to the fire in 2019 to “REACH others by sharing ideas with them.”

My focus this year is to POLISH each activity with care to reveal its deserved luster and outreach.

There is focused and intense work in polishing something. Consistent effort, pressure, polishing cloth and compound – all judiciously applied to make an object gleam – or make a project fulfill its destiny.

This is easily guiding my actions from timely home renovations; using my talents in the best way to maximize benefits for others; business marketing and even tidying up.

Just getting something done or out there is not enough. Am I polishing my efforts to get the best results? There may be changes – oh, dear! That dreaded word.

It’s okay if the change makes things better … more polished … the best version of itself.

Has your new personal Word of the Year come floating into your consciousness?

Write it down.

A post-it note will do – or something more elaborate to put in a prominent location as a beautiful reminder of your year’s intent.

A Word of the Year approach has far surpassed the fruitless exercise of New Year’s resolutions for me.

Try it.

Let one thought pervade all your activities this year – you’ll note great results because it’s a mindful approach to tweaking some aspects of your life.

No deadline – just a gentle leaning in and a refocus each day.

That’s the first idea.

The second one is going to become a new tradition for me that I hope sparks your imagination, as well.

We’ve all heard of gratitude journals. Do you write down something each night that brought gratitude to your heart that day? It’s been cited as being a practice that promotes a more positive frame of mind.

It’s just that I have so many journals around, I did not want another – and my bedside table does not need one more book on it.

If you can relate, perhaps the approach a dear friend just shared with me may inspire you as well!

As a cancer survivor, my friend participates in a Live Strong support group of fellow survivors. One of them shared the idea of a “good things” or “blessings” jar with her. As with any good idea, I am passing it on to you, my readers.

A new year lays out before us. Good and bad will happen. How about noting the good things each week – or more often – collect them in a jar, and review the blessings each New Year’s Eve?

Now residing in my kitchen is a jar equipped with a pen and baggy of blank blocks of paper ready to have the good things noted and deposited inside. See how I’ve set up my new habit in a way that will ensure success? No searching for a pen or a piece of paper. All set.

There are already several entries! The first was reconnecting with my dear friend on the phone to start the new year!

Take a picture of your jar, or Word of the Year picture/post-it note, and send it to me at foodtalk4you@gmail.com. I’ll share it on FoodTalk4You!

Wishing each of my readers much peace, love, natural health, and renewed focus on the positive in all you do in 2020!

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In health,

Deidre