The Color of Resilience / 2025 One Little Word: SISU

 For 18 years, I've selected One Little Word as my muse, focus, and guide. 

Last year I chose “Beauty,” and what a beautiful year it was! 

I was reminded again and again how beauty is everywhere, and everything is beautiful—if you choose to see it that way. At some point during the year I received a fortune cookie with the following words:

Beauty surrounds you because you create it.

I love that! Whether it's in my garden or cello studio or writing, it's certainly my desire to create beauty.

And now it's a brand-new year, and I've got a brand-new word.

Sisu (see-soo) is a Finnish word that proves difficult to translate. I was introduced to it in the picture book I Feel That Way, Too! By Maria Ivashkina (Reycraft, 2022), which defines sisu as "demonstration of determination and resilience in difficult life situations. Your ability to handle anything."

So...sisu has to do with courage, resilience, and an inner fortitude. It makes me think of my father, who, in his last months selected the word “thrive” as his One Little Word for 2016.

The way I understand it, sisu is about more than just surviving; it's surviving beautifully, creatively, on many levels. Thriving!

If sisu was a color, I think it would be the Northern Lights. Brilliant. Fleeting. Unforgettable.

And it makes me think of a bit of wisdom I received from one of my teachers Michael Singer, who said if you could only have one affirmation, it might be: "I can handle it."

Whatever happens, I can handle it. Fears dissolve, the mind quiets with this kind of inner faith! Sounds like sisu to me. This year I want to cultivate more sisu in my life.

Some Links to Learn More:

video - What is Sisu?

Psychology Today article about Sisu

article - Finnish key to life, love, success 

book - Everyday Sisu by Katja Pantzar

It's tough times out there in the writing biz. I don't know what the future holds. But I am here. I am writing. I am thriving. SISU!

Wishing you sisu, too!