#12 Let's do this - Q1 review of my word of the year
plus favourite things I watched in Q1 & the thing I hate but can't stop doing
I was driving to work one day this week and thinking about my word of the year for 2025.
It’s grace. Please go read that linked post; it’s a good starter to this post.
At first I had that “oh my gosh, what is my word?!” feeling.
Do you still remember your word?
Looking back on quarter 1 of 2025, how have I lived my word this year so far?
physically
I have definitely rested a lot more instead of pushing through, my usual way of being. After a full day’s work, and sometimes Spanish/ Zumba, I eat supper and that’s it for the night instead of trying to do more.
Just this week, I felt not great towards the end of my personal training session - not bad enough to stop but enough exertion for the week. I was then supposed to meet a friend and the personal trainer the next day and when I woke up and was still tired, I remembered my word and sent them both messages to excuse myself. Grace.
I mentioned the lightheadedness in last week’s letter and started taking a daily iron supplement again, with two on working out days. I’m not back to normal yet but I’m showing myself grace while I get there.
work
Someone at work asked for a meeting over “work book club” time and actually took offence that I declined the meeting because of the book club. Maybe last year, I would have hesitated but this time I said immediately, “I’m entitled to a lunch break and book club is how I want to do lunch today”.
I made a few mistakes and honestly, it was hard as an enneagram 1 but I told myself, ‘you would have said to other people, “it’s no big deal” so tell yourself the same thing’. Such growth.
relationships
This is still where I probably need the most grace. I have to remind myself all the time to show myself kindness and compassion as I show others, especially when my default position is “I should do more”.
I’m happy so far with how my 2025 word is working for me. How about you?
Quarterly reading update ——>
Quick update: I did, in fact, read one more book in March, bringing my total to 11 for the month and 30 for the quarter. That book was Maya Angelou’s I know why the caged bird sings.
Non-fiction 30% (9 books)
Fiction 70% (21 books)
TV shows I watched and loved in Q1 ——>
Bad Sisters - seasons 1 and 2. Apple TV. I have no notes, it is fabulous.
Friends from college - seasons 1 and 2 - Netflix. I love ensemble casts and dysfunction and this is exactly the type of book I love to read too.
Shrinking - seasons 1 and 2 - Apple TV. Be warned, lots of profanity. I loved the neighbour, Liz.
No good deed - season 1 - Netflix (Netflix told me I would like this and I did - I loved Dead to me a few years ago)
(I have just started watching Tiny beautiful things on Disney Plus).
Your recommendations?
The thing I hate but can’t stop doing ——>
Completing my line-a-day journal.
I started it in 2022 so I’m on year 4. Back in 2022, I wrote a post and it appears I was updating every 3 days. I laugh at that very diligent version of myself.
I’m getting to this thing every 3 - 4 weeks these days and maybe that’s why I hate it so much. The thought of all that updating, the scrolling through my phone to find something to write about and then all the time it takes. I know it would take two minutes if I did it daily. I just don’t have a daily habit for almost anything.
(I do LOVE looking back and now seeing 4 years of entries - the same weather, some of the same people in my life, work stuff, etc.)
If you use a line-a-day journal or a regular journal, tell me your tips and tricks.
I actually finished a 5 year journal which is unusual for me and it goes with your theme of grace. It took me from August 2016 to December 2024 to fill in all the days!
Thanks, just added some of those shows to my Netflix queue and found a movie called Little while I was searching.
I have a one line a day journal that lives in my bedside table. That is the only way I can remember to do it - literally when I am in bed. Having to play catchup with it sucks!