For my 2025 word of the year, I chose COURAGE. I know, it’s not the most original pick—but hear me out. Something about courage stuck with me this time, especially after watching a documentary on The Tragically Hip. For those unfamiliar, they’re kind of a Canadian thing. A band that captured the soul of Canada through their music and lyrics.
One line from their song Courage always sticks with me: “Courage, it couldn’t come at a worse time.” Now, that might mean different things to different people, but for me, it’s about when you finally find the courage to face your fears. You muster the strength to press on, to deal with danger or difficulty—and it’s usually at the most inconvenient moment. Let’s be honest, courage rarely feels good. It’s putting yourself out there, knowing you might take a few hits, which is so much easier to avoid (hello, introvert). But as I get older, that nagging question keeps popping up: If not now, when?
So in 2025, I’m embracing courage. I’m going to get a little scrappy. It won’t be easy, it probably won’t be at the perfect moment, but if not now, when?
