MY WORD OF THE YEAR
How I plan on connecting better with myself during 2025
Another year has come and gone, and what a year it was! 2024 was one of the best years of my life, by far; I traveled outside the country for the first time, I earned a leadership title at my job, I was part of a winning campaign for a popular Chapel Hill restaurant, I helped my best friends establish a non-profit chapter on campus, I made many many more friends, and I achieved my dream and got into the Hussman School of Media and Journalism at UNC. But with these roses came a fair share of thorns; my childhood dog passed away after 14 years, I lost a friend in a drunk driving accident, I watched political unrest grow stronger, and experienced lots of heartache, mistakes, and regret. The beauty of life is that it’s a double-edged sword. The joys and sorrows merge, making the moments of happiness shine brighter against the backdrop of pain, and the struggles we endure carve paths for growth, resilience, and a deeper appreciation for the good.
After spending the holidays with friends and family, I wanted to focus on my intentions for the new year. Instead of writing a New Year's resolutions list like I usually do, my friend Harrison inspired me to define my intentions for 2025 with just one word—a word of the year. It’s easier said than done when coming up with just one word that you plan to live by for an entire year, so I had to dig deep and know which word out of the roughly 1 million words in the English language that I truly resonated with. Surprisingly though, the first word that came to mind was “connection”. Now if you know me, you know that I love connecting with others and surrounding myself with people in my life that I have a deep love and care for. But this year, I want the word “connection” to mean something different–I want to work on having a better connection with myself.
Something I noticed while being home for the holiday break was that I could not spend a single moment alone by myself without going deep into my feelings or emotions. I was always texting or talking to someone, I was always doing something–being on my phone or my laptop or reading a book, I was always doing something with my family or friends, but I was never actually just alone with myself intentionally. Nothing in my face to distract me.
This realization hit me harder than I expected. I love being around people, and I thrive in social environments, but I’ve started to wonder: if I’m always engaging with others, when do I actually engage with myself? When do I sit with my thoughts, not to analyze or fix anything, but just to exist in my own presence? It’s a strange feeling, almost uncomfortable, to acknowledge that I might be avoiding myself in some way.
So, as I step into 2025 with my word of the year—connection—I’m challenging myself to strengthen the most important relationship I have: the one with myself. But how do I do that? How do I foster a genuine, meaningful connection with who I am when I’m alone? I’ve come up with a few intentions that I hope will help:
Embracing Solitude Without Distractions – I want to practice being alone in a way that isn’t just filling the silence with distractions. Instead of reaching for my phone, I can take a walk without music, sit with a cup of coffee and just let my thoughts wander, or even drive without a podcast playing. I’ve started running a few days a week, and I think that just running with no music or podcast could be a good way to enjoy the beautiful nature around me and be with myself. Learning to be comfortable in my own company is a skill I want to develop.
Journaling for Reflection, Not Just Documentation – I already love journaling, but this year, I want to use it as a tool to deepen my self-awareness. Rather than just writing about my day or the drama unfolding in my life, I want to explore my emotions, ask myself difficult questions, and give myself the space to reflect on what I truly need.
Setting Boundaries with Social Media – Social media has been such a huge part of my personal and professional life, but I’ve realized that it often keeps me from being fully present with myself. With the whole TikTok ban frenzy, I decided to delete the app anyway as a step in the right direction away from distraction. I’m considering setting specific times for when I check my phone or take social media breaks to see how it affects my sense of inner connection.
Trying Solo Experiences – I want to get more comfortable doing things alone. Whether it’s taking myself out to dinner, going on a solo weekend trip, or even just spending a few hours exploring a new place by myself, I know that these moments will help me grow in confidence and self-trust.
Meditation and Mindfulness Practices – I’ve always admired people who can sit in meditation and truly be present, but I’ve never made it a consistent habit. This year, I want to incorporate mindfulness practices into my daily routine, even if it’s just five minutes of breathing exercises or body scans to check in with myself.
Reconnecting with Creativity – One of the best ways I connect with myself is through art and writing. When I’m creating, I feel the most in tune with who I am. This year, I want to lean into creativity not as a task or an obligation, but as a way to better understand my emotions and express myself freely.
At the heart of all these intentions is the desire to truly know myself—to be my own best friend, my own safe space. I know it won’t always be easy. Sitting with myself without distractions might feel overwhelming at first, especially with my ADHD mind constantly changing interest and direction, but I also know that growth happens in discomfort.
If you’re reading this and you also struggle with being alone with yourself, I invite you to join me in this journey! Let’s make 2025 the year we not only deepen our connections with others but also strengthen the most important connection of all—the one we have with ourselves.
