It’s that time of year. A time to reflect on the past year and make plans for the New Year. I like to look back at the past year to remember what I’ve done (the memories, the progress of my recovery, and what I’ve learned).
Here’s my review of 2022.
accomplishments:
* 3 year anniversary of the stroke. Living Well With Aphasia and Apraxia
* renewing the lease on the apartment in VA
* spending more time with Kiera (Richmond zoo and Roger Williams park Zoo, pumpkin patch, beach and Iggy’s, picking her up from daycare and playing at our apartment, etc)
* volunteering to be an Angel for a person whose undergoing chemo (Writing weekly handwritten letters starting on July 14).
* participating in research on aphasia - inner speech, google relate
* taking workshops on Hay House - tapping, connecting with Angels, intro to tarot reading, You can heal your life summit,
* taking NAA Intro to Meditation course
* participating and completed the Ultimate Blog challenge in July
* writing and uploading 48 blog posts
* organizing and participating in the Aphasia Conversation Partners meetings on Fridays (starting in August)
* continuing the Education and Resource group on Thursdays and the conversation check in on Wednesday (until September)
* participating in the 3 monthly Public Speaking and Leadership Community with Dr. Brielle Stark
* BU Good Start project
* NAA book club
2022 God’s Blessings
* Kiera
* Jeannine and Nick’s generosity
* TS, Tina and Brenda my penpals
* our health
* Michael and Haley’s engagement
* RI vacation
* Meagan and Michael’s wedding
* return to in person Mass
* my Aphasia friends
* our apartment
* McHugh summer party at MaryEllen’s
* Amy's new position at UMBC and their move to Baltimore, MD
Now onto the New Year. I don’t do New Years resolutions. Instead I like to choose a word of the year. A word that will guide my actions in the next year and help to clarify my goals. What would I like more of? What I want less of? A word that can help me as move toward. As I've done for the past two years I start to think about my word of the year in Oct/November. Part of the process is the review of the past year and the answers to these questions above. I also consider what God wants from me. What is the reason I'm here? How can I live my best life? I pray on these things and see what comes. I pay close attention to what comes to me. Usually a specific word shows up in print, in what I hear, etc. This year, the word "light" came to me over and over. It is an unusual word for the word of the year. Usually a verb or adjective is chosen. Something with a clear meaning. But light has a number of meanings and can be a noun, verb or adjective.
From the website, the long definition for light https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/light, or see the copy I provide down below the pictures.
This past year my word was "intentional". This didn't work as well as I had anticipation. I was intentional in the way I chose what I wanted to focus on, especially the activities for fun and to improve my communication skills. But I didn't do many things intentionally to improve my health and well-being.
But the word "joy" which I chose for the year 2021 worked perfectly. So a noun may be best for me. We will have to see. Time will tell.
My thinking since choosing Light as my word of the year 2023.....
"What is the symbol of light in our life? Generally speaking, light serves as a symbol of life, happiness, prosperity, and, in a wider sense, of perfect being. As a symbol of life, light can also serve as a symbol of immortality. "
My Goals that light represents Being lighter. Eating better, drinking less wine and more water. Walking regularly. More light in my life. Not being afraid to take risks. Saying yes to all activities with my daughter and granddaughter. Making more time for activities shared with my husband. Spending more time and being more present with family especially my father. Lighter in spirit. Praying more, continuing to be grateful for everyday and everything I have. Participating fully in weekly masses and reflect on the readings.
Being the light for others. Volunteering in the community this year. Creating weekly groups for people with aphasia. Building a support group for people with apraxia and aphasia.
Using a bullet Journal this year will make documenting this year's activities and achievement of goals easier. I will share pictures of my bullet journal soon so you can see what I'm working on and how it will help.
Until next time, Happy New Year to you! I'm so very grateful to each of you who follow this blog.
Light
It's pitch black in your room so you switch on the lamp, and your room is filled with light. Light is a source of illumination, whether a natural one (like the sun) or an artificial one (like your lamp). Like light itself, the word can take a lot of different forms — it can be a noun, an adjective, or a verb, and it can mean "bright" or "not heavy". No matter how you define it, though, the word comes from the Old English word leoht.
Definitions of light
noun (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation “the light was filtered through a soft glass window” synonyms:visible light, visible radiationsee more
noun the quality of being luminous; emitting or reflecting light synonyms:brightness, brightness level, luminance, luminosity, luminousnesssee more
noun an illuminated area “he stepped into the light” see more
noun the visual effect of illumination on objects or scenes as created in pictures “he could paint the lightest light and the darkest dark” synonyms:lightnesssee more
noun having abundant light or illumination “they played as long as it was light” synonyms:lightingsee more
noun any device serving as a source of illumination “he stopped the car and turned off the lights” synonyms:light sourcesee more
noun a visual warning signal “they saw the light of the beacon” “there was a light at every corner” see more
noun a particular perspective or aspect of a situation “although he saw it in a different light, he still did not understand” see more
noun public awareness “it brought the scandal to light” see more
noun mental understanding as an enlightening experience “he finally saw the light” “can you shed light on this problem?” see more
noun a condition of spiritual awareness; divine illumination “follow God's light” synonyms:illuminationsee more
noun a person regarded very fondly “the light of my life” see more
noun merriment expressed by a brightness or gleam or animation of countenance synonyms:spark, sparkle, twinklesee more
adjective characterized by or emitting light “a room that is light when the shutters are open” “the inside of the house was airy and light” Synonyms:ablaze, inflamed, reddenedlighted with red light as if with flamesautofluorescentemitting light via self-induced fluorescencebioluminescent(of living organisms) emitting lightbrighthaving lots of light either natural or artificialcandescentglowing from great heatfloodlighted, floodlitilluminated by means of floodlightsfluorescentemitting light during exposure to radiation from an external sourceilluminated, lighted, lit, well-lightedprovided with artificial lightcandent, incandescentemitting light as a result of being heatedlamplitlighted by a lamplighting-upturning lights onlivid(of a light) imparting a deathlike luminosityluminescentemitting light not caused by heatphosphorescentemitting light without appreciable heat as by slow oxidation of phosphoroussunlit, sunstrucklighted by sunlightwhiteof summer nights in northern latitudes where the sun barely setssee more
adjective (used of color) having a relatively small amount of coloring agent “light blue” “light colors such as pastels” “a light-colored powder” synonyms:light-coloredwhitebeing of the achromatic color of maximum lightness; having little or no hue owing to reflection of almost all incident lightpalevery light colored; highly diluted with whitepalishslightly palepasteldelicate and pale in colorpowderyas if dulled in color with a sprinkling of powdersee more
adjective (of sound or color) free from anything that dulls or dims “a light lilting voice like a silver bell” synonyms:clean, clear, uncloudedpurefree of extraneous elements of any kind
verb make lighter or brighter synonyms:illume, illuminate, illumine, light upsee more
adjective of comparatively little physical weight or density “a light load” “magnesium is a light metal--having a specific gravity of 1.74 at 20 degrees C” Synonyms:lightweightweighing relatively little compared with another item or object of similar useairyhaving little or no perceptible weight; so light as to resemble airbuoyant, floatytending to float on a liquid or rise in air or gaslighter-than-airrelating to a balloon or other aircraft that flies because it weighs less than the air it displaceslow-densityhaving low relative density or specific gravitysee more
adjective not great in degree or quantity or number “a light sentence” “a light accent” “casualties were light” “light snow was falling” “light misty rain” “light smoke from the chimney” see more
adjective very thin and insubstantial “light summer dresses” Synonyms:thinof relatively small extent from one surface to the opposite or in cross section
adjective demanding little effort; not burdensome “light housework” “light exercise” Synonyms:undemandingrequiring little if any patience or effort or skill
adjective of little intensity or power or force “the light touch of her fingers” “a light breeze” Synonyms:easy, gentle, softhaving little impactsee more
adjective (physics, chemistry) not having atomic weight greater than average “light water is ordinary water” see more
adjective less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so “a light pound” synonyms:scant, shortdeficient, insufficientof a quantity not able to fulfill a need or requirement
adjective moving easily and quickly; nimble “the dancer was light and graceful” “walked with a light tripping step” synonyms:lightsome, trippinglight-footed(of movement) having a light and springy step
adjective designed for ease of movement or to carry little weight “light aircraft” “a light truck” Synonyms:light-dutynot designed for heavy work
adjective of the military or industry; using (or being) relatively small or light arms or equipment “light infantry” “light cavalry” “light industry” “light weapons” Synonyms:light-armed, lightly-armedarmed with light weaponssee more
adjective psychologically light; especially free from sadness or troubles “a light heart” Synonyms:casual, foolingcharacterized by a feeling of irresponsibilitysee more
adjective intended primarily as entertainment; not serious or profound “light verse” “a light comedy” Synonyms:frivolousnot serious in content or attitude or behavior
adjective having little importance “losing his job was no light matter” Synonyms:insignificant, unimportantdevoid of importance, meaning, or force
adjective silly or trivial “light banter” synonyms:idlefrivolousnot serious in content or attitude or behavior
adjective casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior synonyms:easy, loose, promiscuous, sluttish, wantonunchastenot chaste
adjective easily assimilated in the alimentary canal; not rich or heavily seasoned “a light diet” Synonyms:digestiblecapable of being converted into assimilable condition in the alimentary canal
adjective having relatively few calories “lite (or light) mayonnaise” synonyms:calorie-free, lite, low-calfat-free, fatless, nonfatwithout fat or fat solidssee more
adjective marked by temperance in indulgence “a light eater” “ate a light supper” synonyms:abstemioustemperatenot extreme in behavior
adjective (of sleep) easily disturbed “in a light doze” “a light sleeper” synonyms:wakefulshallownot deep or strong; not affecting one deeply
adjective weak and likely to lose consciousness “felt light in the head” “light-headed from lack of sleep” synonyms:faint, light-headed, lightheaded, swooningill, sickaffected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
adjective (used of vowels or syllables) pronounced with little or no stress “a syllable that ends in a short vowel is a light syllable” synonyms:unaccented, weakunstressednot bearing a stress or accent
adverb with few burdens “experienced travellers travel light” synonyms:lightly
verb cause to start burning; subject to fire or great heat synonyms:ignitesee more
noun a device for lighting or igniting fuel or charges or fires synonyms:igniter, ignitor, lightersee more
verb to come to rest, settle “Misfortune lighted upon him” synonyms:alight, perchsee more
verb fall to somebody by assignment or lot synonyms:fallaccrue, fallcome into the possession offallto be given by assignment or distributionsee more
verb alight from (a horse) synonyms:dismount, get down, get off, unhorsesee more
adjective (used of soil) loose and large-grained in consistency “light soil” Synonyms:loosenot compact or dense in structure or arrangement
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