It’s Halfway Day — it’s time to review the One Word Theme and The 22 for 22 List

July 2 is “halfway day” — the midpoint of 2022. It feels like a perfect time to check in and reflect on my one word theme — which was actually 2 words and my 22 for 22 list.

If you’re not familiar with one word themes they are an alternative to New Year’s Resolutions. You choose a word or phrase or mantra or theme that you keep throughout the year. This practice is done by many folks including well known folks like Gretchen Rubin, Ali Edwards, and Susannah Conway.

I’ve been selecting one word themes for many years. This year, my one word theme was actually two words; it was the first time I’ve ever not been able to choose just one word. The words are: persist and simplify.

When I chose them, persist had a very, very specific meaning for me — one that was decimated when I left my job of 23 years on January 14. That said, it has still served me well because I picked myself back up, dusted myself off, and just kept moving forward. Simplify also became really important after that January 14 marker as it was time to decide what mattered most to me in this life and to focus on that. With all my time now being my own I got to create the future I wanted and not live someone else’s version of my life.