1.4.20 // Word of 2020.
As a follow up from my 2019 reflection, I give you my 2020 word.
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"Freedom.”
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Freedom from, freedom to... free in all forms.
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For me, 2019 felt like a series of handcuffs.
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Now before I go any further, I know that these handcuffs were placed and locked by no one but myself. My life played out because of my choices, my actions, my thoughts, and my assumptions. I shackled myself to situations and to people that were detrimental to my ultimate well-being. I take full responsibility...
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While I’m no fortune teller and I have no way knowing what the future holds, I’m setting the word “freedom” with strong intentions and plans that it’ll continue to guide my thinking into this new year. Here are some thoughts on why freedom made so much sense for 2020.
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The types of freedom:
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Freedom from stifled personal growth.... freedom from making assumptions based on lack of communication, freedom from the fear of coming across as over communicative, freedom from deeply caring what others think of me and my decisions, freedom from hiding my emotions because I’ll be seen as sensitive, freedom from the illusion that vulnerability is a weakness.
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Freedom from situations and people that are toxic... freedom from work cultures that prioritize one relationship over the health and general well being of a larger team, freedom from individuals who at their core made me feel guilty for showing up as who I was or for holding the friends I have, freedom from second-guessing myself when I feel these ‘red-flag’ situations arise in my intuition.
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Freedom to be myself... freedom to hold my beliefs and morals without needing to justify them, freedom to move my body in as many ways and as often as I can this year- more dance classes and road biking, freedom to look or dress the way I feel most confident- I plan to wear red lipstick to every damn hockey rink and game, freedom to lean into my hopeless romantic side- I love love, freedom to exist and show up in the world that I’m most proud of.
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Freedom to continue growing... freedom to recognize I can slow down and that if life isn’t moving at a million hours that doesn’t mean I’m not progressing or I’m missing out on moments, freedom to work on my patience- to embrace that I have weak moments where patience is thin and frustration ignites, freedom to continue to get to know my various internal voices- my inner child, my various voices of fear and need.
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Freedom to see the world... freedom to see the world with a silver lining, freedom to believe that people are inherently good, freedom to think vulnerability will help bring humanity together, freedom to lust for life with a voracious desire to learn more, see more, be more, and freedom to continue building a community of beautiful souls.
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The list is endless... and that’s the beauty of freedom. It’s everything.
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I deeply expect 2020 to be an unshackling of sorts. A removal of the heavy chains I locked on to my ankles and wrists that dragged me down.
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I am ready to live lighter and more freely and I’ll leave you with this...
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A photo of me living freely... free to wear red bathing suits for rooftop hot tubs in the midst of a Montreal winter, free of worry about how I look, free of judgment of this photo (yours included).
