

5 Women Share Their 2020 Themes That Will Define Their Year
It's something about nearing your 30s or experiencing a traumatizing event that really makes you question your life. If you're like me, you've probably been asking yourself questions like:
- "Sis, what are you doing with your life?"
- "Girl, are you truly living a life of purpose?"
- "Are you really doing the work that you were put on this earth to do?
The older we get, living a purpose-filled life is more important than ever. Life is short, so it's critical that we are using every second of our life intentionally so that we are making the best of every minute, every year.
As we've begun this new decade, I've spent a lot of time meditating, trying to figure out what my purpose is, and how I want to tackle this new year and chapter of my life. In this moment of self-reflection, a few words repeatedly came to mind in different forms and different ways, and I've taken it as a sign to continue to meditate on those words as I'm living through my purpose this year.
Those words "faith and fight" is my theme that I hope will keep me pushing and will define my 2020. For me, I know that in order to live a fruitful life with endless blessings, I need to have enough faith to believe I can do it, and then enough fight in me to get the work done.
Recently, I connected with a few boss women from a variety of industries and they shared their word/theme of the year, and why it is their theme for 2020. Keep reading to get instantly inspired!
"MULTIPLY"
Courtesy of Liane Membis
Liane Membis
Founder, BAUCE Magazine and Web Developer
"Many people often pick the word 'growth' but I believe it's important to be intentionally clear about what form of growth you want to see in your life. Every year we 'grow'-- not just in the physical sense but mentally, spiritually, and emotionally as well. I spent the entire last decade growing. Last year, I did things for myself and my business that I didn't imagine I could do. I tested out new products and services, I hosted a women's conference and I did a Tedx Talk. I challenged myself to show the universe that I was ready for my season of multiplication. For me, choosing the word 'multiply' is me speaking boldly and standing confidently in faith to say, 'I am ready to leap, God-willing, into this next phase of success that is destined for me.' I am ready to multiply, or as the dictionary defines it, increase greatly.
"For 2020, my goal is to multiply my income, multiply my love for my partner, and multiply the communities of people that I serve and support. In doing so, I will have to be laser-focused, create boundaries, and be relentless in achieving my goals. But I know that my years of growth have prepared me for this upcoming season of multiplication."
“CLARITY”
Courtesy of Jamelia Donaldson
Jamelia Donaldson
CEO/Founder of TreasureTress
"Success in any area of life requires a clear understanding of the end goal/milestones, and the behaviors/habits which will need to be adopted in order to reach that goal. In any area of my life where I felt as though I wasn't reaching my full potential, I realized in 2019 it was because I was not entirely clear about my current position, where I wanted to be, and what it would take to get there. Clarity requires difficult conversations to take place, deep thought, deep work, changes in habit and intentional behaviors - all of which I know are recipes for creating the business and life I desire."
“FEARLESS”
Courtesy of Brittanie Jones
Brittanie Jones
Founder/Owner of Fineapple Vegan
"Within this past year, I've learned a lot about myself. Stepping out of my comfort zone and pushing through my health issues and anxiety has been THE HARDEST thing I've ever had to do, but it was necessary! I want to continue to grow and tear down every wall designed to hinder a young woman that looks like me. I want to change lives and make a difference. I will continue to be ME and completely FEARLESS!"
“FULLY COMMIT TO YOUR COMMITMENTS”
Courtesy of Moriah Marie
Moriah Marie aka "Mo Classified"
Radio Personality on k104fm
"The theme that will define my 2020 is 'fully commit to your commitments'. I know you probably read that and thought, 'If it's a commitment then obviously I'm committed.' But in all actuality, not quite. Looking back on 2019 and my life in general, I noticed that I'm such a forward-thinking person that a lot of times I don't sit still long enough to fully commit to things I have considered commitments, let alone sit still long enough to bask in the accomplishments received from things I once prayed for. I'm always worried about bringing the next big idea to life, or how to accomplish something new which in return results in me not dedicating my whole being to other ideas, relationships, and moments overall.
"So to fix that -- in 2020, I'm training my mind to fully dedicate myself to the present moment. Life goes by one moment at a time and if I'm giving my best to the present moment, then it will only create a lot of great moments. If I'm fully committed to the present moment, it will be impossible for me to be distracted by this 'perfect' future that I'm trying to create. As far as relationships, I plan to fully commit to being selfless and supportive and ensuring people feel the love that they know I have for them. As far as opportunities, I want to fully commit to giving 100% and not ever being okay with giving any less than that. As far as life goes, I plan to fully commit by leading with integrity in everything I do which will ensure I make good decisions, communicate properly, executing at the highest level, and adopting good habits that will only leave room for prosperity. I want to look back on 2020 and know I gave it my all. I want to look back on 2020 and be able to say I wholeheartedly committed to all of my commitments and be highly pleased with the fruits of my labor."
“CLARITY”
Courtesy of Sylvia Obell
Sylvia Obell
Host of #HellaOpinions at BuzzFeed
"It's hard to look at this year numerically without 20/20 vision coming to mind. It's been my prayer that this year brings clarity to my vision as I watch the seeds planted in the last decade grow. 2020 is the start of a new personal decade for me as well, I turn 30 in February. I'm ready for the experiences and lessons from my twenties to inform better decision-making and serve my best self in my thirties. The more in-tune I am with my inner voice and God, the clearer my purpose looks as I move forward in all facets of my life. Shooting shots with the precision of a sniper all decade long. Let the twenties roar on."
Queen, what is your theme or word for the year? Let us know by dropping a comment below or tweeting us and let us know! We're rooting for you!
Featured image courtesy of Jamelia Donaldson
Brittani Hunter is a proud PVAMU alumni and the founder of The Mogul Millennial, a business and career platform for Black Millennials. Meet Brittani on Twitter and on the Gram at @BrittaniLHunter and @mogulmillennial.
Smile, Sis! These Five Improvements Can Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene Instantly
This article is in partnership with Sensodyne.
Our teeth are connected to so many things - our nutrition, our confidence, and our overall mood. We often take for granted how important healthy teeth are, until issues like tooth sensitivity or gum recession come to remind us. Like most things related to our bodies, prevention is the best medicine. Here are five things you can do immediately to improve your oral hygiene, prevent tooth sensitivity, and avoid dental issues down the road.
1) Go Easy On the Rough Brushing: Brushing your teeth is and always will be priority number one in the oral hygiene department. No surprises there! However, there is such a thing as applying too much pressure when brushing…and that can lead to problems over time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in smooth, circular motions. It may seem counterintuitive, but a gentle approach to brushing is the most effective way to clean those pearly whites without wearing away enamel and exposing sensitive areas of the teeth.
2) Use A Desensitizing Toothpaste: As everyone knows, mouth pain can be highly uncomfortable; but tooth sensitivity is a whole different beast. Hot weather favorites like ice cream and popsicles have the ability to trigger tooth sensitivity, which might make you want to stay away from icy foods altogether. But as always, prevention is the best medicine here. Switching to a toothpaste like Sensodyne’s Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth will help build a protective layer over sensitive areas of the tooth. Over time, those sharp sensations that occur with extremely cold foods will subside, and you’ll be back to treating yourself to your icy faves like this one!
3) Floss, Rinse, Brush. (And In That Order!): Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”? Well, the same thing applies to taking care of your teeth. Even if you are flossing and brushing religiously, you could be missing out on some of the benefits simply because you aren’t doing so in the right order. Flossing is best to do before brushing because it removes food particles and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. After a proper flossing sesh, it is important to rinse out your mouth with water after. Finally, you can whip out your toothbrush and get to brushing. Though many of us commonly rinse with water after brushing to remove excess toothpaste, it may not be the best thing for our teeth. That’s because fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste that protects your enamel, works best when it gets to sit on the teeth and continue working its magic. Rinsing with water after brushing doesn’t let the toothpaste go to work like it really can. Changing up your order may take some getting used to, but over time, you’ll see the difference.
4) Stay Hydrated: Upping your water supply is a no-fail way to level up your health overall, and your teeth are no exception to this rule. Drinking water not only helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your mouth, but it also washes away residue and acids that can cause enamel erosion. It also helps you steer clear of dry mouth, which is a gateway to bad breath. And who needs that?
5) Show Your Gums Some Love: When it comes to improving your smile, you may be laser-focused on getting your teeth whiter, straighter, and overall healthier. Rightfully so, as these are all attributes of a megawatt smile; but you certainly don’t want to leave gum health out of the equation. If you neglect your gums, you’ll start to notice the effects of plaque buildup, which can irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Seeing blood while brushing and flossing is a tell-tale sign that your gums are suffering. You may also experience gum recession — a condition where the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back, exposing more of your tooth. Brushing at least twice a day with a gum-protecting toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum, coupled with regular dentist visits, will keep your gums shining as bright as those pearly whites.
Russell and Nina Westbrook Dish On The Key Ways To Avoid Resentment In Relationships
Russell and Nina Westbrook are one of those low-key, unproblematic couples we don’t talk about enough. They met in college and got married in 2015. They also have a beautiful family with three kids. While Russell is an NBA star, Nina is a licensed family and marriage therapist and a mental health advocate.
She recently launched the podcast The Relationship Chronicles with Nina Westbrook, and in the latest episode, she had none other than her husband on as a guest. The college sweethearts dived into important topics from marriage to children and how they navigate it all.
One of the topics they touched on was dealing with resentment in your relationship. The former MVP highlighted the sacrifices his wife has had to make in order for him to pursue a career in the NBA, and that’s why it’s also important for him to support his wife whenever he can.
“For me is respecting and understanding what your partner do and the time it takes,” Russell said. “Not kind of downplaying what they do, understanding the time and energy and effort they're doing to make sure whether it’s their job or making sure home is taken care of, and understanding that, I think that is the challenge of not being resentful.”
Nina agreed and also shared her thoughts on resentment. According to her, one of the best things couples should do is have their own identity and passions outside of the relationship in an effort to be fulfilled.
“I also think that when you’re in a relationship, that’s why it’s so important that each individual kinda pursue their own passions and follow their own dreams as I feel like it only becomes or leads to resentment when one person is not feeling fulfilled in what they're doing in their lives,” she explained.
“And so, they will start to look at the other partner who’s happy or excelling or promoting or moving along in their journey, then they’re left feeling stuck like they sacrificed themselves, their happiness, their career, their future and have not pursued it in the name of the relationship or their partner. So, it’s so much easier to avoid those feelings of resentment when you’re each equally pursuing your passions.”
The couple has many passions that they work on together and separately. Outside of basketball and his family, Russell has become known for his eclectic style and started the fashion brand Honor The Gift. Nina has her podcast, and she also started the mental health website Bene. Together, they run the Why Not? Foundation, which works with kids in underserved communities.
“I’m a firm believer that one person can’t be everything to you, so you have to sort of seek out those different friendships or groups or hobbies or activities that help to fulfill you,” Nina concluded.
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Feature image by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Religion of Sports