Is it possible to characterize a something as significant as a year with just a few words? What words do you associate with 2014?
Merriam Webster: Most Looked Up Words
If you’re stuck, MerriamWebster.com has suggestions. The site recently released the top ten most looked up words of 2014, and they reveal interesting things about the past twelve months.
- Culture means paying attention to behaviors which allow us to characterize an idea, issue, or group. For example, “pop culture,” “celebrity culture,” and “nerd culture.”
Nostalgia originally meant “homesickness,” and searches on its meaning were encouraged by popular historically based T.V. shows like Downton Abby and Boardwalk Empire.- Insidious Look-ups for this word spiked when the media called various cyber attacks in 2014 “insidious”, as well as after the death of Thomas Eric Duncan, the first person diagnosed with Ebola in the U.S. The medical definition of insidious is “of a disease: developing so gradually as to be well established before becoming apparent.”
- Legacy means “having lasting impact.” It’s often used in reference to people with historical significance, like Thomas Jefferson, or, more pertinent to 2014, Derek Jeter, who played his last game with the Yankees.
- Feminism is the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities. Time named 2014 “the year of pop feminism.” Of course, Time also listed Miley Cyrus and Beyonce as two of its 100 Most Influential People. Miley isn’t the example of feminism I want to follow. See my post on misogyny for the opposite of feminism.
- Je ne sais quoi – Who knew that a Sonic commercial could inspire so many to learn French? This expression means “a pleasant quality that is hard to describe.” (In the commercial, it’s confused for “Jenna said what?”) The words literally translate to “I know not what.”
- Innovation is the introduction of something new, and I’m glad people are looking up and thinking about this word.
- Surreptitious means sneaky, clandestine. Users probably came to Merriam-Webster inspired by all the talk about the government collecting data, as well as the 40th anniversary of Watergate.
- Autonomy – There’s been much international news about nations and groups of people seeking autonomy. The Scotland referendum for independence is one example.
- Morbidity was often confused with mortality this year. Morbidity, from the Latin word for “disease” (morbus), means “the incidence of disease.” Mortality, from the Latin word for “death” (mors), means “the number of deaths in a given time or place.” As you can guess, both words spiked in look ups with coverage of the Ebola crisis.
Although I like “autonomy” and “innovation”, some of these words depress me. I want to think about something more positive than “morbidity.”
Guiding Words for 2015
I love January for its fresh start feeling, a chance to build new habits and create real change. My friend Valerie wrote a post on how she challenged herself to choose a “theme word” for 2014 and the surprising results of her choice. She’s picked a new theme word for 2015, and I decided to join her.
My guiding word for 2015 is…
I’m not talking about a gift. I mean paying attention to the people and the experiences around me. I want to react less and focus more, to actually listen to people when they speak to me instead of thinking about the socks that need sorting.
This isn’t an empty New Year’s resolution. I spent much of 2014 doing four things at once on five hours of sleep. Even though bus-i-ness has become the new status symbol, I’m determined to rebel. This year, I’m going to focus on one book and task at a time, and even meditate (I’ve only got time for 5 minutes a day, but it’s a start.) Here are my inspirations:
- Michael Hyatt’s teaching on intention, focus, and margin. Read his post on goal setting, or listen to his interview with Jeff Goins on the Portfolio Life podcast to learn about the how to set goals that matter.
- My friend Amy Makechnie’s determination to sit still, at least for 15 minutes. She, like me, has four kids and plenty of noise in her head. Read Amy’s hilarious, but thought provoking, post on meditation.
- This NPR news piece on How a Skeptic Learned to Love Meditation.
- This episode of the Books on the Nightstand podcast, in which hosts Michael Kindness and Ann Kingman pledge to multitask less and focus more, in regards to books and life in general.
- The book One Thousand Gifts by Ann VosKamp
I wrote down my guiding word and goals, and I’m ready to get present in 2015. Michael Hyatt says to create real change, you have to get out of your comfort zone. I’m getting out there.
How about you? What word do you choose to guide your experience of 2015. As Valerie warns on her blog, choose carefully!
Julia
My husband and have been going through the Michael Hyatt series on “the best year ever” as we both felt the need to be united and specific in our goals. We finished 3 out of 5 of the lessons and even went through the workbook together….him electronically, me taking notes with my trusty pen in my new 2016 journal😃. It has been great for both of us together and individually as we seek to make this year different for ourselves and our girls. So I think my word I have settled on is “margin” which is a close cousin to my word from last year “intentional”. Last year was reactionary, this year I want to build more margin into our life to be with people who I love in a meaningful way, to do things that impact others for good, and to seek opportunities of growth spiritually, physically, intellectually in my family and friends.
I love you guys with the one word resolution! I’ve been hearing it more and more lately and I love the simplicity of it! Maybe this will be my year…
Give it a try, Muddy. It’s good to have something to focus on. But choose carefully.
I don’t have a word, but I’m enjoying discovering the ones my blog friends have chosen. It’s made me think of where I want to go this year. For as much of a list maker that I am, I don’t write out my goals. They are just bouncing around in my head somewhere – I really should pull them out!
You know Dana, according to Michael Hyatt, people who write down their goals are 42% more likely to achieve their goals. Hint, hint. 😉
What a great post!
I have done the one word for the year thing for a couple of years now. I have settled on Progress for my word for 2015!
I wish you much progress in 2015 Lisa.
I heard a lot about the concept of a one word theme last year. I have not heard as much this year but I do seem to have come across a quote that has led me to a word that I think will be my theme this year. The quote is “How to be successful: focus on your own ****.” This quote really spoke to me. So, I have decided that my word will be “focus”. I seem to let a lot of extraneous noise take up space in my head and I think that I need some focus on what I want and what I am doing at any given time. Focus will overlap at times with your word “present”.
I hope this works well for both of us!
I’m glad you’re joining in, Carol. I like the word you chose. Maybe we can check in on each other through the year and keep ourselves accountable! We can use our goals group to help us!
Of course you know the title of this post grabbed my attention! I feel choosing one word, a theme if you will, for the year gives our overcrowded minds something simple to come back to in the midst of the crazy. One word seems far more attainable than a list of resolutions that hang over our heads, reminding us of all the things we are not accomplishing. Kudos to you for picking a word that not only will give you rest but also make time with loved ones a priority..which I happen to know you already do! Thanks for the mention of my humble blog as well. As always, happy to call you my friend, you word nerd you!
Thank you Valerie for the wonderful inspiration. Your blog always gets me thinking. I’m glad we’re in this “challenge” together – hopefully 2015 will be a great year of growth for both of us. (And a little less crazy? Ha!)