word of the year

My Word For the Year – An Update

Posted on by Wendy Kennar
Photos allow us to choose what we share. What you don't see in this photo is my wheelchair. It was the first time I had visited The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens using my wheelchair.

Back in January, I wrote a blog post about my word for the year — Share. (If you missed it, you can click here to read the post.) 

2024 certainly isn’t wrapping up just yet, though 2025 calendars keep arriving in the mail. However, we are about three-quarters of the way through the year, and it occurred to me that now would be a good time for a check-in of sorts.

In terms of my writing, I absolutely do share. I consistently write this weekly blog. I regularly write personal essays and submit them for publication. I began querying literary agents in March and continue to do so, searching for that one yes from the right person who will serve as an advocate for my memoir-in-essays and assist me in the publication of my first book. 

When it comes to other areas of my life, my sharing is less consistent. Oftentimes, I revert back to predictable patterns of behavior of holding my tongue and trying not to make things more difficult/complicated/unsettling for those around me. I admit I don’t always honestly, and completely, share how I’m feeling — physically or emotionally. 

Like many people who live with chronic illness and chronic pain, I have learned how to fake it. I know how to downplay my pain so as not to make those around me uncomfortable. I know how to present as a person fully in control of a situation, even though most of the time my body feels very much out of my control. 

Because let’s face it. I don’t often have good news to share when it comes to my pain level or energy level. And I realize it’s frustrating for my loved ones to know I’m uncomfortable (which is putting it mildly, again me not completely sharing) yet there’s not a whole lot they can do to make it better. 

I think that’s one of the reasons I’m a writer. Generally speaking, I have always found it so much easier to share through my writing than through conversations. 

So I continue to write and am grateful I can share here and on my Instagram account, which I have found has an incredibly supportive chronic illness community. Thank you, readers, for being on this journey with me. 

How are you doing, dear readers, with your words for the year? Feel free to share in the comments. 

My Word for the Year

Posted on by Wendy Kennar
Photo of bright blue sky and two palm trees
Photo taken at the beach on New Year's Day 2024

Last week, I read a blog post written by writer and book coach Monica Cox. She wrote about picking a word for 2024, a word that is in sync with her goals for this year.

It got me thinking. I’ve never chosen a word for the year. Yet, as I was about to do my daily five-minute writing exercise, a word suddenly popped into my mind. A word that perfectly matches with my goals for the year — writing-related goals as well as life-related goals.

My word is Share. 

2024 is the year I will query agents, the first step in sharing my memoir-in-essays. 

An agent will then help my manuscript reach publication, which will allow my story of living with an invisible disability to be shared with readers. 

I am ready to share my story, ready to make the invisible visible.

And, there’s another way I hope to share this year. 

I am working on more openly sharing my feelings. Instead of biting my tongue and holding things in, I will try to honestly share what I’m really thinking and how I’m really feeling. 

My tendency to not always share is a result of my inclination to keep the peace, to not upset anyone. I keep so much inside, trying to pretend I’m feeling better than I am, trying my best to take care of those around me.

But, in 2024 I aim to share — my pain, my feelings, my story.

Dear Readers, do you select a word for the year? If you feel comfortable, you can “share” your word in the comments. Thank you!