My word of the year for 2022 was Delight. Instead of traditional New Yearās resolutions, Iāve tried to focus on one word to shape how I approach another year of life. So this year was about finding delight in the ordinary: being more spontaneous, tuning in to the world around me, searching for good things that might go unnoticed.
The subtext of this word, for me, instructed me on what I was not to do: I was not to let my anxiety take over moments that were otherwise beautiful. To not berate myself with the voice in my head that has been so critical, so unforgiving, for most of my life. To not let beauty pass me by.
After a year of practicing the Art of Finding Delight, Iām happy to report that my unrelenting inner voice is fading into the background. Itās still there, but itās muted! Did I delight in each and every moment? Definitely not. But using that word as a backdrop for my year was a steady reminder to always be searching for good. On top of it, a kinder, gentler voice is emerging inside my head.
Much of my delight this year came through my five senses: sound, sight, taste, touch, and smell.
Smells like freshly baked bread, coffee (while sitting across from a dear friend), or campfires have made for some very delightful moments this year.
Joining a community choir has been a huge joy in my life the past two years. I look forward to the sound of voices harmonizing each Tuesday evening during choir practice. Itās a time for me to focus on my breathing and think only of the notes in front of me. Afterwards, both my lungs and heart feel full and open.
The ritual of putting fresh sheets on the bed is a delight I look forward to each week. That freshly-washed laundry smell paired with the cool embrace of the cotton sheets that gradually warm your body is something worth noticing and being grateful for. My recent purchase of colorful pajamas ā covered in a pattern that could best be described as āPugs in Mugsā āconnects me with my inner child and adds another layer of soft, cottony happiness as I end my day.
A couple spontaneous road trips with friends this year have reminded me of the delight in friendships that span decades. Nothingās better than singing along to a favorite song in the car with someone who knows the words as well as you do.
I admit I was starting to feel jaded, feeling as though humanity was deteriorating. I was starting to believe that people didnāt care for each other as much. But I urge you to engage in the delightful practice of people-watching: taking notice of the people around you in a grocery store, an elevator, or a park. I guarantee that you will see smiles between strangers, folks opening doors for others, adults making silly faces at kids in grocery carts, trying to coax out a smile or laugh.Ā
Humans are out there in the world, connecting in ways that are so easily overlooked if we donāt slow down and take notice. Nature and all its elements are out there, showing off with colors and shapes and patterns that are more beautiful than they need to be. Somehow, we are all connected in some cosmic way, whether we want to be or not. Noticing the delight in that is the first step in harnessing this dizzying power and claiming just a fraction of it for ourselves.
What word or phrase will you choose to guide the next 365 days? What fraction of goodness will you claim for yourself in the coming year?
