If you’ve listened to our NYE podcast episode you know we revealed our word choices for the new year. We thought we would dive deeper into our “why” for choosing these words, and we look forward to learning what your word for 2024 is. (Note: If you need help picking your word then listen to the NYE podcast for tips on how to go about choosing the best word for you.)

Penny’s Word for 2024: INSPIRED

What inspires you? I’m a creative person at heart. I’ve always known that about myself and the process of creation (no matter what it is I’m creating) fulfills and inspires me. It makes me feel like the best version of myself. Some of the ways I use my creativity in daily life are: cooking, writing, planning/organizing my calendar, decorating, and picking out my outfits. Essentially, I love producing things that are aesthetically pleasing as well as admiring things that are aesthetically pleasing. (I’m a lover of Instagram decorating, cooking, and fashion posts!)

My last career allowed me to use my creative talents in event planning, creating graphics, designing spaces, and planning social media for my company. And while I’m truly grateful for that opportunity, my new role at WERTH allows me the creative freedom to tap into areas that I am truly passionate about: women’s health, wellness, beauty, fashion, travel, and interior design. ALL of these topics truly inspire me and being inspired is what life is all about. Creativity is the spark that ignites inspiration and vice versa. If you are being creative in one area of your life, it inevitably inspires creativity in other areas of your life. Finding a purpose which inspires you to do good in the world while inspiring others to do the same is what I hope to contribute in my role at WERTH this year and beyond. That is why my word for 2024 is INSPIRED.

Maya’s Word for 2024: SIMPLIFY

I tend to be a ‘leap before you look’ kind of gal. I think that’s why entrepreneurship was an inevitable career path for me. I definitely operate on a level that encompasses the entrepreneurial adage of jumping off a cliff and assembling a plane on the way down. This existence is exhilarating and exciting, and brings the highest of highs and lowest of lows. It also contributes to sleepless nights and an off-the-chart stress level. As I enter this new season of my life (over 50 years old and a new empty nester) it’s my time to remove some hurdles, eliminate gobs of stress and change my priorities. I wouldn’t say I’m slowing down, I’m just more realistic about what’s achievable and most importantly what I want out of life right now.

I’ve downsized some of my other professional endeavors and I’m becoming much more selective about the things I say “yes” to. I don’t tend to be a “no” person, but as I get older and more protective of my time, the word NO is becoming easier and easier and it feels so good. I don’t think you can truly appreciate how precious time is until you’ve passed what’s deemed the halfway point of life. I feel blessed to have lived long enough to embrace this realization and shift to how I navigate this world and each day.

While the kiddos being out of the house is bittersweet, it definitely helps with my effort to simplify things, especially on a day-to-day basis. No more waking up early and making breakfast and school lunches, running around to different sporting or school events, shuttling to medical appointments, parties, friends houses, shopping and whatever else our children needed when they lived at home full-time. There’s fewer dishes and spaces to clean and my weekends are mine again. The word simplify may be my word for this year, but the process to get to this point started when we moved to our current home a the end of 2022. I wanted to move back to the city where I can walk everywhere I need to go, have all the things I love easily accessible to me and to be closer to my closest friends.

I’m sure there’s going to be a plethora of other ways I will continue to simplify my life in the coming year. Going gray is not one of them, but I’ll be sure to provide a full report when I reflect on 2024 next December.

In the meantime, share with us in the comment section below what your word for 2024 is and the “why” behind it.

Cheers!

~Penny & Maya