Published by Lulu + Belle

So many of us set new year's resolutions in early January and then struggle to stick to them. We love the idea of choosing an 'intentional word' instead as something to guide us and as a reminder of what's important to us and what to focus on for the year ahead. We regularly get orders for a customised necklace with an inspiring quote or meaningful word stamped on it. Whether they are given as a gift or kept as a meaningful reminder, we love the idea that this is a type of 'mantra necklace' that will be worn for daily inspiration.

We got so many beautiful entries in this competition where you not only shared your words with us but also your heartfelt stories. Ruth who is a talented illustrator and our customer service and shipping angel on the Lulu + Belle team, creating a special illustration of your words for 2020.

So what where you top words for this year ?

Believe

BELIEVE was the word that came up most often as your intentional word for the year ahead. With this word you told us stories of mortgage applications and believing that you would find your dream home this year. You told us of fertility treatments and believing that this was the year you would start a family and you told us stories of starting businesses and needing a reminder to believe in yourself every day this year. The word believe was important to some of you facing health challenges, some of you were even facing cancer and were using this word as a touchstone on the road to recovery in the year ahead. So many of you chose the word 'believe' as your intentional word for 2020 that you have inspired us to create a unique 'believe necklace' this year because the word is so important to so many of you ! Watch this space.

Love

LOVE was a word that came up again and again as important to you this year. Some of you choose Love and some of you choose GRA. We love the simplicity of it and the many different ways that you told us Love is important to you. You told us that 'love' was your word this year because you wanted to focus on 'self-love' and to slow down and take better care of yourself. Some of you simply wanted to be reminded of how blessed you felt to be surrounded by family. Some of you wanted to be reminded to 'do what I love' and to use the word 'love' to help inspire you to change your work situation. For one person they wanted a reminder this year to 'put more love out into the world'. 

Breathe 

We were surprised by this one... the word 'breathe' is one of your top intentional words this year. It was the same message again and again - most of you wanted a reminder to slow down and to focus on the here and now and 'not to get caught up in things that don't matter'. We love your idea for a 'breathe necklace' and think this would be the perfect piece of affirmation jewellery given how mad busy life can get. We will be getting on thinking caps on about this one !

Family

For so many of you, FAMILY is your word for 2020. Your told us stories of new babies on the way this year (yeah!!!) and of how blessed you feel to have the love and support of your family. You also told us stories of loss, of Mums, Dad's, sons and daughters who had passed away last year and how this had brought the importance of family into focus for you even more.

We were so moved by how personal and honest your stories were and so inspired by how important family is to so many of you.  

Our competition winner chose the word STRENGTH and this is her reason for choosing it as her intentional word :