The Word is Progress
Dipping my toe into 2024
I started by coming up with a word for the year; progress. It’s only the second time I’ve done such a thing. For 2023, it was determination. For the time being, I’ll skip reviewing how that went. Then, I went back and read a blog I wrote this time last year. I thought it would be interesting to reflect, and knew it would be good for a laugh given the year turned out nothing like I planned or envisioned.
But I still don’t have a lock on how to address wrapping up 2023 and starting 2024.
I’m leaving predictions out of it. I made a couple last year and have learned my lesson. Do I have some ideas of where one thing or another might lead over the next 12 months? Yes, but I will not indulge. I don’t want to jinx any good fortune or call the attention of any bad.
I’m not making resolutions. There are some things I’d like to do more or less of in 2024 than I did in ’23. There are habits I’d like to develop. And there are changes I’d like to facilitate, but I’m not putting the pressure on myself to call them resolutions and I don’t have enough of a roadmap yet to call them plans.
Reflections? I have more than a few of those. With a little dedication and discipline, they’ll each be their own blog article. I shared several as 2023 marched along and, looking back, there are several more I’d like to share. I learned a lot about myself, made some changes, and worked through some truly difficult times. But I’m not quite ready to develop those stories just yet. I got out of the habit of writing these blogs and I need to find my groove again, first.
So, what then? If no predictions, no resolutions, and no reflections, what is this article about? It’s about progress. It’s about the word I decided would define and guide my year.
I want to make progress with my writing projects. There are at least three finished novels that need revised. There are battles I’ve been fighting with my mental health for many years, and I made significant strides this past year I want to build on. I formed new relationships in ’23 I want to continue to develop. Returning to this blog is progress towards a broader goal.
I’d like ’24 to be a progression of what went right in ’23. I’d like for it to be a year of continued intentional growth. I’m not looking for perfection in anything. I’m not looking to set the world on fire. I want to work towards some things I think I need and some things I want. I’ll share more of what those things are and my journey with them as the year progresses.
This time it’s about taking steps with a little less pressure and a little less intensity; one foot in front of the other and one day at a time.
Consider this me checking in. Consider this me wishing you a happy new year and inviting you along on my journey. Follow along, please. Let’s see what kind of progress we can make in 2024.
Do you have a word for the year? Share it in the comments. Thank you.
Phillip Davis is the author of Peppermint Lightning, Jack-o-’Lightning, and Justice for the Missing. (Sequel coming in 2024!) He is an elementary school teacher, mental-health advocate, long time NaNoWriMo participant, and member of the Ninja Writer’s community. He writes on the topics of writing, mental health, and self improvement.
