My word of 2016: Engage

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Every year I pick a word which I try to live by for the whole year. Last year it was Adventure and the year before that Happiness...

This year I picked the word: Engage!

I haven't blogged in AGES, because life was happening to me.... 

"Life happens when you are busy making other plans"-John Lennon.

In a car accident, in September, I broke my arm very badly. I had to get an operation on my broken arm, so it would heal correctly. I was down in the dumps and feeling very negative about the whole situation, but the later I got a Robocop-arm and the humor about it started to set in and I started embracing it!

My beautiful iron arm!

The Robocop-arm/ Arm brace

After I started embracing my situation, as well as my beautiful, recovering arm; I started thinking about what I learned and what I would like to change about my life. There are a lot of things that I want to change, but there was one aspect that I wanted to change and that is to be more PRESENT. I want to be in the moment. 

How often does it happen right in a conversation that you are not really present. Constantly thinking about other stuff like: "Does this person like me?", "What is that story that Kate told me the other day that is also about Christmas, which was so funny?" You forget to enjoy the moment for what it is. Your head is occupied with other BS, instead of enjoying the moment for what it is!

I want to stop listening to that inner voice constantly thinking of a reply or great stories to tell. I want to LISTEN! I want to ENGAGE in the conversation! I want to ENGAGE in the world around me! I want to be in the car, playing the music real loud and look with wondering eyes at the world outside. Not thinking about the great night I had or about what is next. Just being.  Just being there in the moment. 

Listening. 

Speaking. 

Enjoying. 

Simply engaging in the world around me and with the people around me!

May you all have a prosperous 2016 and have all the happiness!

What are your words for 2016?