As I say goodbye to 2024 and step into 2025, I find myself thinking about my annual process of choosing a Word for the Year. Sometimes I’m able to do this quickly before the year begins, sometimes it takes me a bit of time to ponder and decide. Abundance, my word for 2024, was quite profound, impacting all areas of life. You can read all about that here. SO I naturally wanted my choice for 2024 to be just as inspirational.
For a while I have been thinking about ‘flowers’. I've been avidly collecting floral images onto a Pinterest board for a while now. I’ve been inspired by the glorious paintings of Faye Bridgwater, Nicola Durrant and Sam Waters for a while now. The way they depict flowers is stunning and this is something I would really like to introduce into my own work. I didn’t want to choose ‘flower’ or ‘flora’ as my word, those words seemed too reductionist and limited in their scope, so I thought about which other words relate to my floral idea. I have also recently been inspired by a fantastic book by author Alice Vincent, Why Women Grow - stories of soil, sisterhood and survival. This book tells the stories of the many women Alice spoke to during the researching phase of the book. Their stories spoke to me on many levels and resonated with me in terms of art and creativity as well as in the garden.
After much consideration and thought I have chosen the word Bloom. This simple, yet powerful word captures everything I hope to embrace in the coming year—growth, outside spaces, Mother Nature, my garden, beauty, joy, and the courage to flourish.
Choosing a word for the year is an intentional process for me, tied to reflection, inspiration, and a vision for what’s to come. It’s something I have been doing for about ten years and in those years some of the words I have chosen include Patience, Learn, Align, Nurture and Grow, Excel, Abundance, Sustain. Choosing ‘bloom’ allows me to explore my interest in the shapes and colours of flowers as well as aligning with the deep connection to where I am in life and where I want to go, both personally and creatively.
Blooming Personally
Mid-life has brought me a profound sense of joy and clarity. I’ve changed career and have discovered the value of aligning my work with my passions, living seasonally, and nurturing myself in meaningful and sustainable ways. This year, I want to continue that journey by embracing the energy of bloom.
To me, blooming personally means allowing myself to fully step into, and flourish in this stage of life. It’s about embracing who I am now, nurturing my well-being, and celebrating the bravery and growth that has brought me to this moment.
Blooming Creatively and Professionally
In my creative business, I feel like I’m on the cusp of something really exciting. Over the past few years, I’ve worked hard to plant seeds—launching courses, connecting with my audience, and building a sustainable creative practice. Now, after a period of nurturing and tending, it feels like the perfect time to bloom, to expand into my potential, and to show the world the vibrant, joyful results of that hard work.
This year, I want to explore new creative directions (there is an exciting floral collaboration in the pipeline), refine my offerings, and deepen the connections I’ve built with you, my community. I’m also considering a year-long project inspired by my garden, where flowers will take centre stage. I’m looking forward to diving into a colourful exploration of all things floral.
A Year in Flowers
My love for flowers has always been part of my creative identity, but in 2025, I want to lean into it fully. Gardens are a perfect metaphor for blooming—requiring patience, care, and a connection to the seasons. They are a living breathing iteration of the creative cycle of Mother Nature. This project will focus on my own garden as a living canvas, a place of inspiration and growth. Through art, writing, and perhaps even an Open Studio event, I plan to document and celebrate the ever-changing beauty of flowers throughout the year.
Why Bloom?
Blooming isn’t just about the final result; it’s about the process, what gets us there. It’s about nurturing what you’ve planted, weathering challenges, and opening yourself to the light. It’s a word that feels hopeful, vibrant, and alive—everything I want my life and work to embody this year.
In 2025, I hope to bloom boldly, beautifully, and intentionally. I can’t wait to see where this word will take me.
What about you? What’s your word for the year, and how will it guide your journey?
Comentários