EP 233: T-Time Tuesdays "What's Your Word Of The Year For 2025?"

Tiffany Rossdale and co-host Maki Gingoyon reconverge from two corners of the world, a Buddhist temple in Higashi Hiroshima and the Philippines, for their first T-Time Tuesday episode of 2025! For this refreshing episode, Tiffany and Maki reveal their “Word of the Year”, a word they chose that will help mold this new year that they are emerging into: “Present” and “Iyashi”. Maki delves deep into what “Present” means to her in a world of facilitated distraction, and how it is intertwined with but distinct from the themes of ‘mindfulness’ and ‘purpose’. Tiffany dives into the Japanese word “癒 (Iyashi)”, relating it to themes of ‘comfort’ and ‘ease’, and discusses its significance in the constant turmoil of life, in which one can tend to forget themselves. Accompany our two hosts on their exploration of their Words of the Year as they connect it to the prevalent topic of ‘guidance’, and learn more about the essence behind choosing your own Word.

You can follow Maki’s platforms below:

Website: https://makigingoyon.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MAKIGINGOYON/

Transcript

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[Music]

Tiffany Rossdale (She/Her): Welcome to Breakfast With Tiffany Show. My name is Tiffany Rossdale and I am a Tokyo-based transformational lifestyle coach. In each episode of this podcast, I want to explore the positive transitions other people have made to, how they freed themselves from their struggles, what pushed them to overcome their difficulties, and how and why they felt like they could overcome.

Breakfast With Tiffany Show is really all about the transitions everyone who wants to succeed makes, and what they did to get there. As such, while the focus is on LGBTQ+-journeys, I want to share the stories of all people who have found their way to success. My hope is to have this platform for all of us to be together while listening to successful stories, amazing life experiences, inspirational journeys, as well as having good laughs and lots of smiles! 

[Narration: Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce you to something quite extraordinary: it's the Breakfast With Tiffany Show podcast! And now, it is with great pleasure that I introduce you to your host, Tiffany Rossdale!]

Tiffany Rossdale: Welcome to Breakfast With Tiffany Show. I am your host, Tiffany Rossdale, and we are back with the T-Time Tuesdays together with my gorgeous co-host, Maki Gingoyon. Maki, welcome to Breakfast With Tiffany Show. 

Maki Gingoyon (She/Her): Thank you. Fabulous. Tiffany, my sister from Other Mother. Hello, everybody. Happy New Year. Happy 2025. I just wanted to have a quick note, Tiff: before you're going to start, I just realized that I'm actually wearing the color of the year. I actually did not choose this. It's the mocha. Apparently it has been my color ever since, so I'm glad it's the color of the year. And it's a sign that it's going to be a beautiful conversation for 2025!

Tiffany Rossdale: I love it. Thank you for letting me know that the color of the year is mocha. I didn't even know that. 

Maki Gingoyon: Mocha moose. 

Tiffany Rossdale: Okay. I love it. I know the year 2025, oh, by the way, Happy New Year to you too. Happy New Year to everyone. I greeted everyone last week with the first episode, but this is the second episode of the Breakfast With Tiffany Show.

For those of you are listening just now, Happy New Year to you all and this is a great way to start the year with Maki to talk about the word of the year. I know that it's a Year of the Snake, one of my favorite animal signs. I'm not born in the Year of Snake--I'm born in the Year of the Horse, but snake has been such an incredible sign for me. Every time I see a snake alive or like in my dreams, I would always take that as an abundant and money coming to me and it's been true.

So, Year of the Snake. What do you thought about the Year of the Snake, Maki?

Maki Gingoyon: I haven't dived into this astrology signs yet, but I am familiar with it. I am born- 

Tiffany Rossdale: What's your year, by the way? 

Maki Gingoyon: I am the Year of the Snake. I am earth's snake.

Tiffany Rossdale: Oh, you are! 

Maki Gingoyon: Yes, I am. So hello, abundance. I'm not super inclined to know what's in it for me for this year. All I know is I want it to continuously grow. So I'm happy that it's the Year of the Snake. I'm excited to know what's going to be unfolding for the next days to come. 

Tiffany Rossdale: I didn't know. Congratulations for you to be like the Year of the Snake. Like you, I'm not really familiar with the signs. I don't really follow it a lot. But, I just want to share you this information that I just received from the Buddhist priest because I am still staying in a temple. 

As most of my listeners know, every year I come here in my favorite temple in Hiroshima, Higashi Hiroshima, where I stay in a temple and then spend a week. And, yesterday while we're doing the fire ceremony ritual, the Buddhist priest, he usually gave his lecture, and not just during that. Like every day when I wake up in the morning, when we do the morning chanting, I get many lectures from the Buddhist priest, but he was sharing about the Year of the Snake this year that in Buddhism, it means it's the year of, something will emerge. Especially if you are- been working for years for something. 

He said that this is the time of that thing that you've been wanting. If you've been working on it, he said there's also a negative impact to it, either positive or negative. So if you've been, for example, if you've been drinking a lot of alcohol--I'm just giving you an example; I'm not saying, you know, but this is just an example--if you've been drinking alcohol, like nonstop drinking alcohol, I don't know what's gonna happen to you. Maybe, hopefully, you're not gonna get sick. But something like that could happen, negatively, if you've been consistently doing that. This is such a great, good, I think, sign for people who have been working on themselves so hard, working tirelessly to be the better version of themselves. 

I wanted to share this because I know there's been many people have been working on themselves, especially when it comes to personal development, especially when it comes to business, especially when it comes to their careers. Or even just working on, you know, relationships, working on anything that you've been working on for quite a while and you've been doing it consistently and you've been nonstop, just like me, like the podcast, I've been working on this, like, you know? Yeah, I think this is a year that there's an opportunity that, you know, that could happen--something bigger. 

Maki Gingoyon: I personally did not follow the, I'm not sure, is it the Chinese zodiac signs? I don't also encourage people to depend on it but I would like to be honest that every year, every Chinese New Year, I actually look: What is it for me? How could this guide me? How could, I use this to improve myself better? Not totally dependent on it. So if you're new to this, maybe you wanted to check out some online magazines, or blogs, or vlogs, even, that you wanted to explore if this If this idea or if this part of our life is for you, if astronomy is for you, and if you're just out of curiosity, then look for websites or places that resonates with you, that you feel comfortable. Please, please, please be careful with scams. Don't pay anything. You can definitely check everything for free. 

Tiffany Rossdale: Oh yeah. 

Maki Gingoyon: So, I know you, you know what to do and I know that you are all wise not to follow those tricks. So I'm not a big fan. I haven't dwelled in it so much. I haven't dived in it so much, but I do like it. So I might need to check what's in it for me since I am the Year of the Snake. So I'm excited to know. This is a way for us to be guided, and that leads us to our topic for today, Tiff. Guidance. 

Tiffany Rossdale: Yes, our word of the year- 

Maki Gingoyon: Our word of the year!

Tiffany Rossdale: -for 2025. Second time we're doing it together. Last year we were able to do it together. 

Maki Gingoyon: True.

Tiffany Rossdale: And we had, for those of the people who missed it, we did a reflection of one year on the last few episodes of 2024. We've discussed about how it really helped us, both of us, in navigating our lives throughout 2024, throughout the year. 

Maki Gingoyon: I still have to share that reflection on my social media.

Tiffany Rossdale: Definitely. Yeah. So this year, our word of the year, you want to reveal yours Maki, and then, we'll explain everyone how it happened. How were you able to select it that word. 

Maki Gingoyon: Sure. Before I'm going to reveal my word of the year, this is so sacred for me and I am just so happy that I'm sharing this with Tiffany and I am so grateful for the opportunity that Tiffany gave me to learn about knowing what's the word of the year.

But before I'm going to reveal that, I'd just like to have a quick story that- because Tiffany mentioned that she's in a temple right now, I'm supposed to be at the temple as well because Tiffany invited me last year to celebrate it with her. I want to be as candid as possible here, as much as we wanted to do things that we want or that we need, sometimes our resources are not enough. So if you are in a situation where you wanted to do things, need to do things, but the environment is not just allowing you to, please, that's not the end of the world. There could be more opportunity. So who knows? Next year we will be recording together in one place. Attracting. 

Tiffany Rossdale: Exactly. 

Maki Gingoyon: Manifesting. 

Tiffany Rossdale: I feel like you're here with me though. 

Maki Gingoyon: Aw, thank you. You're always with me. Okay, so my word of the year is "present." Being present.

Tiffany Rossdale: Ooh. 

Maki Gingoyon: Oh my God. I got goosebumps. 

Tiffany Rossdale: I love that. I love that. Present. Okay. 

Maki Gingoyon: Yes. 

Tiffany Rossdale: How do you came up with that word? 

Maki Gingoyon: So while we were talking, while we were recording our reflections and I wanted also to share to everybody that last few months, last quarter of 2024, I have been into therapy and my therapist helped me unclog all the emotional things going on inside me. And also he helped me understand what's going on in my mind, what are these thoughts, where are these thoughts coming from. And then along these conversations every sessions we have, he told me that I am the type of person who wanted to find my purpose, which is absolutely true. I'm not saying that not there are people who doesn't live with purpose, who don't look for purpose, but for people who are empath like me, we are driven to live and work with a purpose. That has been my word entirely all throughout the set, all throughout the therapy. It has been coming back to me.

And then when we had our recording, the reflections, and while I was thinking of what's gonna be my year for next year, I thought, "Purpose." But then, along the way, purpose is too vague. Purpose is something that should not be forcefully done when you're trying to look for purpose. We were able to tackle this on our last recording.

When people ask or we ask ourselves, "How do you come up with a word?" So I was torn between purpose and, being present. Every time I say the word purpose, I wanted to find my purpose. It feels forceful. There is an energy telling me, "Maybe that's too much. Maybe you're going to be in a place where you're only forcing yourself to find your purpose and in finding your purpose, it shouldn't be forceful." So maybe that word is not for me, but that's not as simple as leaping and choosing, it's really feeling and understanding what you wanted to achieve this year, which actually leads me to identifying if I wanted to find my purpose, I need to be present every day. Maybe people can say that's the same as mindful.

I have been doing mindfulness, but just being present every second is way, way different. It's understanding where you are at and how you can be the best version of yourselves at that very moment. It's already a roller coaster for the past four days, knowing that I wanted to be present. But then I see myself looking at my cell phone, scrolling Instagram, scrolling TikTok and social media, and I'm like, "This is not being present. This is being destructive." So I'm like, "Hmm, now I know that my word is really be present." So that's how I was able to figure it out that my word being present. 

Tiffany Rossdale: I love how you came up with thinking about maybe it's the purpose. And then because we did the reflection and you thought about like, you really want to find your purpose because and then you were seeing your therapist and then all that, realizing later on that like, "Oh, it's not really that, it's actually being present." And being present is probably how you'll figure out. Like, what's the purpose exactly that you are wanting to find out? So I think you're not going to have that so much of a difficulty in finding your purpose because you already have the awareness and we've been talking about this ever since I met you that having the awareness is the first step of, you know, like changing and going on transformation. I've learned that myself and I know that if I compare myself from five years before now, I'm totally a different person. I didn't have that awareness five years ago. And while I had that awareness, it just starts to grow, and then finding what really my purpose is. It's all connected, right? I'm so happy to hear-

Maki Gingoyon: Thank you. 

Tiffany Rossdale: -and I would love to know more about it, but before that, I want to share mine. And as you know, every year I write down my word of the year in kanji, Japanese kanji way of calligraphy. And that's the practice that I've been doing every time I'm here in the temple. And my word of the year is... Ta da! It's called iyashi (癒やし). Iyashi means "comfort."

Maki Gingoyon: Oh! 

Tiffany Rossdale: You know how you said, like, you get goosebumps when you say the word? I get goosebumps too when I say comfort. And so iyashi means comfort and ease. I was able to find out about this word when I was doing research about documentaries for- in Japan. Like, here in Japan, I've been, you know, doing my work, doing research about what are the documentaries about LGBTQ in Japan. And that was, like, before we started traveling and really filming the second episode, because we wanted to reach out with as many people as we can. And it's been a challenge, but we were able to finally wrap it up and that's why I'm staying a week more here in the temple: to rejuvenate myself and, you know, like, just to, you know, recharge myself back so when I come back in Tokyo, I'll be ready again to, you know, continue doing the work for the documentary.

So, when I was searching, when I was watching a lot of documentaries in Japan, there was this one documentary where I saw, like, when one Japanese activist, when he said the word, what he wanted in life is just to be in comfort and in ease. And then when I heard that, he said  in Japanese, raku, after raku ni natta (楽になった) he said he was able to feel comfort after he was accepted by the family and friends. I cried. I cried in that documentary. And hearing that, I think that's also what I was looking for. I was looking for a place or one day I'll have this time where I'll feel like comfort, and I'm at ease, not always finding or not always fighting. 

Um, I know that this work, this documentary, this activism that I've been doing, it's not going to, you know, of course, end soon, like we need to do, continue doing, doing the work. But I think it's also important to work on reminding myself that it's okay to feel comfort and ease at times. 'Cause if we keep doing the work and not taking care of ourselves, I think that's where I get overborn or like, I forget about myself. I forget about like, recharging myself, which I'm very careful because I've been doing it. Like, that's the reason why I'm staying here in the temple for one more week because I think that's very important. But I think it's important just to remind myself more that it's okay sometimes that I don't have to do what I need to do. much or to, or do more. I think it's also connect that with your word of the year, like being present, right? To be at present and just be there and let it be like, just make it happen and just accept the fact. Um, and connecting to my word last year, which is forgiveness is also, I think what connects me with this word. So that's how I found out my word of the year. 

Maki Gingoyon: Thank you, Tiff, for sharing that. When you shared that instantly, the first thing that came into my mind was, "You deserve it."

Tiffany Rossdale: Thank you. 

Maki Gingoyon: I wanted to highlight that many of us see comfort as- we always take for granted, the feeling of being comforted. It's more than just being comfortable, I believe. It's the comfort that you will find whatever situation that you are in. I wish you all the best and good luck as this year's unfold, and I hope that comfort will guide you in living your life to the fullest for 2025.

Tiffany Rossdale: Aw, thank you so much. I appreciate that. Probably also the reason why this word came to me, because I think the work that I've been doing, like, for example, this documentary, like, since we released everything last year, we've been getting so much attention from like, you know, I never expected like, LGBTQ people in Japan has been very aware about the work that we've been doing. Like we've been invited to universities. I think this is like a stepping stone to like, getting more attention from different, you know, communities. I think that's also going to prepare myself to not do too much, especially I want this documentary to be famous, right? That's also one goal, because we need more awareness. We need more visibility in Japan. But at the same time, once you probably have that, so many, you know, things going on- 

Maki Gingoyon: Attention, yes. 

Tiffany Rossdale: Maybe I'll forget about myself, right? 

Maki Gingoyon: Exactly. 

Tiffany Rossdale: I'll forget about like, [INTELLIGBLE] and just like, you know, like relax and you don't have to do much. So I think that's a good balance between just a reminder for myself.

Maki Gingoyon: And find comfort in everything amidst turbulence of life. You have to find your comfort. I think it's a very good word for you, knowing that there will be so many activities that's set for you for this year, and who knows, the stars will guide you to a brighter future for the documentary, and as what you have said, comfort is going to be your go-to reminder that when things go crazy, you'll have to find comfort. You have to find isolation. That's so beautiful. 

Tiffany Rossdale: Absolutely. Right? Isn't that like just the timing though? Like I always believe in timing, that the timing will come. It's a guidance. I think I've been being guided. And what I just heard also from the wife of the Buddhist, which I'm very close to, what she said about working on forgiveness last year was really good for me and also about my father's passing and all that, right, and my family. She also reminded me that this place is a place that where I can come back whenever I need just to, you know, recharge myself. And it's been the place that I always wanted to- this place, and I wanted to go back to Bali, which is so interestingly that this family that I've been staying here, they're moving to Bali. I think everything is just connected, right? And she told me, like, "Whenever you have a chance, Tiffany, come visit me in Bali." And I'm like, "Bali is the place that I started my transformation. Of course, I would love to be there and go back." And again, like, it's just like, it's guiding you. It's not like you are grabbing and, you know, wanting to do all these things. It just comes to you. If it comes to you. 

Maki Gingoyon: Yes. 

Tiffany Rossdale: That's what I wanted to say. That she told me, she reminded me. 

Maki Gingoyon: I think it's very true for all of us. Things that are meant for you will always find its way to be with you. 

Tiffany Rossdale: It is. Right. And I think with you, Maki, right? It's like being present also will guide you to just following where you're at, where you have to be, where you needed to be, where your presence is. You know, like to focus on where you are is, I think, a big reflection that we can do after one year, you know, with all this that's going to happen in 2025. 

Maki Gingoyon: That is true. As what I've mentioned earlier, it has already been a bit of a challenge for the past four days, trying, staying true to my word, being present, just be present. Like every time I'm on my desk and my mind wanders, I go back to my word, just be present. And I'm just so very excited to what it will bring me and what learnings that I will get from this words. 

We have discussed this last time during our reflection that it might be difficult for some people to find the word because there might be too many words for them. The question of what I wanted to achieve helped me find that word. So for our listeners, it's not too late to choose for your Word of the Year if you haven't chosen yet. 

Tiffany Rossdale: Oh yes, it's not, absolutely not. You can start whenever you can. It's not just about this, you know, like the first day of the year. For example, if you were able to listen to this episode, and it's been already past one month or past second month, like, you can still do it whenever. 

Maki Gingoyon: Yes.

Tiffany Rossdale: I think I started mine, not even first day of January. Like when the very, very first start, I did this ritual, I did start somewhere in early, but it was early of the year, but it wasn't the first day of January. 

Maki Gingoyon: The first time I started using word of the year, it was actually middle of the year when we started talking by March. 

Tiffany Rossdale: Right?

Maki Gingoyon: And then I was like, "What's going to be my year? What's going to be my word of the year?" So the first year it was actually around June, like almost half of the year. So it's completely fine if you haven't chosen your word yet. The most important thing is that it really depends if it's going to work for you. If your goal every year is to improve and you wanted a simple reminder or a guidance for you to achieve those goals, then maybe word of the year will work for you. And how to know if that's going to be it? With so many words to choose from because you have so many things going on in your life, just choose one thing. 

It's all about priority. What do you want to achieve first? And then, what's going to And then choose a word that you feel comfortable with and go with that. Or maybe words just like me. I had three words and phrases last year. You also have to be realistic with yourself if you can stay true to it, because if you're just going to choose word of the year just because we're telling you or maybe you have read somewhere else, maybe it's not going to be helpful. Stay true to yourself in understanding and knowing what you want to achieve for yourself, not for others, because it will follow.

That's what I did. I asked myself, "What do I want this year?" I just want to be present, present in times of fear, present in times of happiness, present in times of sadness, I don't know. I don't want to attract, I don't want to manifest everything. I just wanted to let the year unfold and I want to be present.

Tiffany Rossdale: Oh, yeah, that's beautiful. I just want to say that I was able to invite my therapist to hang out with me here in the temple for a couple of days and I was actually able to not convince her but more of like I've been telling her like the word of the year has been helping me And she also started doing her own, and she's like, "I want to do it too." She's already sharing me like, "Tiffany, it's been- knowing the word." Like what you said, Maki, for days now, right? It's been for her as well, like, "Even just- I just started, there's so many things I can reflect already"- 

Maki Gingoyon: Yeah. 

Tiffany Rossdale: And how, like, the word, like, really helping me, so it is important to have that word that we can go back and see, especially, like, every day. What's going on in our lives? We never, we don't know. We never know what's going to happen. And I think the guidance of the word of the year will be a very big, support for everyone. And it's been an incredible help for me. So, and for you too, Maki. 

Maki Gingoyon: It has been. 

Tiffany Rossdale: Right? I'm so happy that we're not talking about like, "What's our goal for this year?" or "What's our New Year's Resolution?" Because the tendency of that too is, you push yourself to the limit. And then when you lose that motivation, you stop and then you feel like, "Oh, I didn't succeeded," right? 

Maki Gingoyon: Yes. 

Tiffany Rossdale: But having the word of the year, I never felt that. I always felt that it always supported me.

Maki Gingoyon: That is so true. New Year's resolution, not that it's a bad thing. There could be people who. Resonates with it and works with it. But for me, when it comes to New Year's Resolution or what I wanted to change, it's more of like the goal. You know what I mean? It's like what you wanted to achieve at the end of the year.

Choosing of your word of the year is actually loving the process until you reach that goal. So it's actually more, um, realistic approach because you're not forcing, it's not like a quota when you wanted to achieve at the end of the year. Yes. I have read 10 books by the end of the year. It's more of like knowing yourself and letting the universe unfold itself at the end of the year, or if not, letting the universe unfold itself every day because you have the word of the year. 

Tiffany Rossdale: Knowing yourself in the process. 

Maki Gingoyon: Knowing your- 

Tiffany Rossdale: I love that. 

Maki Gingoyon: Yes. Yes, that is true. 

Tiffany Rossdale: The tendency of like, "What if we don't reach that goal, the goal that we're achieving?" The tendency of also that is like, you feel the guilt, right? 

Maki Gingoyon: Yes.

Tiffany Rossdale: You feel guilty. You feel like you're ashamed of yourself because you weren't able to, accomplish it. 

Maki Gingoyon: Yes. 

Tiffany Rossdale: And with the word of the year, I never feel that. I never felt that way. It just always helps me in, in continuing and doing the work that I've been doing or just navigating life, you know, daily.

Maki Gingoyon: That is very true. It's like, um, when you're trying to change yourself because it's a new year, it feels like you're forcing yourself to be a different person, right?

Tiffany Rossdale: Yeah, it is forcing. It's pushing yourself. Absolutely. I agree. 

Maki Gingoyon: To the point that it becomes harmful because you're already stressing yourself because you wanted to achieve that. And by the time that you get stressed, by the time that you don't feel like you wanted to change, that's what you said, it's going to be demotivating. And when it demotivates you, you stop your goal and then basically you're stagnant. With the word of the year, which I am super grateful for you, Tiff, because even in the hardest times, you can reflect, "What can I do with the word of the year?" So it, for me, it's, it's sustainable. 

You may not be able to achieve your goal this year, but those little second every day that help you reflect because of your word of the year matters a lot. It's like being present for me, for example, if I wanted to eat something that's not healthy because I am thinking of something in the past or something for the future, that millisecond alone of choosing whether I eat junk food because I am stress of. Thinking that's not about the present changed a lot. 

So it's like, "Why am I thinking about the past? Why am I thinking about the future? And why am I eating junk foods because I am thinking of those? I should step back and just be present." What is right now? What's happening right now? What's happening right now is I don't need junk foods. That's it. So that already changed a lot. You know what I mean? Like for some of you, you might resonate with me when you are stressed, when you're happy, you wanted to eat, you wanted to indulge into ice creams or whatnot. But I'm really hoping that by being present it's like, "I need to take a step back and just, you know, be in the now," which, by the way, I have been sharing to everybody that I have been reading The Power of Now. So maybe it's like after two years of reading it, it's a time for me to reflect, to be, be present. So yeah, it should come to you easily. 

Tiffany Rossdale: With the help of the word of the year. Yes. I love that. I really love the process, especially now, like knowing that, you know, there are people that I know who's been doing it like yourself, Maki. And I really hope our listeners who's listening to this episode of the podcast can really think about, like maybe this is also a way for them to, to go on with their, year every year that might help them. And that's why we're sharing this because it's been help, very, very helpful for us. Now I can't wait for the end of 2025 to reflect with you on what's going to happen. 

Maki Gingoyon: To be honest, I can't wait to experience life every day because I am- I wanted to be present. Last year was crazy because I have to think of this, what happened to this, like Even if my word of letting go and accept, I can't help my mind wander. That's why I was practicing being mindful. But being present is like another level of being mindful. You cannot be present without being mindful. So now that I wanted to be present, I don't know, I'm just excited for the next year to come. Like earlier, I was having lunch and I wanted to check on my phone and I'm like, "OK, I'll be mindful. I want to check my phone. I'm not going to force myself to not check my phone because if I'm going to force myself, I'm restraining myself and then it's not mindful anymore."

So, OK, I'm being mindful. I want to check my phone. What do I want it to check there, where in fact I'm having lunch? So I'm like, "OK. I just wanted to be distracted because I'm having lunch alone. So I'm gonna put my phone off and I'm gonna enjoy my vegan lunch." So that's what I did. I can still remember the taste of it. Because sometimes we are eating something. Because you're being mindful. Because you're being mindful. I'm being mindful and I'm" present. So I'm like, "Ah, this is so beautiful." So yeah, those little things. 

Earlier this morning--I believe everyone is guilty, but if you are not, then good job--I woke up and then I checked my phone because I wanted to see what time it is and then I wanted to know if I wanted to go to the gym because I have a couple of errands for the day. But then I saw myself scrolling on social media while I was in bed, and I told myself, "I should not do this." But then if I'm going to say I should not it's actually harming myself because I am restraining myself. I should be mindful that it's not okay yet to go on social media. So I'm gonna go wake up, have my tea, and then while I was having my tea, my mind wanders and then I took a step back. "OK. I'm having my tea. I need to be present taking my tea." Those little things like I'm like, "This is so beautiful." It's- that's what I said. It's challenging because it's new to me, and everything that's new to you is always difficult.

Tiffany Rossdale: It is challenging. 

Maki Gingoyon: It is challenging. 

Tiffany Rossdale: It is challenging. Yeah. 

Maki Gingoyon: Which goes back to staying true to your word of the year. That's why you will have to feel yourself what really is that you want for this year. So you will have to stay true because it's not that, it's not going to be easy. Like we're happy sharing this with you. We're excited and encourage you to find your word of the year, but it's not easy. But despite of the difficulty, it helps you grow. So it's beautiful after all. 

Tiffany Rossdale: Yes, it absolutely, it absolutely helps you navigate with the consequences and also like the things that are going on in your life every day. I think also there to remind yourself that, oh, wait, because what you said, Maki, like, if you're not used to thinking about like, "Oh, wait, what was my word of the year again?" Like, that itself, it's not easy to remember every time, you know, right? But then when you get used to it, like when you're really been doing it for quite a while, which I am, I've been doing, right? I've been doing for four or five years now. For me, it's been a habit already. 

Maki Gingoyon: Yeah.

Tiffany Rossdale: So it's kind of like, I've been doing it, so it was easy for me to remind myself about if I don't know, oh wait, like for example, if I feel triggered, I feel like something, then I can reflect on my, "What was my word of the year?" And then, then it will give me some solutions or some, some things that I can reflect on, an action that I can probably do to remind myself about my word of the year and how I can navigate with this situation.

Maki Gingoyon: That is very true. I really hope that our friends who are listening will be able to find the strength and the courage to reflect if choosing a word for them for this year will help them guide them in living their life to the fullest for this year and achieving their goals. 

Tiffany Rossdale: Yes.

Maki Gingoyon: If you have a New Year's Resolution, then maybe choose a word that will help you achieve your New Year's Resolution.

Tiffany Rossdale: Oh, yeah, it can also be helpful for that. You know, you can also be like a tool to help you navigate with your New Year's Resolution or your goal of the year or whatever that is that you wanted to you know, achieve this year.

Maki Gingoyon: Yes.

Tiffany Rossdale: I think that will really help. I want to hear everyone's word of the year. If you're one of those people that's been listening to the podcast and you decided like, "Yes, okay, I'm going to do it as well," share us your word of the year. We would love to hear it. Message us directly, both me and Maki on our social media accounts. Let us know what Is it that you think about, anything that you think about, like this ritual that we've been doing. Anything, even though you don't believe it, let us know. We want to hear it.

Maki Gingoyon: Yes, even if you're going to tell us it's all a voodoo thing, please let us know. We accept that. We are going to respect that.

Tiffany Rossdale: We will call it "Tiffany and Maki's Voodoo."

Maki Gingoyon: "The Voodoo  Club of Tiffany and Maki." Please let us know what's your thought about it, and also share to us if you have been using the word of the year, or if you have started doing it. Please let us know and please also share it with your families and friends. Let's help one another. 

Tiffany Rossdale: Absolutely. Yeah, and also if they share it with us, it can be a topic where we can have a conversation about it on the T-Time Tuesdays. This is like a once a month episode that we do for T-Time Tuesdays. So we can discuss it if you share your word of the year. Also, if you have any topic that you would love for us to discuss with you, me and Maki are open to talk about anything. When I say anything, anything. 

Maki Gingoyon: How about maybe we can ask our friends to give us questions, like, personal questions? I think I'm ready. I'm already on that level now that Tiffany have introduced me to the podcast.

Tiffany Rossdale: You heard it first. You heard it first here on the podcast. Yes, Maki's accepting all the questions, personal- 

Maki Gingoyon: Personal and whatnot. We are ready. I am. I can't speak for Tiffany, but I am ready to answer your question.

Tiffany Rossdale: I'm always ready. 

Maki Gingoyon: So, yeah, please let us know and connect with us. We are more than happy to have a conversation with you. That's creating positive impact to yourself, to our community and to everyone else, and especially to the universe. 

Tiffany Rossdale: Yes, absolutely. Also, maybe we're thinking about on this episode that we can, I think we did it a few times during last year that we were able to, we've been able to invite someone and have a conversation with us together. 

Maki Gingoyon: True.

Tiffany Rossdale: So that's another thing, that's another thing that we can do. And if you know anyone that you think that will be a good conversation between me and Maki, yes, please feel free to let us know. 

Maki Gingoyon: We will be happy to share with you whatever conversations that we have as long as it's going to create a positive impact as well. We're done with the negative impact. We're just going to be putting positive impact. 

Tiffany Rossdale: Yeah, that's what we're here for. We're putting positive energy to everyone. 

Maki Gingoyon: Yeah. 

Tiffany Rossdale: And we also want to receive positive energy from everyone. 

Maki Gingoyon: Yes. 

Tiffany Rossdale: All right, Maki, this has been such a lovely conversation with you with our word of the year for 2025. This is going to be very exciting journey for us, and also we hope for our listeners as well. Final words for you, Maki, before we close the show? 

Maki Gingoyon: Thank you, everyone, for joining us. I wish you all the best for 2025, and do not force yourself to choose word of the year. Just think about it and whatever word that resonates with you, then go for it. There's no specific time when are you going to choose your word of the year. The most important part is you will stay true to that chosen word and it will help you achieve your goal for this year. 

Tiffany Rossdale: I love that. Thank you so much, Maki. Like, yes, don't be hard on yourself. That's why I chose the word comfort. I'm not going to be hard on myself as well. 

Maki Gingoyon: That is true. 

Tiffany Rossdale: All right, lovely listeners. Thank you so much for joining us. We love you all and stay tuned for next month's Breakfast With Tiffany Show's T-Time Tuesdays with Maki Gingoyon. 

Maki Gingoyon: Thank you, Tiffany. Thank you, everyone.

[Music]

Tiffany Rossdale: Thank you so much for tuning in. If you reach up until this last minute of the show, I am extremely grateful for you for tuning in the whole entire episode. If you enjoyed our episode today, please share it to your friends. You can copy and paste the link wherever you are listening to right now. 

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You can impact someone's life right now by just sharing our episodes today. I hope you enjoyed this episode today as much as I do. And I hope you know how much you matter, how much I appreciate your time for listening--how much I love you and appreciate you.

I am truly grateful for your kindness and your support. And as I always say, sprinkle kindness wherever you go. I love you and stay safe and healthy.

[Narration: Join us again next Tuesday for the Breakfast With Tiffany Show with Tiffany Rossdale.]