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What is Your Word for the Coming Year?

By 24/12/2019December 27th, 2019blogging, writing
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!

My debut literary crime novel,”You Beneath Your Skin,” published by the fab team at Simon and Schuster IN is slowly making its way into the world.

It is available in India here.

Worldwide, here.

Reviews are appreciated–please get in touch if you’d like a review copy.

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The last post for the year. I can’t remember what I was doing this time last year, but each month this year has been hard work due to You Beneath Your Skin.

The world around me is changing, slow but sure. The environment is on a point of no return, politics has seldom been as contentious the world over other than in times of imminent crises. Which is why my emphasis on the small, good thing.

Life is built in moments, one small moment after another. For every major event that has gone wrong, there are thousands of positive stories. We are the World Blogfest has shown us many such stories.

For the coming year, my word of choice is Wu wei, or effortless action. this year has been full of effort. In the next, I intend to take it easy–not in the normal, but the subtle sense of the world. Take each day as it comes, and direct the incoming energy with ease rather than stress and strain.

Season’s greetings to everyone, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Happy Holidays everyone, and see you all in the new year!

What is your word for the coming year? What are you striving towards in your inner life? in your outer life?

 

Damyanti Biswas

Damyanti Biswas is the author of You Beneath Your Skin and numerous short stories that have been published in magazines and anthologies in the US, the UK, and Asia. She has been shortlisted for Best Small Fictions and Bath Novel Awards and is co-editor of the Forge Literary Magazine. Her literary crime thriller series, the Blue Mumbai, is represented by Lucienne Diver from The Knight Agency. Both The Blue Bar and The Blue Monsoon were published in 2023.

I appreciate comments, and I always visit back. If you're having trouble commenting, let me know via the contact form, or tweet me up @damyantig !

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44 Comments

  • This year I have a phrase not just a word. It is, shift focus to wonder.

  • Pam Lazos says:

    Symmetry!

  • You’ve had an amazing year, Damyanti. I love your word. What a lovely focus for the coming year. My 2019 was hectic and I often felt like I was in overdrive. I may borrow your word. Have a wonderful, bountiful 2020. <3

  • Congratulations and I will keep an eye for the book. 🙂

    Good look for ‘Wu wei’ and for the moment ‘adventurous’ (for me) is what strikes my mind! Thank you for this idea that henceforth I can look for a themed new years. 🙂

  • dweezer19 says:

    My word has to be Fearless, for there is no fear in perfect love. I long to never be fearful. Happy New Year!

  • Jacqui Murray says:

    What a delightful choice, Damyanti. One with nature and your environment. That’s a good goal.

  • My word for the year…’Give’.

  • I like your word of choice. Mine will be focused… let’s hope, anyway 😉
    Best wishes for the New Year.

  • simonfalk28 says:

    “Uncertain”. That’s it. At least, provisionally, until I can find another. It has a second level of meaning for me as many things seem uncertain at this time.

  • It is very challenging with all the negative happening in my country and the world. I know there are many people working to turn things around. I hope we will shift directions in my country with the next election. I would like to appreciate something in each day of the coming year.

  • Wu Wei sounds good…and ADAPT is my other one since changes are on the horizon.. Happy Holidays!

  • Thank you for your blog. “Active Authenticity” is my phrase for 2019. It’s a challenge to me. I know I am not fully leading the authentic life that fits me and brings me contentment. I think I have identified changes to make, and have known some of them for a couple of years, but intervening life events and fear of being older and running out of money, or making changes without fully exploring them first, all “conspire” for me to keep putting off the changes to see how life unfolds. It’s a very passive place to be. In 2019 I want to actively investigate possible changes, and move toward creating a more authentic life. I also like the alliteration of my phrase!

  • I’ve thought about Communicate as my with for 2020. Wu Wei looks good Damayanti. It’s definitely good for 2020. I’m sure you’re going to have a wonderful year and a one that’s filled with goodness for you and all the causes you work for.

  • Paul says:

    My word for the coming year is meditate. Best to you Damyanti and I hope you have a great New Year’s

  • jimberly says:

    my one word for the coming year: cleanse. happy Christmas and merry new year.

  • My word for the coming year is appreciate 🙂

  • My word for the next year is “hope.” Best wishes to you, Damyanti, for continued success in 2020.

  • My word for the year is “reformation” I feel that this is the word most applicable to modern life; things are breaking down and in need of re-forming into a higher state. Merry Christmas, happy holidays and look forward to reading your posts in 2020

  • Pam Webb says:

    ha-I just posted my monthly Word Nerd list. Lots of words to select, but frisson—excitement seems to fit for the upcoming year due to also the expectancy of a debut book. To the new year! And peaceful wishes for this one.

  • hilarymb says:

    Hi Damyanti – as ever thought provoking – enough I had to take a peep, take note and will return to Wu Wei …

    My ‘stodgy’ word is ‘waistline’ … it’s there … but it needs to sort itself out?!

    You’ve had a fantastic year … just amazing what you’ve achieved … and I’m so pleased for you … now relax for a brief time … before the 2020’s push starts off … take care and have a wonderful family time – cheers Hilary

  • DutchIl says:

    Thank you for sharing!!.. not a word but a phrase actually; “follow my heart”.. 🙂 you have most wonderful holiday filled with love and happiness!. 🙂

    On this day, and every day..
    May love and laughter light your days,
    and warm your heart and home.
    May good and faithful friends be yours,
    wherever you may roam.
    May peace and plenty bless your world
    with joy that long endures.
    May all life’s passing seasons
    bring the best to you and yours!
    (Irish Saying)

  • What a year it has been for you, Damyanti. Seasons Greeting to you and your loved ones. May much <3 flow in 2020. Xx

  • For the coming year, I’m focusing on my existing business and achieving my financial goals, connect with like-minded community for my blog and release my book “The Branches of Her Shared Pain”.