{"id":20074,"date":"2020-11-16T20:20:38","date_gmt":"2020-11-17T01:20:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/?p=20074"},"modified":"2022-06-22T10:04:51","modified_gmt":"2022-06-22T14:04:51","slug":"what-will-your-2021-word-be","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/wellness\/what-will-your-2021-word-be\/","title":{"rendered":"What Will Your 2021 Word Be?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I\u2019ve been touring the shadow side of embrace \u2013 learning to drop my resistance, surrender, and remain open to the unknown.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

For the past few years I\u2019ve spent the better part of December choosing a word for the year ahead. This process usually follows deep reflection, excessive journaling, and an emergency tarot pull or two. The word I choose is usually some combination of intention, motivation, and wishful thinking for the type of experiences I want to call in. Consider it an overthinker\u2019s emotional action plan.    <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It turns out, I\u2019m in good company because Oprah does this, too. When she does, she cautions that the downside of choosing a word of the year is that you can also call in the opposite or \u201cshadow side\u201d of the word as well. This is meant to show you the complete lesson of the word. I share that because my word for 2020, <\/span>embrace<\/span><\/i>, has been nothing <\/span>but <\/span><\/i>a lesson. It was meant to be a call to closeness, togetherness, and connection \u2013 oh, and more literal hugs. The irony of choosing this word in the year of COVID is not lost on me. Instead, I\u2019ve been touring the shadow side of <\/span>embrace<\/span><\/i> \u2013 learning to drop my resistance, surrender, and remain open to the unknown. And while I am no longer able to get within six feet of those I want to hug, this year has been a masterclass in going with the flow. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Touch\u00e9 Oprah, touch\u00e9.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I guess this is fitting because my journey through pregnancy this year wasn\u2019t quite what I expected, either. As I shared in a <\/span>previous piece<\/span><\/a>, my partner and I spent years trying to get pregnant, going through fertility support, only to accidentally get pregnant once we gave up in the early days of the pandemic. When we <\/span>embraced<\/span><\/i> the new circumstances, we were able to move forward in our new reality.  <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I guess, in a way, all we can focus on is the knowns: Who we love, how we choose to live, what integrity means for us all.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

While I am delighted with the outcome, a healthy pregnancy, I was admittedly hesitant to pick a word for 2021. If 2020 has taught us anything, it\u2019s that we never really know what the year ahead holds. This past year has been filled with disease, disaster, and revolution. Some may say that this was all foreshadowed, but honestly, I had never heard of murder hornets before this year and I\u2019m willing to bet you hadn\u2019t either. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, as we inch to the new year, I can\u2019t help but wonder if choosing a word this year is a na\u00efve thing to do. I mean, how can we know what the days on the other side of January 1<\/span>st<\/span> will hold? <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m feeling this, personally, r more than ever, as my husband and I expect our first child in the coming weeks. Beyond having no idea what to expect once we welcome this tiny human into our lives, we don\u2019t know what the years ahead will hold for them. When will they meet their grandparents? What will childcare look like for them? Are baby play dates safe? Will they recognize our faces without a mask? The unknowns are endless. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, instead, I choose to focus on what I <\/span>do<\/span><\/i> know. I know this child will be loved\u2014near and far. I know that they will grow up in a different world than we did, and that will make them resilient and compassionate in a way we can\u2019t understand yet. I know that they will be taught to love their bodies, enforce their boundaries, and respect those of others. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I guess, in a way, all we can focus on is the knowns: Who we love, how we choose to live, what integrity means for us all. It is the anchor we need to remember ourselves and <\/span>how<\/span><\/i> we will choose to show up for 2021. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was by focusing on these knowns that I was finally able to choose my word for the year ahead. It was 4AM last night when a last burst of nesting instinct called me to our nursery. I walked around the room, taking in all of the details; hours of obsessive searching on Pinterest, planning, saving and sacrifice got us here. I sat in my rocking chair, smiling as I realized that <\/span>embrace <\/span><\/i>I\u2019ve been waiting for all year will be of my newborn. I considered the color of the walls, a shade of barely-there shade of green I chose in part for its name\u2014<\/span>possibility<\/span><\/i>. And that\u2019s when it hit me \u2013 we may not know anything about 2021, but we know there\u2019s possibility there, and for now that is enough. Yes, I decided. Possibility is the right word. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What will yours be for 2021?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Priyanka Saju<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bio:<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Priyanka Saju is a Toronto-based writer, speaker, and follower of creative impulses. She embraces writing as a medium to give voice to her unresolved feelings as she navigates the middle places of cross-cultural upbringing, the pursuit of success, and the nature of womxnhood, self-acceptance, and resilience. Priyanka does this while approaching these topics with the type of humour and humility that can only be gained by tripping face-first into growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a>

Pregnant Plus a Pandemic<\/h3>\n
\n

By Priyanka Saju<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is the first of a 4-part series by writer Priyanka Saju, who writes about her pregnancy journey.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>

More Than Baby Weight: The Hidden Fatphobia in Pregnancy<\/h3>\n
\n

By Priyanka Saju<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our 4-part series by Priyanka Saju explores her plus-size pregnancy\u2014all in a pandemic.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Priyanka Saju takes us along for the ride on her journey to motherhood as she joins the pregnancy community in the final part of our 4-part series.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[184],"class_list":["post-20074","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-wellness"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat Will Your 2021 Word Be? - Dia & Co<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Poet Priyanka Saju on what it means to set intentions for 2021 as she nears the end of her plus-size pregnancy and prepares for the arrival of her child.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/wellness\/what-will-your-2021-word-be\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Will Your 2021 Word Be? - Dia & Co\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Poet Priyanka Saju on what it means to set intentions for 2021 as she nears the end of her plus-size pregnancy and prepares for the arrival of her child.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/wellness\/what-will-your-2021-word-be\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Dia & Co\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/diaandco\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-11-17T01:20:38+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-06-22T14:04:51+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/d3mnyo7e05c2kb.cloudfront.net\/blog-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/PriyankaSaju-148_2400x1524-2.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1524\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Priyanka Saju\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@diaandco\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@diaandco\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Priyanka Saju\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/wellness\/what-will-your-2021-word-be\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/wellness\/what-will-your-2021-word-be\/\",\"name\":\"What Will Your 2021 Word Be? - Dia & Co\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/wellness\/what-will-your-2021-word-be\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/wellness\/what-will-your-2021-word-be\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/gutenberg-blog-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/PriyankaSaju-85_2400x1524-1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-11-17T01:20:38+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-06-22T14:04:51+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/d40236e89873b42b4451c2ceefff1fe2\"},\"description\":\"Poet Priyanka Saju on what it means to set intentions for 2021 as she nears the end of her plus-size pregnancy and prepares for the arrival of her child.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/wellness\/what-will-your-2021-word-be\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/wellness\/what-will-your-2021-word-be\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/wellness\/what-will-your-2021-word-be\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/gutenberg-blog-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/PriyankaSaju-85_2400x1524-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/gutenberg-blog-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/PriyankaSaju-85_2400x1524-1.jpg\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/wellness\/what-will-your-2021-word-be\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"What Will Your 2021 Word Be?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Dia & Co\",\"description\":\"Dia & Co is the premier personal styling service for plus-size women. Try on clothes at home, keep what you like, return the rest to us!\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/d40236e89873b42b4451c2ceefff1fe2\",\"name\":\"Priyanka Saju\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"What Will Your 2021 Word Be? - Dia & Co","description":"Poet Priyanka Saju on what it means to set intentions for 2021 as she nears the end of her plus-size pregnancy and prepares for the arrival of her child.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/wellness\/what-will-your-2021-word-be\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"What Will Your 2021 Word Be? - Dia & Co","og_description":"Poet Priyanka Saju on what it means to set intentions for 2021 as she nears the end of her plus-size pregnancy and prepares for the arrival of her child.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/wellness\/what-will-your-2021-word-be\/","og_site_name":"Dia & Co","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/diaandco\/","article_published_time":"2020-11-17T01:20:38+00:00","article_modified_time":"2022-06-22T14:04:51+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2400,"height":1524,"url":"https:\/\/d3mnyo7e05c2kb.cloudfront.net\/blog-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/PriyankaSaju-148_2400x1524-2.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Priyanka Saju","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@diaandco","twitter_site":"@diaandco","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Priyanka Saju","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/wellness\/what-will-your-2021-word-be\/","url":"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/wellness\/what-will-your-2021-word-be\/","name":"What Will Your 2021 Word Be? - Dia & Co","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/wellness\/what-will-your-2021-word-be\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/wellness\/what-will-your-2021-word-be\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/gutenberg-blog-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/PriyankaSaju-85_2400x1524-1.jpg","datePublished":"2020-11-17T01:20:38+00:00","dateModified":"2022-06-22T14:04:51+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/d40236e89873b42b4451c2ceefff1fe2"},"description":"Poet Priyanka Saju on what it means to set intentions for 2021 as she nears the end of her plus-size pregnancy and prepares for the arrival of her child.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/wellness\/what-will-your-2021-word-be\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/wellness\/what-will-your-2021-word-be\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/wellness\/what-will-your-2021-word-be\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/gutenberg-blog-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/PriyankaSaju-85_2400x1524-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/gutenberg-blog-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/PriyankaSaju-85_2400x1524-1.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/wellness\/what-will-your-2021-word-be\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"What Will Your 2021 Word Be?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/","name":"Dia & Co","description":"Dia & Co is the premier personal styling service for plus-size women. Try on clothes at home, keep what you like, return the rest to us!","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/d40236e89873b42b4451c2ceefff1fe2","name":"Priyanka Saju"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20074","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/42"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20074"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20074\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20074"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20074"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}