#IWSG: Word of the Year 2023

The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. It’s an opportunity to talk about doubts and fears you have conquered. To discuss your struggles and triumphs and to offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling.

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January 4 question – Do you have a word of the year? Is there one word that sums up what you need to work on or change in the coming year?

I first chose a WOTY for 2020 – and that word was Act! Despite it being a year when the freedom to choose what could and could not be done was severely limited, I reached the end of the year knowing I’d chosen well. By keeping my chosen word in mind, I made choices – mostly small but positive, done constantly and consistently – throughout 2020, and so was able to get through the year in good spirits, despite having suffered long-term with depression.

That first year was such a success, I had high hopes for 2021. I choose the word Achieve. With a to do list constantly added to and little completed, it felt like the right word. But I spent the year relying on some wiffly-waffly version of manifestation to resolve my problem, which we all know cannot work…. and it didn’t.

Learning my lesson, in 2022 I engaged a coach and selected the word Courage – for I had a feeling I was going to need it. I learned a great deal during the year about strategy and processes, but the important work required that courage to dig – and keep on digging – into all that’s been holding me back for decades. When that final layer of protection was stripped away, what was discovered was both unexpected and freeing. Past me would’ve shrugged and given up when the going got tough, for it was certainly make or break stuff. Past me would’ve been broken but, with courage, I now have a secure foundation on which to build.

For 2023, my word is Onward! (and yes, there’s that exclamation point again 😉 ) It’s time to build and not to look back, berating myself with whats, wheres and whys. My WOTY for 2023 also ties in nicely with these words of wisdom…

Start where you are
Use what you have
Do what you can

Arthur Ashe

My writing has stalled significantly over the past two years – and the truth is that I’ve missed it terribly. I acknowledge that it won’t be easy to fit everything in during 2023, but I’ve acquired a whole host of new skills during the past year and am going to enjoy putting them to work.

The awesome co-hosts this month are Jemima Pett, Kim Lajevardi, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, T. Powell Coltrin and me 🙂 I’ll be visiting all my co-hosts this month, do take a moment to visit them as well if you can.

© Debra Carey, 2023