Word for 2021: Order

A few years back I dropped the ritual of setting up New Year’s Resolutions (and ultimately, abandoning most of them). Last year I decided to embrace the concept of “word for the year” instead. In 2020, it was Vision – which was perfect, because my big gift for Christmas 2019 was a Canon PowerShot SX530 HS camera. In 2021, my word for the year is: Order.

It took me just a little bit to get to the word – it came to me when I was lying in bed before falling to sleep. I was trying to find a word that summed up (for me) “clean” and “save.” What you need to know: You would think with being at home more this year would find me in a sparkling, clean house. No. There has been so much clutter it’s driving me nuts. We’ve accumulated so much in this past year. Saving… While I am far from a spendthrift, all of that online ordering made things so easy this past year, didn’t it?

(That might explain some of the clutter.)

But what I really want – actually, need – to do is return to order. What will that look like? I did a quick brainstorm with myself. Some things are obvious: house needs to be put in order, my daily schedule (which incorporates doing a better job with time), my creative writing schedule, etc. But I’m also including putting my “mind in order” as well. I seem to think in jumbles these days.

How Do You Eat an Elephant?

…one bite at a time. It’s funny: when I’m “at work,” I excel in tackling a big project with many moving parts and getting the job done. Repeatedly, I’ve been tasked with managing a whole project or overseeing multiple initiatives and delivering the results wrapped up in neat little outcomes and results. It’s like breathing.

At home, it’s not as easy for me. I have yet to figure this one out. Maybe it’s because I do have too many irons in the fire at once. What happens instead (wincing, confession time): I become paralyzed. Yup. I look around and struggle to figure out where to start.

I read other blogs and comments and learn of people’s successes in making things happen for their home world – things seem to be in order for them. What magical ingredient are they putting into the mix that I am not? It’s got to be more than will and elbow-grease.

I Am the List Maker

I do well when I operate by lists. (I think most people would if they made lists.) Even if I put way more on a list than I can accomplish in one day, I get more done in that one day than if I had no list to encourage me.

So, I have slowly started to get back to list making. I’m taking advantage of my new kitchen chalkboard.

Of course my new planner is a tool I will use. Handwritten lists are effective. I also need to return to better daily routines, such as going to bed earlier so it’s easy to get up early in the morning. I do better when I have more time in the morning to complete the morning’s musts – such as caring for the chickens. I had a commitment until January 10th that made it hard for me to actually hit the pillow with closed eyes at 9:00pm, but now I just need to be more disciplined.

Order at GCER

I really want to incorporate Order with Garden, Cook, Eat, Repeat. With the blog/website, I believe I got this one covered. I gave it the “facelift” a couple of months ago. 🙂 Plus, I have decided on a new method of posting: The blog drop.

Offline, that means getting things in Order for the 2021 garden. We have the greenhouse ready on the back porch. I now need to pick up supplies for starting our seeds by March (potting soil, primarily). The seed catalogs have arrived, although I am in pretty good shape for seeds this year. A few I will need to purchase.

(affiliate links)

We have planned on only planting in the lower garden this year, so that will make some things manageable. We are hoping to add six to eight fruit trees. Mr. Gordon and I will need to nail that decision down by February.

Putting wood chips down in the aisles between garden rows last year definitely made the garden easier to manage. We might purchase some additional chips again this year. Of course, we’ll need to buy compost as always.

Pruning the Amish Paste tomatoes was also a way to keep order in the garden – something that we will continue. Although our garden yields were poor last year, the pruned tomato plants produced large fruit. Something for us to repeat in 2021. Keep those wandering Amish Paste plants in order. 🙂

The Chickens

We will continue order with the girls, of course. That’s actually something we’ve been doing right along (keeping up with daily chicken chores and coop cleaning). As I type this, however, we’ve had our first chicken challenges. Hopefully by maintaining order in 2021, we’ll be better able to deal with those unexpected issues. Fingers crossed.

So There You Have It

The word for the year for Tracy: Order. I plan to share at least one post per month regarding order and how I am incorporating it into our lives here at Garden, Cook, Eat, Repeat and also in the “other stuff” that makes up daily life.

What About You? Do You Do a Word of the Year?

Please tell us about it: the word, the why, and the how in a comment below!

January Blog Drop

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• Really, Gert? Molting in Winter?
• Putting Food into Order