I was walking through a shopping centre, heading for the toilet block. (Why am I telling you this? Because ideas don’t come at glamorous times. They come while living life. A self retreat & all that Pinterest worthy stuff is great, and can help, but it’s not the only way things can happen.)
I had just parked my car & was thinking about the shops lining the outside as I walked in.
There was a cafe. It got me thinking. I had once had a job interview there that made me realise something about a passion for myself, how I like to work & how needs were making me hide part of who I am.
My Word for 2016
I don’t know what to do in cafes. I don’t like the smell or taste of coffee, I don’t drink juice or milk shakes, I only drink tea rarely (and even then only green tea with honey that I’ve made myself). I also don’t enjoy the cake type food that Cafes serve (nor the price they charge for what I can make at home).
If you remember last week, I was feeling all annoyed about explaining who I am. I hate frustration and I feel it often.
That interview I mentioned above was working for a consultant. I wondered how I would go when I get my consultancy ideas properly defined, and up and running. Would I have to meet people in coffee shops? I mean, my business is aimed to be mostly location independent (for the purposes of both travel & working t home). How do I justify the etiquette of working in a coffee shop when I don’t like what business offers?
I had been sitting in a park just before I went to the shops. So I thought “what if I met clients in a park?”
Honestly? What is the difference? Both can be loud, both can be quiet. Both can have wifi these days. One gets you fresh air and vitamin D. The other is less likely to.
Walking meetings are sometimes promoted in large workplaces. Which can be good – but sometimes you need to sit to meet to refer to materials or laptops or whatever is relevant. Is it socially acceptable to have a walking meeting in a park but not a sitting meeting? How did we arrive at this?
Which all brings me, in a very roundabout way, to my word for 2016. Reclaim. I want to reclaim my values. I want to reclaim who I am, particularly without explaining it to others.
I know Reclaim has had some negative connotations in recent years. But fuck right-wing radicals. The word had meaning before it was used in that way & right now, reclaim is empowering to me.
Did you choose a word for 2016? Do you think it still suits how your year is going?
Nice one. I still haven’t come up with my word. Reclaim would have suited me 3-4 years ago when I was trying to work out what I wanted to do and what made me happy. I love walking meetings, but yes, you often need to sit. And being outside in the middle of the day often isn’t practical. Thanks for the link too x
I chose a word in 2015 which I found so beneficial to where I was at and it motivated me towards where I was aiming to be. In 2016 that word no longer seemed appropriate and I didn’t choose a new word, but I’m kind of missing not having a word and that little bit extra focus on my goals this year. I might have to find a word for the remainder of the year.
I’m more curious that reclaim had negative associations. I was unaware…
Have you not heard of reclaim Australia? Bunch of right wing, racist extremists.
I love that you’re reclaiming “reclaim” from the idiots who want to reclaim Australia. From who? No one knows. Do they have the right? Nope. Lol! It’s a great word choice.
Great choice of word… Who said it was a negative word? I think it’s all kind of empowering! I have commitment issues, so obvs I don’t have a word for the year because I couldn’t possibly choose one!
I don’t have a word just yet. But I do like the idea of reclaiming. I sympathise with your experiences in shopping centre cafes. However, I like some of the smaller cafes in the rural areas where lots of the foods are homemade and fresh and in this particular one, in our little town,it has a park right across the road with a rainforest. Hope you may one day experience one of these before they dissappear.
I have chosen a word of the year for at least 5 years (maybe more). This year I have two: Onward and Upward.
I don’t do aspirational words to represent my year but I do like that one. I love that you are reclaiming who you are and reclaiming your values too – you will rock it!
I love the word reclaim. I feel similarly about Cafes. As a non coffee drinker I am never sure what to order. I like hot chocolate but I feel like a kid ordering one at a meeting. I think a park meeting would be nice.
Reclaim is an excellent word. And I agree – it’s empowering. I haven’t chosen one for 2016. Something to think about.