We've all lived through challenging times these past two and a half years. You have experienced so much. Make sure you celebrate your perseverance and strength, dear heart.

You are not the same person you were at the beginning of 2020. These difficult conditions have honed your resiliency.

I looked up the definition of resilience in the dictionary (yes, I do use a real, old-school dictionary) frequently. I'm forever looking up words I've not heard of before or if I'm unsure of their meaning or usage. I love words and am a self-described "word nerd." Maybe you can relate. *smile*

Anyway, the word resilient is defined as "recovering readily, as from adversity or illness, buoyant, springing back after compression or stretching, elastic." Seems like a great definition we can identify with, especially after these past two years.

I've been watching a tree in the neighborhood during my morning walks. The majority of the tree’s interior is missing and yet, she stands tall and thrives. See her photo below. She is the epitome of resilience.

Like this tree, we are all looking to bounce back, recover readily and stand firm when things are tough. One of the ways I do this is by selecting a word of the year. It is my guidepost and beacon of how I want to live each day. This practice has increased my resiliency.

During 2019, I journeyed with pancreatic cancer, which helped hone my inner strength as I concentrated hour-by-hour on healing.

My word of the year for 2019 was Flourish. Each day, sometimes many times during the day, I would focus on how I could best flourish at that moment.

Sometimes flourishing while feeling nauseous, when my hair was falling out, and when nothing tasted "right," looked like resting, taking an antinausea pill, reaching out to a loved one or friend, or knowing and trusting that brighter days were ahead.

That mindset, along with my fantastic medical support team and the hosts of family, friends, and strangers who supported my family and me during those scary days, helped forge my complete healing and enabled me to recover, thrive and become stronger and more resilient than ever before.

I am so grateful to be here today to share my story and to celebrate the miracle of my healing. In fact, my words of the year for 2020 was Celebrate, and for 2021 was Miracles. Each day during those two years, I looked for ways I could celebrate or find a miracle. It's a marvelous way to live.

My word of the year for 2022 is Wonder and daily I'm on the lookout for it. Sometimes, it's something beautiful I see, experience, or ponder. I like to take a daily walk out in nature and capture a picture of something lovely and occasionally share my wonder with others.

I appreciate you reading my story, and I'd like to share more about being resilient and living your best life.


You are invited to attend an upcoming event hosted by The Wellness Universe, produced, created, and hosted by Leah Skurdal, which features esteemed speakers in the self-care industry: Carol Pilkington, Carolyn McGee, Debbie Prediger, Nicole Batiste, and David McLeod. It's coming on September 10, 2022, with 90 minutes of online self-care resources and how to fortify your resilience. Resilience and living a life of joy, health, and harmony go hand in hand. Mark your calendar and find out more HERE

Blessings of love, joy, and peace.

Love,

Janette