Earnest is honest (and my Word of the Year)
with poetry, orgasms, and conviction
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Earnest means imagining a world where cringe no longer exists — a newfound value of mine.
Earnest is honest — it’s how I allow myself to behave if I weren’t worried about how others would perceive me (cringe, weird, too much, not enough, etc).
Earnest people tell someone they love them without mincing words, unabashedly. (Most ardently.) Earnest people aren’t embarrassed to take 10 whole minutes to go down the rabbit hole and talk at their friends all about their newfound niche interest. Earnest people allow themselves to love what they love, regardless of how popular or unpopular it is.
What is your Earnest?
Yes, I’m using Earnest as a proper noun these days.
If you were to wholly and thoroughly give into what makes your chest feel warm and curls up the corners of your mouth in a smile so wide your face can hardly contain it, what would that be?
Is it niche? Is it well-known? Is it popular? Is it strange?
Is it gardening? Is it specifically about a plant only grown in a particular region of the world?
Is it writing? Is it slam poetry? Is it love letters to your dog?
Is it a cooking show where they try to recreate “junk food” with gourmet ingredients? Is it learning everything you possibly can about the wine industry? Is it learning everything you possibly can about something else?
Earnest definition: “resulting from or showing sincere and intense conviction”
… sincere and intense conviction.
Earnest people are struck, rooted, by their full belief in the importance of what is holding their attention. (And it can change day to day, minute to minute.)
Writing a love poem to my niche interest
Countless severities hold my skin
in place.
The blaze of your obsession strikes
me down
to the ground. I am rooted,
I am split,
like a campfire in the sea
reveling in the rolling waves
trying not to be
extinguished.
See?! No chill! All the cringe! Earnest is cringe like an orgasm, tight and delicious (and can even leave you breathless).
Poetry is earnest. Art is earnest. Biceps curls can be earnest! It’s whatever you’re earnest about.
As
says, “I have an intolerance for a life that doesn’t sparkle.”You could also say it’s a conviction.
2025 Word of the Year Announcement
Earnest is also my Word of the Year!
Earnest will guide my travel plans.
Earnest will help me cope my way through burnout in my work schedule, and the intentional rest I take when I watch my favorite YouTube channels.
Earnest will remind me to text my friend group thread on days when I’m feeling less than.
Earnest will admire the snow-drenched tree branches outside my window as I take a screen break.
Earnest will cheer me on as I continue working on my poetry book. (Ope! Did I just put that into the world?! That must have been Earnest.)
Comment what your Word of the Year is, and what you’re feeling Earnest is leading you to.
If you’re new here…
Hi! I’m Jordan, and Shade Cactus is where being a homebody and always planning your next travel adventure come to meet. It’s a travel blog / poetry newsletter / attempt to understand my inner world a bit better each day.
Subscribers can expect weekly-ish newsletters from me (and my forever undying gratitude!)
My word for 2025 is "Putter." I have been borderline disabled these past three years (long story), and I have recently made some big changes so now that I can move better, I want to make the most of these improvements. I am earnest about just almost everything. Right now it's movie theater popcorn, "Wintering" by Katherine May, this Athleta sweatshirt I cannot seem to take off and taking walks again now that I can.
My word for 2025 is RECEIVE! Earnest will lead me to let go and receive all that is FOR me.
Jordan I love this so much ! Thanks for sharing 🥰