Hey, what was your word of the year? If you didn’t set a word for this year, what was a resolution you set for yourself or a goal you wanted to achieve? We’re mid-way through 2023, so I thought it was a good time to check in on those hopes, dreams, and plans we had for this bright and shiny new year.

A few years ago, I realized that my standard answer to “How are you?” was <drumroll, please> “Busy!” That also seemed to be the usual reply I got from others when I’d ask them how they were. So busy. We’re all just so very, very busy. I realized that I was starting to assume busyness was the expected answer, and worse yet, I realized that sometimes I was wearing it like a badge of honor.

I decided that was an award that I didn’t need.

It's officially summer! For many of us – myself included – a “summer vacation” is coming up soon. But it’s truth-telling time: As much as we usually look forward to our vacation with eager anticipation, raise your hand if you’ve ever come home from a vacation thinking, “That really wasn’t nearly as satisfying as I’d hoped it would be.” (Yep, mine’s up too.)

So how will things be different this year? These three practices help me enter into vacation with more purpose – with more intentionality – and I thought maybe you’d like to try them too.

There are so many dimensions to CliftonStrengths, and so many ways that we can understand ourselves more deeply. It gives us a powerful, positive affirmation of who we are and how we’re made. But what if our strengths could actually help us name our needs? It’s ok if that question makes you just a little uncomfortable or confused. It still makes me squirm a little.

When I was 5 years old, my dad started his own business. He was a hazardous waste consultant. I still don’t really understand his work, but I’m pretty sure that it’s fair to say that he helped people figure out what to do with their garbage so that it didn’t do harm to the planet.

I was adrift. I was facing a career pivot and was being invited (read: forced) to AGAIN entertain the question, “What do I want to be when I grow up?” Then the question changed: “You’ve just been given a magic wand and any wishes in relation to any aspects of your life can come true. What might those ideal goals or wishes for your life be?”

Last week, at a women’s networking event I attended, the emcee asked the group of about 80 professional women, “How many of you feel behind all the time – stressed, overwhelmed, and running all the time just to keep up?” Most hands in the room went up. Mine did not.

It would be super easy to write this blog with some tips and tricks for managing time better. But it doesn’t quite feel authentic for me to write that if I haven’t first shared the messes I’ve been in when it comes to time.

A few months ago, I was preparing to lead a CliftonStrengths discovery session with some college students, and I needed to run a quick errand. While in the car, I heard these lyrics: “Have you ever felt like being somebody else? Feeling like the mirror isn't good for your health?”

I’ve never done a “word of the year” before. Each January, Facebook friends far and wide post about their words, but it wasn’t until this year that I finally decided to try it out. I guess I just got around enough people who use this practice that I wanted to be like the cool kids.

Boy, was I surprised by my word!