Thinking about Theme Words, my brain keeps turning over the idea that I don’t want to curse myself inadvertently. Now, it turns out that the “chinese curse” isn’t — if you check just Wikipedia alone, you’ll read,

“May you live in interesting times” is an English expression purported to be a translation of a traditional Chinese curse. …Despite being so common in English as to be known as the “Chinese curse”, the saying is apocryphal, and no actual Chinese source has ever been produced.

And further,

The nearest related Chinese expression is 寧為太平犬，莫做亂離人; nìng wéi tàipíng quǎn, mò zuò luàn lí rén; which is usually translated as “Better to be a dog in a peaceful time, than to be a human in a chaotic (warring) period.”

Since the modern world is already providing me way more chaos than I could want, I’ve been trying to make sure I’m not setting myself up for trouble, like the punchline “But I want patience NOW!”

One friend suggested “Future” for a theme word. Another friend has been considering words like “transition” or “evolve.” Another friend has embraced, “Wonderment.” I love watching the conversations about how various words are resonating with my friends.

For now, I still don’t have a final answer on *my* personal theme word for 2019. But I am amused as I try to ensure that my theme word fits my own goals for the year.

Some of my friends have been citing me as the reason they have considered a word for the year (rather than resolutions). I dug up my list of words, to be thoughtful for my last week of the year before making some plans for 2019.

2018: PRACTICE
2017: GOALS: achieved by finding both TIME and SPACE
2016: HABITS
2015: MASTERY (and COLOR) + “Finish the Unfinished Objects”
2014: CREATE
2013: FOCUS
2012: DANCE

I’m not sure how much I really focused on #Practice this past year. Sometimes my theme word gets me started right and then fades away. Other times, my theme word stays close to every part of my year.

I turned 50 in September, and it really does feel very different to be a fledgling 50-something than it felt to be a 40-something. But I’m not entirely sure how I want that to guide me or inform me in 2019.

Also, 2018 was difficult in other ways–the political climate both domestically and abroad–and my political awareness continues to feel bombarded by the news. I’ll find myself fantasizing about studying other languages so that I can fluently survive somewhere else, not trapped in the US as an only-English-speaking American. The Boyo is in his upper-division years at college, so there’s a time somewhat soon when Sweetie and I could make any move or change we want, based on our goals, not the Boyo’s.

Balancing all these thoughts, it’s an odd week now before New Year’s.

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Here, please enjoy a selection of photos of me from 2018