Career Kuel Thought Leader: Gayle Petrillo
How yearly reflections impact our one little word choice.
Did you choose one little word for 2024? Will you choose OLW for 2025? Perhaps OLW will choose you.
Yearly Reflections Lead To My One Little Word:
My word for 2024 was “patience”. I didn’t intentionally choose it. It came to me during a yoga class when one of my teachers asked us to reflect on one word as we went through our practice. Often, at least in our yoga studio, our teachers frequently suggest this.
Patience, for me, was challenging in several ways. I know I’m not an anomaly when I share that my family, friends, co-workers and clients have tried my patience throughout our history together. And, as I recollect, especially over the past year, I recognize I’ve needed patience with myself as well.
As 2024 comes to a close, I also see where I have gained patience when confronted with challenging times. Most particularly I have gained patience during yoga and Pilates classes, giving myself grace when one side or the other is less flexible, or tree pose or others poses simply challenge my body one day and not another. Yoga and Pilates have taught me breathing techniques, which I find useful when my patience is wearing thin, especially when I’m able to recognize it before it becomes problematic.
“Patience, for me, was challenging in several ways.”
More Visible Than Ever:
Once again, my OLW for 2025 chose me. It’s “Visible”. It came to me while writing the ending of my new book. In my latest book, my memoir, I reveal much more of me than my first book, The Accident. Starting when I was younger, as I faced numerous challenges following my burn accident, including body image issues, bullying, shame, guilt and embarrassment through today, as I continue to overcome the trauma-based fears, phobias and self-doubt that have plagued me for decades.
Finally, comfortable in my own skin at 70, my writing has a flair I didn’t know I had. As this book, Becoming Visible, came to an end, it became clear to me that I am now more visible than I’ve ever allowed myself to be. Becoming Visible was the only title that fit the words within.
In 2025 I will continue on the road to being more visible, intentionally; and, I am looking forward to how my OLW will challenge me and help me grow, as did ‘patience’ in 2024.
What will your 2025 OLW be?
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About the Author:
Gayle Petrillo is President of First Impressions, Image Consulting. Gayle is an image consultant working with both businesses and individuals. Her services include: customer service training; team building skills; secret shopper services; gossip avoidance techniques; closet analysis; wardrobe transformations, personal shopping; employment coaching; and presentation skills.
