I feel so late to the New Years party, like I should’ve had this written for January 1st. But actually, if I’ve learned anything these first 2 weeks of the year it’s to go at my own pace. So here I am, 21 days in, to say “hey 2020!” and talk about my word of the year.
The Year of Classy
I chose Classy as my word for 2020 and I so love this word for this year. I think that it perfectly embodies what I want for this new decade of my life and I’ve been eagerly waiting to step into the way you step into a new pair of shiny black pumps. To me, the year of Classy is the year of me putting myself together for a new decade. I’m turning 30 this year and there are so many things I wasn’t all that intentional about in my twenties that I feel like as an adult woman I should have figured out. And I’m not talking about big life stuff like knowing exactly what you want to do for the rest of your life or even where we want to buy a house and live for the next decade or two (two things I for real haven’t quite nailed down). I’m talking about basic things like –
- developing a devotional life that is more second nature than picking up my cell phone
- building a reliable wardrobe that suits my body, personal style, and lifestyle
- having a go-to morning routine that feels natural and grounding
- finally figuring out what mainstay products work best for my hair & skin (y’all, I still have not landed on this!)
- curating a repertoire of recipes that I love to make and my people like to eat
- cultivating a simple, cozy, inviting home environment
- making time for the people I love the most
I want to be a strong, creative woman who lives well and stays focused on what matters. To me, that’s class. It’s a way of approaching life, taking advantage of the resources around me, and intentionally building the pieces of the framework that make me uniquely me.
I want to be more thoughtful.
I want to be more engaged in the present.
I want to be cognizant about how my choices affect my future.
I want to be more organized.
I want to be in control of the things God gives me to control.
I want to learn new things.
I want to take calculated risks.
IT’S NOT REVOLUTIONARY
You may be reading this and thinking that much of this sounds familiar. That’s probably because a lot of people (maybe including yourself) talk about wanting to make these changes in their lives. Nothing I listed above is novel or revolutionary but assigning a word to how I want to approach it gives me a framework that works for my own quirky brain.
THIS IS WHAT IT FEELS LIKE
For me, classy is also a collection of unique-to-me feelings. It feels like re-reading Alcott, Austen, or Montgomery. It feels like listening the soundtrack to Pride & Prejudice but also like James Taylor’s Up on a Roof. It feels like my favorite oatmeal chocolate chip cookie recipe. It feels like looking at pics of me and Steven when we were dating or remembering what it was like to take our first 5 day hiking trip in Colorado together. It feels like the little girl I used to be and the woman I am becoming.
I don’t want to be so busy and so frazzled and frenetic that I forget to take part in the simple pleasures that really light me up and boost my energy, creativity and focus. I want to harness the coziness and awe of the holidays and sprinkle it about my life all year round, you know what I mean? I want to be just as inspired and joyful in May as I tend to feel in November and December.
A vase of flowers. A well-fitting pair of jeans. A chunky journal. Cuddling under the covers. A good hair day. Shelves and shelves lined with books. A good workout. An evening with family or friends. The perfect playlist on Spotify. A really good conversation. A timely podcast episode. A great date night. Just enough cream and sugar in my water-processed decaf in the quiet of the morning. Fresh air through open windows dancing with scent of freshly washed sheets.
This is what it feels like. This is what a classy life looks like to me. This is what I want more of.
ALL I CAN DO
I’m not looking for a perfect life. I’m not expecting anything but the rollercoaster that life always is. But I want to create the sense of calm and joy that is deep, soulful and abiding so that I can handle the curveballs and not feel so derailed when things don’t go my way. I’m also not looking to figure out classy adulting all in one year. For me 2020 is more about positioning, discovery, and self-awareness than completing a year-long project.
I know it’s going to be messy and frustrating. Life cannot be boxed up and tied with a red ribbon. All I can do and all I want to do is do the best I can with what I have where I am. Each and every day
Whatever 2020 brings, I’m here to give it my best shot. I pray that God will do all the rest.
