My word of the year is _____ ✨

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#WednesdayWisdom

"Whether you flounder or flourish is always in your hands — you are the single biggest influence in your life." — Oprah Winfrey

Morning Musings

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! First and foremost, I want to thank y'all for rocking with me for TWO years. I sent the very first issue of this newsletter on Jan. 4, 2017 and now it's grown into quite the community. Whether you're new here, or you're an O.G., I appreciate you for welcoming me into your inbox every week. You're the real MVPs.

Now on to today's issue ...

It's been a minute since we've last seen each other. I hope you all enjoyed some time off with your loved ones. Jeff and I spent Christmas in Ohio and NYE in Galena, Illinois on an alpaca farm. It was delightful!

The break also gave me some time to reflect on my Word of the Year. I first became aware of the practice of choosing a singular word of the year from a Girl Scouts coworker who wore a bright red Christmas sweater with the word "JOY" on it to our holiday party.

I'd complimented her sweater and she shared that it was her word of the year. I thought it was an interesting practice and resolved to have a word in 2018. And, while enjoying my solo 30th birthday trip to Santa Fe in October 2017, it came to me ... "peace."

This year's word came to me while enjoying my first-ever yoga retreat last September in the mountains of Georgia like a whisper, "joy." 

The instructor had just encouraged us to write a list of things that bring us joy and, in that moment, I thought "hmm, this could be my word."

Then I started to see it and read it everywhere. I have this "thing" where if I notice something at least three times, I listen to the universe because clearly it's trying to tell me something. And so "joy" chose me rather than the other way around.

In 2019, I resolve to do more of what brings me joy and less of what doesn't. And one week in, I can say it's going pretty well.

Want to choose your own word or theme of the year? Check out this devotional or this article from Shine. And once you've decided on one (or it's decided upon you), hit "reply" and let me know. I'd love to hear it!

Love,
L'Oreal

IRL

Jan. 9 (TONIGHT): I Can't: Land My Dream Job 

Links I Love

1. New Year's Resolutions Based on Your Myers-Briggs Type

2. 7 Ways to Release What Didn't Serve You in 2018

3. How to Read More Books in 2019 & Nail That New Year's Resolution

My Latest Obsession

As promised, I spent most of the Christmas break hibernating instead of hustling, which allowed me to pretty much devour Tomi Adeyemi's debut YA novel, Children of Blood and Bone.

This book is worth the hype. Think #BlackGirlMagic meets Harry Potter (or at least what I imagine Harry Potter is like -- I've never read the books, but don't worry, my awesome-sauce mother-in-law bought me the series for Christmas)!

The sequel comes out this March, so get to it!

P.s. My reading goal for this year is 50 books (after topping out at 40 last year). What's on your to-read list? Tweet me at @LTintheCity to let me know!

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Classifieds

Check out Mac & Cheese Productions’ Fear Experiment℠ (FE), a unique, fun way to create community, push oneself, learn something new, and laugh. A lot. Learn an art-form over two months — this edition is improv, Broadway, or storytelling — and then perform in front of 700 people.

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Well, that's all folks. I hope you enjoyed this edition of LT in the City Weekly! Be sure to follow me on the Interwebs using the buttons below or simply click "reply" to tell me what you think. Thanks a bunches!