Every year, I try to find my “word of the year”. It is a ritual that helps me to maintain focus, build resiliency, and find my path forward. In years past, my words have included: intention, curiosity, boundaries, and balance. Each of these words have become so incorporated into my being, my practice, and my perspective that every decision I make is rooted in these concepts.
This year, my word of the year is “flight”. It feels like such a powerful word to me. When I think of flight, the concept of fight or flight comes to me. It reminds me that there are times in my life where I must separate myself from things, people, and situations that no longer serve me. The fight isn’t worth it and the best outcome is distance
Due to my constant travel, I think of airplanes. Some of the most important time for an airplane is when it is on the tarmac. This is where maintenance and refueling is completed. When a plane is speeding down the taxiway, it must expend a tremendous amount of energy before any lift can be achieved, and it is critical to get the lift at just the right time as not to overrun the taxiway. To taxi means you must lift.
In the natural world, I think of how the flight of an eagle is so different from the flight of a butterfly, which is so different from the flight of a squirrel as it leaps from tree to tree. Each flight is unique and different, serving different needs, purposes, and journeys. I think of the bumblebee that, by the laws of physics, should not be able to fly at all. But, through the unique completion of the individual parts, the bumblebee is an efficient flyer.
Each of these aspects of flight inspires me to look at how I am moving forward, whether I am ‘on the tarmac’, trying to get lift, or navigating from space to space in my life. This year, I will be deeply intentional in how to take flight in a variety of ways, and when to land when needed.
As the new year, and a new decade commences, I encourage you to think of your word as a guidepost and rumination for what is ahead of you. If you would like to talk more about your word, reach out to me at elliott@drelliottk.com.
“Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you will always return.” Leonardo da Vinci
