With three months left in the year, it seemed like a good time to check in with the Fit is a Feminist Issue blog team about how our words of the year for 2025 are working out. Here’s the original WOTY2025 post and our October check-ins.
Cate and Pathways
I picked “pathways” back in January, thinking about turning 60 and what the rest of my life might look like. I think I’ve done some tremendous things from choosing new pathways — including really digging into my creative side and completing the first draft of a novel. It has been a more challenging year in some unexpected ways as well (ranging from a sidelining nerve problem in my foot to lots of family unheaval), but I feel like my feet are firmly on the ground. I still don’t know what I’m going to do when I grow up but I have a lot of clarity about what matters to me.
Nat and Steady
I’ve stuck with my bicycle commute, daily dog walks and regular strength training.
Physiotherapy has really paid off for helping me improve my balance. I’m feeling steady on my feet and my bike.
Steady as she goes!
Nicole and Believin’
Believin’ – I guess it’s a form of believing to continuing doing the things that anchor you while making your way through a year of grief. Not sold on that, though.
Sam and Engage
I picked “engage” for a year that began with research leave, and I think it worked well for that. I’ve also tried to engage more with friends and family and spend more time with people I love. Now I’m back on campus re-engaging with my dean’s role. I’m still struggling to find ways to engage politically which I think we all have to do, given the state of the world.
Catherine and Compass
Compass was my word for 2025. I said that I had some ideas about where I wanted to go with plans and people and pursuits, but could use some help with navigation. That’s pretty much been true this year. I feel like I’ve asked for and gotten a lot of help from friends and colleagues and family in finding my way to some goals, and also getting clearer about leaving behind some old goals that don’t make so much sense now. I’m happier with my life as it is and with where it’s going. Who can ask for more than that? 😊
Tracy and Confidence
I chose “confidence” because I wanted to stare down my insecurities. I had to remind myself what my WOTY was, which indicates that it hasn’t been an effective guide in the way the WOTY usually is for me (like a touchstone or theme that I can return to in a conscious way throughout the year). But I’ll call on it for these last three months as I put together my last two classes of my teaching career, settle into a new city, and get to know my new camera mirrorless camera after using a DSLR for so many years. I can do this!
Diane and Enjoy
I still haven’t figured out Enjoy. I love my job but I took on too much when Dad was ill, and that continued after he died and I took on big responsibilities for settling his estate and caring for Mom. I did manage snippets of work joy with some fun special projects and getting to know the lovely folks at the pool where I lifeguard most often.
Same with friendships and the cottage – I managed a bit of enjoyment but not the full-on relaxation and quality I hoped for.
Art? Not a chance! I did manage a week away for a craft conference and I am just finishing an on-line course in a string craft that has fascinated me for decades.
I’m already starting to think that next year’s word will need to be acceptance. I have used it before, but more in the context of aging. This time, it will be in the context of learning to be satisfied that I can’t do all the things, but also that I will never stop trying.
ll photos are from Unsplash.
