Word of the Year for?2023
Kristi Andrus
Executive coach and writer with 15+ years in media. I blend strategic leadership, business optimization, and transformative travel to help individuals & organizations achieve growth, balance, and lasting success.
The key to happiness is to plan more trips. Travel more — family vacations, biz trips, staycations, bucketlist journeys, world cruises, anything to see the world. (Can it really be that simple?)
If You’re a Word Nerd, You’re Gonna Love?This
I remember the first time I heard the word WANDERLUST. I thought, that’s it! I want to go so badly I can taste it.
Wanderlust (n.)
Pronunciation: won-der-luhst
Origin: German
Definition: A strong, innate desire to travel and explore the world.
This fall, we took our first international trip post-pandemic, and I don’t want to overstate it, but it not only reminded me how good life can be, how kind people can be, and how beautiful the world can be, but how much better I can be too.
I blame HBO. I traveled almost weekly for more than a decade while employed by HBO, and the pace, plus the kinds of hotels I stayed in, provided a glimpse of the good life, but it was a roller coaster.?
I was home and then up, up, up, preparing for travel, meetings, and social engagements, speeding through loops and drops while cramming it all in. Then I came home and slowed down to do laundry, repack, clean the house, and squeeze in some quality time before the ride started again.
It never got old either: Seattle, Santa Monica, NYC, San Francisco, Boston, Atlanta, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Portland, Park City, on and on and on. It wasn’t sustainable, of course, especially after three kids in three years, but it gave me a sense of what’s possible in terms of productivity and discovery.
(Also, my daughter made acrostic poems for her classmates for Christmas, inspiring me.) Here are the words that make up my word for 2023.
T is for Trouvaille (n.)
Pronunciation: trU-‘vI
Origin: French
Definition: A chance encounter with something wonderful.
Planning a trip makes it easy to look on the bright side. You’re researching and anticipating the must-sees, highlights, and recommendations. It’s almost like falling in love before you’ve met (the destination). And the best part? More often than not, it exceeds expectations. That’s what keeps you coming back for more.
R is for Rame (adj.)?(tie)
Pronunciation: raim
Origin: Balinese
Definition: Something that’s both chaotic and joyful at the same time.
If you’re a parent traveling with children, your trips are amplified. Everything from transportation to eating to sleeping arrangements to timing to height requirements is a consideration.
That would turn some off or at least motivate them to postpone travel for a decade (or so). Still, for the brave and bold, aka, those of you going everywhere with little ones, you know there’s nothing better than exploring the world as a family, even if it means tons of preparation, stamina, and a bigger budget.
R is for Resfeber (n.)?(tie)
Pronunciation: RACE-fay-ber
Origin: Swedish
Definition: The restless race of the traveler’s heart before the journey begins, when anxiety and anticipation are tangled together.
Is there anything better than nervous energy transforming into relief, joy, gratitude, and awe? Not really. Travel almost always works out. Planning a trip is the perfect metaphor for planning your life. I often use examples in coaching because magic happens when focus and optimism drive you.
A is for Apricity (n.)?(tie)
Pronunciation: a-PRIS-i-tee
Origin: Latin
Definition: The warmth of the sun in winter.
We live in Colorado and love seasons and the snow, but we also love escaping the winter for beach weather. What can I say? It’s a grass is always greener situation. Travel provides an opportunity to try on different lives, which is informative and revitalizing.
A is for Acatalepsy (n.)?(tie)
Pronunciation: ey-kat-l-ep-see
Origin: Greek
Definition: The impossibility of comprehending the universe.
It’s like the more you learn, the more you know there is to learn, and the more you see, the less content you are with seeing only what you’ve already seen.?
Everything compounds, and it’s so incredibly awe-inspiring but also incomprehensible. ??
V is for Vorfreude (n.)
Pronunciation: vor-freude
Origin: German
Definition: The joyful, intense anticipation that comes from imagining future pleasures.
I write about anticipation often, and it’s by design. If you change nothing else in your life but master the art of anticipation, you’ll 10x happiness and motivation. Whaaaaaat?
E is for Elysian (adj.)?(tie)
Pronunciation: uh-li-zee-uhn
Origin: Greek
Definition: Beautiful or creative; Divinely inspired; Peaceful and perfect.
Some places change us. A library with stacks of first editions. A desolate seascape, a salty breeze, brilliant blue sea glass, and pounding waves. The bell tower in a recently rediscovered Portuguese cathedral.
Once you’ve seen places that shape your thoughts about the world, you can’t unsee them. You can’t shake their indelible impression either, and it’s confirmation that life is bigger than you. It’s humbling and inspiring, and sigh, perfect.
E is for Eudaimonia (n.)?(tie)
Pronunciation: U-de-‘mOn-E
Origin: Greek
Definition: A contented state of being happy, healthy, and prosperous; the way we feel while traveling.
I swear I didn’t add the second part of the definition. The Greeks, The Masters of Word Nerdery, made the connection.
领英推荐
L is for Languor (n.)?(tie)
Pronunciation: /lang-er/
Origin: Latin
Definition: the feeling of pleasant tiredness or fatigue.
Do you know how you feel on vacation when you wake up early excited to explore, pack as much as possible into your day, and eat your face off at dinner on the best meal after 10 billion steps, 357 photos, and more beauty than you hoped for? That’s languor — soul-satisfying exhaustion.
L is for Livsnjutare (n.)?(tie)
Pronunciation: lives·noo·tuhreh
Origin: Swedish
Definition: A person who loves life deeply and lives it to the extreme.
There is a strong correlation between wanting to make the most of your life and traveling. Google it!
While I’m on a roll, check out these words that didn’t make the cut but are too delicious not to share.
Five Words for Entrepreneurs & Small Business?Owners
Vem?dalen (n.)
Pronunciation: ve·m?·da·len
Origin: Swedish
Definition: The fear that everything has already been done.
Yes, it’s real. And whether it’s true or not is not the point (you are always the special sauce in any endeavor).
Arbejdsgl?de (n.)
Pronunciation: ah-bites-gleh-the
Origin: Danish
Definition: Happiness at work or when your work is a source of joy and happiness.
Do NOT quit your corporate job for a business without the potential to bring you Arbejdsgl?de. Instead, if you love something so much that you find yourself doing it in your free time, figure out how to incorporate that into your new biz. It sounds tricky, but it is easier than you think.
Meraki (μερ?κι) — When you pour yourself wholeheartedly into doing something with soul, creativity, or love, you leave a piece of yourself in your work.
Jijivisha (????????) — This Hindi word conveys an intense desire to live life to the fullest.
Ikigai (生きがい) — A Japanese concept often translated to your life purpose that refers to having a direction in life that makes life worthwhile and full of meaning.
Five More Words Just For?Fun
Tsundoku (積ん読)?(n.)
Pronunciation: /tsun-doh-ku/
Origin: Japanese
Definition: The art of allowing books to pile up but never reading them.
Not everyone who travels, reads. Not everyone who reads, travels. But I’d be willing to bet they are connected in some way.
Torschlusspanik — This word refers to the feeling you experience at a certain point in your life where you see an imaginary door closing on all your opportunities and wonder what could have been.
Ailyak — Ailyak is a Bulgarian term for the subtle art of doing everything calmly and without rushing while enjoying the experience and life in general.
Fernweh — Describes wanderlust perfectly. It’s a feeling of homesickness for a place, even though you’ve never been there.
Redamancy — The act of loving someone who loves you back: a love returned in full. It’s the opposite of unrequited love. Think of this word when picking your travel companions.
"A coach is a cheerleader, a director, a strategist, an ass kicker. One who keeps you on task and sees in you what you may not see in yourself. She guides you to the light switch, so you can turn it on." Rita Hyland
1 年Great post Ms K. You are a fine writer and a smart thinker — and so generously share your wise and helpful words to so many of us. I look forward to more of your insights and humor in the new year! My love to you and Chad and your beautiful kiddos during this most special time of the year????