My word for 2024 was supposed to be EASE. But then everything changed.
Last year, my word was ELEVATION.
If I am to launch a new book, how do I do it in such an elevated way that I make the Wall Street Journal bestseller list? If I am to go big on public speaking, how do I do it with elevated representation from VaynerSpeakers, one of the best bureaus in the game? If I am to do big media, how do I elevate that experience, like launching it on Good Morning America with a bespoke set built just for me?
This year was a trajectory changing type year. That’s the pretty and public part.
It was also exhausting. I flew 162,756 miles this year.
And, so, when I set ELEVATION as my word for 2023, I was already looking ahead and pre-set EASE as my word for 2024. I know I’d be tired. I knew I’d want to take it easy.
But, as I said, everything changed.
Over the summer, I spent some time basking in the warmth of the afternoon sun, whilst eating a lovely charcuterie plate washed down by an aperol spritz. I looked around to see the beautiful flowers and the bougainvillea woven through the pergola above, and thought, “This is delightful! I am filled with delight!”
And, in that moment, I realized that EASE is just a reaction to exhaustion. It begs for escapism. It hopes for less. It demands serenity.
But DELIGHT is different.
Delight implores us to be present in the moment. It is filled with whimsy, often accompanied by surprise. And, when the quality of our lives are determined by what we choose to notice, why not decide to notice more delight?
And, so, my word for 2024 is DELIGHT.
