Happy New Year! It’s that time again. As you may recall, instead of New Year’s resolutions, my tradition each January is to choose a theme word to guide me for the year. My 2024 word was SAVOR. With the launch of Morning Fuel, I vowed to intentionally focus on the full texture of all the new experiences—cherishing the highs and learning from the lows—and then pause to savor the gift each one had to offer. 

And I have!

I’ve savored each book event —the signings, presentations, podcasts, interviews, and social media interactions (especially your photos —and some  highlighted passages!).

As for this year:

My theme word for 2025 is a direct call to action: FORTIFY

This year I want to be mindful of taking actions that will keep me fortified—strong, healthy, and ready to grow through the next twelve months. I plan to ask myself each morning, before I even get out of bed: 

“What am I doing today to stay fortified?” 

As I considered this potent word, I realized that it is not always a forward motion. Choosing a fortifying pursuit requires thought, evaluation, and decision-making with a fixed design point: 

“How will my choice strengthen me—physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually?”

Sometimes inaction is the appropriate action.

During Christmas, a persistent urinary tract infection (common with paralysis, yet annoyingly hard to treat quickly) sidelined me with fatigue, brain fog, and lethargy that put me in bed for six days. I increased my fluids, sipped on soups, and binge-watched four TV series until we finally got the right antibiotic—two days ago.  

I’m better, but “giving in” to my body’s needs frustrated me since it thwarted my plan to announce my 2025 Theme Word at 7 a.m. Thursday morning. 

Yikes! I’m late! 

But my body needed to be fortified before my mind could get back into gear. I’m getting there, giving myself a little grace, and grateful in advance for your patience.

How about you? What theme words are guiding you this year? Have you already put them into action, too?

And on we go. . .

NOTE: For those kicking the New Year off with Morning Fuel’s readings, THANK YOU! As you know from the January 1 reading, my all-time favorite New Year’s Theme Word is: SPARKLE. In addition to my storied gold sparkle boots, this year I added a gold sparkle wrap, courtesy of DE Collections. Oh, what fun it is to sparkle!

P.S. The Ivy Bookshop has more signed copies of Morning Fuel available online (indicate personalization in the order comments) and at their The Shops at Kenilworth location. I was honored that one listener of Tom Hall’s Midday program ordered 17 personalized copies for his friends and family. So fun to sign for him.

P.S.S. Enjoyed a wonderful early Christmas celebration with the family. How was yours?