I have been choosing a word for my year for many years now.

Before that, I set New Year’s resolutions. And if you’re anything like me, those resolutions didn’t last long.

• Gym memberships—started strong…
• Lose weight—until the first craving for chocolate or ice cream
• Read more books—until you can’t find the right one.

Before long, the resolutions fade, and something else creeps in: negative self-talk. “I’m no good at keeping resolutions.” “I’ll never really change.” “Why can’t I do better?”

What you’re really feeling is failure—and once that sets in, motivation disappears. Why try again if you’ve already decided you’re bad at this? That’s why I stopped making resolutions.

With a word for the year, you can’t fail. You don’t have to get it right every day. You simply live with your word, return to it when you drift, and let it guide your awareness over time.

When you keep a word present in your mind, something different happens. You begin to notice your behaviors. You learn new things about yourself. You make progress—not through force, but through reflection.

Last year, my word was ABUNDANCE. I chose it intentionally. To me, abundance means more than money. It’s having more than enough of what matters.

I feel abundance in the love I receive from my family, my partner, and my friendships. I see abundance in the people who are helped or inspired by the work I do through Boomer Banter. I want to experience abundance financially as well. Watching my investments grow and feeling secure about the future. Abundance, for me, goes hand in hand with gratitude. Gratitude for what I already have, and for what is available to me if I am willing to pursue it and welcome it.

As 2025 comes to a close, I can see where that word shaped my year. Financial abundance is still a work in progress. But love, connection, and gratitude are very much present, and I noticed them more because I chose to pay attention.