1. Ever January 1st since 1976 Lake Superior University has published a list of words they’d like to see banished from the Queen’s English. Words may be banished due to misuse, overuse or just general uselessness (go here to read more about how the words were chosen). Here are the words/phrases they’d like to see banished in 2024-

hack, impact, at the end of the day, rizz, slay, iconic, cringe worthy, obsessed, side hustle, wait for it

Which of these words/phrases would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why? Are any of these a regular part of your speech? Is there a word not on the list that you’d like to add?

None of those truly bother me and I don’t really use any of them all the time. I mean, “wait for it” I might if I am actually trying to build suspense. I don’t have one to add.

2. What do you wish you’d done more of last year? Less of? 

I wish I had done more running. I wish I had done less worrying.

3. A place you’d like to visit in this new year? Do you think you will? 

I would like to go to the Boulevard brewing co. and we probably will on our summer trip.

4.What are three words to sum up or describe your 2023? 

Busy, productive, satisfying.

5. What advice would you like to give yourself as we begin a new year? 

OK so my husband got me one of those page-a-day calendars and the theme is “You are freaking awesome!”. Today’s is perfect for this: “What if your days weren’t marked by the exhausting attempts at sprinting to the finish line of perfection, but by a slow and steady dedication to doing good daily, imperfectly, and with pointed intention?” YES. I think I need this. I am always rushed and looking to hit the nail on the head every time, which is unreasonable. I want to be the best but this isn’t the method.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I’m not exactly “in” 2024 yet; in some ways it feels like It’s just one day running into the next but there are some definite markers of the new month/year and I have not yet fully wrapped my brain around them yet. Part of it is that this is a weird week: normal hours and pre-session craziness. It begins Tuesday so I’ll be back to loooong hours. I have a lot going on like starting up online classes again, getting a gift for a kid birthday party, daughter’s soccer season starting. I also just have to get my act together on planning meals when when I won’t be around in the evenings. It’s just a lot and I find myself reverting to “running away” modes in my head and I know that is not the answer. So I’ll just pull myself up by the bootstraps and get to work!