More than WORDS

Revisiting intentions and.. wait, it’s 2025???

Nadine N Francis
January 02, 2025

❝

2024. I laughed. I cried.

Bleary-eyed,

Hit on the blindside,

Fell on my backside,

And kept my stride.

I did not hide

When the tide

Opened wide,

Attempted to drive

And force me to dive.

Instead, I strive

To be alive

In the NOW, not only survive.

Time to arrive.

Blink - NOW it’s 2025.

~Nadine’s GUT Journal (excerpt) - January 1, 2025

Hi everyone, long time no see (or write, in this case)!

Where have I been, you may ask? I was adjusting to a new “reality” and figuring out next steps. I placed many things on the back burner in 2024: paused some things, slowed down on others, and revisited old intentions.

All of a sudden, a new year reared its head. And last year ME couldn’t be happier. Today marks 1,067 days into my writing journey as I send out my 75th newsletter and approach my three-year WRITERVERSARY. I have no plans to stop.

Photo by Paolo Bendandi on Unsplash

I won’t rant about annual goals and resolutions - my opinion has not changed from previous posts about the new year.

I am working on intentions to coincide with my Writerversary in February. Upon reflection, I noticed I had written the same few words multiple times, summarizing themes from 2004 and continuing into the new year. Some call these “power words” or “intentional words.” I think about the pivots made throughout my journey, so the term “pivotal words” works for me:

✨ PERSEVERANCE (there are multiple ways to tell a story)

For me, my “Adulting” events could be viewed with a negative lens throughout many parts of 2024. Instead, I flipped the script to learn and determine how I wanted my story to be told. This does not mean I am lying about my feelings or experiences. Journaling grounded me from floating away with negative thoughts. 2022 and 2023 were not stellar years either. They were just… different. I was able to learn from my experiences because I was writing daily. Take THAT, “Adulting!”

✨ GRATITUDE (there is always something in life to be thankful for)

Gratitude keeps me grounded. Every day I write out a minimum of three things I am thankful for. It doesn’t matter what it is or if it is the same thing every day. When I am floating with thoughts, with some trying to burst the bubble, gratitude becomes my anchor. It keeps me on a reality check. Expanding on the why’s of being grateful re-emphasizes what’s truly important in this journey and in life.

✨ TRUTH (being true to oneself)

I spent most of 2024 coming to terms with where I'm at and what I can accomplish on this journey. Part of having intentional milestones is being true to oneself. What can I truly accomplish today, this week, or this year? If life gets in the way, can this intention be accomplished? Should it be adjusted? Or let go of? And, why lie to myself?

✨ KINDNESS (incorporating the GOLDEN RULE)

In an earlier newsletter, I wrote about revisiting kindness in myself and others, and how we should all return to our “mental Kindergarten.” I use my journal to capture moments of kindness and unkindness. This theme was dominant last year, and I plan to continue learning and sharing about this in 2025.

✨ PERSEVERANCE (determination to keep going despite the odds)

When things look bleak, it is easy to hide under the covers, drown in sorrow, stuff your face with Twinkies, and kick your own butt. It is also difficult to throw the covers off, lift your head and grab a more nutritious snack as you scale an unfamiliar path. When intentions are clear, it’s easier to rise and move forward. Unclear intentions reach for Twinkies. Confession - I had my first Twinkie EVER this year. They are DISGUSTING. Don’t do it. Wavy Lays are way. Either way, I kept moving on the path despite many setbacks.

With these pivotal words working together, I am drafting stronger and more realistic intentions for my creative path. What worked in one part of the journey may not work in another part, and vice versa. My perspective may change over the months and years, and I plan to be true and kind to myself about what I can accomplish. Being true and kind embellishes gratitude for the moment I am in and the perseverance to remain on the path.

Intentions are as powerful as we make them out to be. Sharing intentions is an important part of the process. How we share these intentions makes a difference in their success. I share my intentions in my journal as they are usually birthed there first. I don't share all intentions publicly, and I don’t believe they should be until they are fully flushed out and one is ready to stand by them through the entire lifespan of their journey. This does not mean one should never share intentions. I say this to be mindful since, as I have mentioned many times, words hold more power than you realize. One must be ready to take responsibility for the intentions shared.

With that, I want to share one of my writing intentions publicly. Because of your support, this newsletter will continue in 2025. I want to continue with a bi-weekly edition and share my journey while inspiring others to create. I plan to share more writing excerpts, which will assist with other intentions I am working on this year (maybe I will share them later in this newsletter… maybe 😜).

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Congratulations, fellow creatives. You made it through 2024. I hope you were able to explore freely, dream, imagine, aspire, and, most importantly, create! I also hope you spent less time battling the decision to start creating or being overly critical of your work.

Consider revisiting pivotal words from previous years or journeys to help craft strong themes or intentions (or goals or resolutions). If you do, I would love to hear your story (if and when you’re ready to share!).

I feel good about 2025. I believe this will be the year we all create something beautiful.

More than WORDS

Revisiting intentions and.. wait, it’s 2025???

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