The 2019 Word of the Year!

Tim Sackett Communication, Employee Communications, Uncategorized

We are over halfway through 2019 so I think it’s time we can start calling out the theme or word/phrase of the year. It’s funny how each year there actual words/themes that raise to the surface.

Here are some of the previous year’s words/themes:

  • 2010: app (an abbreviated form of application, a software program for a computer or phone operating system)
  • 2011: occupy (verb or noun inspired from the Occupy movements of 2011)
  • 2012: hashtag (a word or phrase preceded by a hash symbol (#), used on Twitter to mark a topic or make a commentary)
  • 2013: because introducing a noun, adjective, or other part of speech (e.g., “because reasons,” “because awesome”).
  • 2014: #blacklivesmatter: hashtag used as protest over blacks killed at the hands of police (esp. Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and Eric Garner in Staten Island, New York).
  • 2015: Singular they (as a gender-neutral pronoun, especially for non-binary gender identities)
  • 2016: dumpster fire (an exceedingly disastrous or chaotic situation)
  • 2017: fake news (disinformation or falsehoods presented as real news or actual news that is claimed to be untrue)
  • 2018: tender age shelter (a euphemism for facilities in which children of illegal immigrants are detained by government officials)

So, what do I think 2019 should be?

Self-Care. 

I first heard this from my friend Carmen Hudson when she was talking about her husband (and fellow FOT author!), William Wiggins. William, she said, had taken over using her ‘self-care’ phrase to basically take more time for himself. Maybe buy a new pair of shoes. Stop for drinks after work, etc.

When she was telling us the ‘self-care’ usage stories, we were laughing hysterically. After that I kept hearing this phrase being used all the time by folks in other parts of my life and each time I heard it, it made me smile and think of William, but I was also taking note that something was growing with this ‘self-care’.

So, what is ‘self-care’?

Self–care is any activity that we do deliberately in order to take care of our mental, emotional, and physical health. Although it’s a simple concept in theory, it’s something we very often overlook. Good self-care is key to improved mood and reduced anxiety.

While all of the definition of self-care is accurate. It does seem a bit, well, I’m not even sure how to say this…soft. Like, I can guarantee you that your grandparents never, ever, talked about self-care!

I love it, though! It works for everyone. I can go home and tell Mrs. Sackett that I’m going golfing tomorrow and taking a day off work because ‘self-care’. I have a new pair of shoes coming from Nordstrom, because ‘self-care’.

Self-care is important for all of us, plus it’s the ultimate excuse to just do whatever it is you want – and most importantly – not do the crap you don’t want. “Sorry, Charlie, I won’t be making your kids second birthday party because ‘self-care’.”

I mean, it’s the perfect excuse! It’s vague enough where someone doesn’t really want to ask, because the answer might open a box of worms they don’t want to get involved in. Also, we want to seem evolved as people to understand that it’s actually a ‘good’ thing for people to take care of themselves!

So, in 2019 be more like William – take care of your poor selfs and give yourself some self-care!