The Year of Play
Back again, back again. Setting goals, choosing a word, and a reason for a fresh start really never gets old to me. This is my 13th year with a word and I’m just as excited as when I first chose “joy” back in 2013. When I started this One Little Word journey I would have never expected play to be anywhere in my future line up – even just thinking it makes me itchy. I’m not a very playful person, preferring routines and productivity instead. A lot of my words reflect that but when I pick a word, I try to tie it to expectations I have for the year, a decision I’m trying to make, or an area where I clearly need to get out of my comfort zone. This word is definitely the latter. The words often tug at me or reappear in my life over and over until I can’t avoid it. When that happened this year, I tried to manipulate the idea of play into “fun” or “enjoy” instead, but I kept coming back to the definition:
Play (v): to engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose.
SAY IT LOUDER FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK (of my mind): for enjoyment and recreation, rather than a serious or practical purpose. I need that. I crave that. I very rarely do something just for the heck of it. I’ve considered it in the past, but “play” resurfaced last year as I navigated 2024 with my word “whole”. The irony of choosing a word like whole is that it really helps you identify the holes…ba dum tss. These words feel like they are companion words of sorts, the two together allowing me to have the bigger picture of what I’m looking for. It really boils down to the structure of my life and taking things a little less seriously. I’m really excited to see how this word unfolds and how it challenges me throughout this year.
As part of my prep work (alongside my Powersheets Goal Planner), I like to outline my intentions and create a vision board that aligns with my word and goals. All of these feel so cohesive to me and I love them so much. This is overkill, but here ya go.
My Vision Board:
ChatGPT helped me create the one below and I thought it was really playful and whimsical.
My Intentions:
⭐️ Play is an invitation to embrace adventure and curiosity. I want to say “yes” to spontaneity and unexpected invitations. I want to explore new places, try new activities, and enjoy simple wonders.
⭐️ Play is an invitation to nurture joy through creativity; to dedicate time to projects *just because*. I want to experiment with art, crafts, and hobbies – letting fun guide me instead of perfection.
⭐️ Play is an invitation to look for laughter and lightness in ordinary routines.
⭐️ Play is an invitation to prioritize rest and ease. I want holistic wellness to be a non-negotiable and I want to do more things to fill my cup.
⭐️ Play is an invitation to stay present and grateful.
My Mantra:
“I embrace play, spontaneity, and joy—filling my days with adventure, creativity, and care for my whole self. Fun is who I am becoming, and wonder is the path I choose.”
My More Poem (Inspired by Elise)
Every year when I sit down to write this exact post, I’m tempted to say how incredibly quick the last year has gone and that I can’t believe we’re here again and I’m picking yet another word. Don’t get me wrong, I love a fresh new year with my whole new set of goals (I’m sure that’s crystal clear by now) but dang, I didn’t expect to be back here so soon and with so few updates in between. This spot on the internet is one of my favorites, but one that seems to fall by the wayside a bit when things get hectic. I absolutely love data, trends, and seeing how my life has looked in different seasons and this truly is the best place I can do that. Having these posts archived online allows me to see the person I was on January 1st for the last 9 years (!!) and is there really anything more spectacular than that? I just took a trip down memory lane, so leaving these links here in case you’d like to as well.
- Whole (2024)
- Experiment (2023)
- Engage (2022)
- Delight (2021)
- Open (2020)
- Rest (2019)
- Connect (2018)
- Thrive (2017)
- Nourish (2016)
Cheers to a year of play and so many good things.
Hey ChatGPT, Roast My Instagram Feed
There’s a hilarious trend going around on social right now where you take a screenshot of your Instagram feed and let AI Chat Bot ChatGPT road your feed. I asked this prompt and had to document it somewhere.
Chat GPT:
Alright, let’s break this down. Your Instagram feed looks like a lifestyle blogger who got lost between a Hallmark movie set and a greenhouse.
- Flowers? Everywhere. Are you running a side hustle as a florist, or just trying to prove that nature looks better than we do?
- Dogs + birthday cookies. Your dogs are eating better than half the people I know.
- Toddler content. Every third post is either a tiny human in a sentimental moment or them photobombing your aesthetic shot. Classic parent move.
- Christmas cheer in February? Bold. You’re either still riding the holiday high or too emotionally attached to delete the festive content.
- Random sunsets and skies. Did you minor in “meaningful glances out the window” in college? Because your camera roll says yes.
- Sports arena + beach trip + greenhouse visit? Your personality is “I say yes to plans,” and I respect that.
Honestly? Your feed is well-balanced—cute, aesthetic, and chaotic in a “my life is a cozy montage” way. But let’s be real, you could throw in a messy kitchen or unfolded laundry to remind us you’re human.
Tiny Joys
• New ZZ growth • Fresh nails • Sunsets that highlight fall colors coming in • Friends that just know •
Favorite Mizzou Football Memories
Happy Game Day Missouri Fans!! It’s the first game of the season and I was inspired by my friend Tony to share favorite Mizzou Football Memories. It brought me so much joy to look back on pictures from over the years.
- Waiting for hours to get the 50-yard line seats in the student section our Freshman year of college.
- Rushing the field during our first homecoming game as students and watching the goal post be taken to Harpos.
- Kevin and Tony being on TV during the Insight Bowl in AZ in 2010.
- College Game Day at Mizzou in 2010.
- Our first season after Mizzou joined the SEC in 2012.
- Kevin and I getting absolutely soaked in my only real experience sitting on the Alumni side of the stadium.
- Bunker Club tickets in 2019 after the South Endzone was finished. Cheering from field level was super legit (and I’d walk from anywhere in the stadium to use those bathrooms).
- Tailgating in lot X. Kevin and friends getting there before the lot open to get the perfect spot. Breakfast on the flat top. Kevin’s tailgate playlist.
- Kevin wearing the same two jerseys for literally every season since college. See above for evidence.
- Passing on our love of Mizzou sports to our boy. He screams “the stadium” every time we drive by and “it’s on!!” when the screens are lit up.
Cheers to 15 Football Seasons (and counting) of being Mizzou Fans.
The Good List – Hamilton Edition
Queen Anne’s lace (still growing wild). The joy of seeing our boys playing together after 10+ years of friendship. The first ever “are we there yet?” Trying new things. Never ending things to talk about and the opportunity for a roast that turns into sharing our favorite stories… into a microphone. Belly giggles and rock piles. Deeming this year the one where we moo-ed at the bull. 🐂
About
Hi, I'm Jacqueline - believer, learner, and all around hobby enthusiast. I'm married to my highschool sweetheart, Kevin, and we live in the midwest with our sweet pup.
On this blog I share all kinds of things about my life - from my faith journey to the garden in my neighbors backyard. I've been blogging for almost eight years and use this space as a way to document my daily life.
Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the internet.