2025 Words of the Year Revealed

Thank you to my faithful readers who have been asking what my words of the year will be. At least my mom has been heavily invested in this process and awaiting this post all day 🙂

As 2024 drew to a close, I thought about the imagery of being planted, buried in the dirt and mud and darkness that characterized much of my personal experience over the past several years. There has been a feeling of tightness both physically and emotionally through it all, such that I’ve felt restricted, small, narrowed somehow. Oftentimes this was due to a physical need. I had lifting restrictions or weight bearing restrictions post surgeries. I had minimal expendable funds due to medical bills and home repairs, so traveling or even looking outside of my own area felt impossible. I spent so much time and effort focused on healing and recovery so that I could feel safe, free, and mobile in my own body and home, that I didn’t have the energy or focus to look any broader than that. My world has been tight, confined, for good reason in many cases, but I found myself mourning that smallness as well. I bean formulating imagery of expansion, unfurling, loosening, broadening as a desire for 2025.

But I want to be intentional in how I expand – not bursting like a firework without control. Nor unfurling slightly like an old concert poster that is so used to being tightly coiled that even when the rubber band is removed, it remains in its familiar, tight, curl. I want to grow intentionally, purposefully and with courage.

As a collector of words, I then began a month long collection of words, definitions, synonyms, antonyms, and quizzed others about their internal connotations with specific words. If I asked you, “What do you think the difference between courage and bravery is?” over the past month with zero context, sorry, and thank you for helping my process! And of course, bonus points are awarded for unique words that go well together. After all, everyone is going to choose “Thrive in ’25” so I have to find something more whimsically unique!

*drumroll please*

My words of the year for 2025 are: Blossoming Moxie

Blossoming became an early favorite as it tied together with the planting imagery that played so heavily in my reflection of the past four years. Blossom was chosen as opposed to bloom which can feel beautiful, but transient, a brief window you have to catch. Also the choice of blossoming as opposed to blossom is intentional; it also gives the feeling that the process is ongoing, internal, a continual state of becoming. Blossoming requires growth from the seed which has been planted in the dirt and darkness and it allows something beautiful to grow from the planting. It is steady, intentional, purposeful, directional growth that shows confident flourishing. In order for a plant to blossom continually it requires care and steadiness- neither wild absorption of water, nor drought. This plant must grow at a pace that is supported. If it tries to move too fast, it will outgrow its trunk support and be unable to support fruit or blossoms. But nor should this plant remain a tiny, timid sprout just peeking above the ground. Because true blossoming takes moxie.

When I looked up the definition for moxie I found varied facets depending on the source, but all of them good! Dictionaries defined moxie as: courageous spirit, determination, perseverance, energy, vigor, nerve, or pluck. (Which I loved as a call back to Plucky Stability in 2022!) Moxie helps define the type of blossoming desired. I wish this to be a year of courageous growth to push myself to reclaim the space that felt off limits to me the past several years. Moxie takes grit and gives it a hint of whimsical playfulness. It makes the blossoming an act of gumption, with an eye twinkle behind it, as if the choice to flower is just a hint daring.

I chose these two words because I want 2025 to allow me chances to grow in both courage and contentment. Moxie leans towards courage and reminds me to show up, give energy, pep, and determination. Blossoming reminds me that growth takes time and that my roots must be strong first before anything else is possible. Plants must find the nutrients for flowering in the environment where they are currently. I hope to do the same: to grow toward the light, avoid the weeds that can steal resources, and defiantly, courageously, contentedly, demonstrate blossoming moxie this year.

Do you choose words of the year? I’d love to hear what your hopes are for 2025 as well!