A year ago I learned about the idea to choose one word
instead of making a list of New Year's Resolutions. Yes, please, I loved the
idea right away having many times been frustrated by lists, lists, lists. I
either could never come up with things for a list that I actually cared about
or I knew the list wouldn't last beyond the first three weeks of January. Or
both.
At first I didn't know what my word would or could be. But
two things happened and I had it in an instant. My sister-in-law had mentioned One Word 365 and that she
chose to keep her word private and personal. I knew I could pick a word if I
didn't have pressure to share it, because I knew it would be an intimate thing.
Then I read the post that explains One Word 365 and mentions that if the
word doesn't scare you, that's not the right word.
My heart skipped a beat as my word for 2013 slammed into it
like a clingy ping pong ball. I knew my word. I knew there was no going back.
And I knew I had to try.
I feared failing, and just as much I feared succeeding.
Because my word would turn my world upside down if I let it. Which is
exactly what I wanted, and exactly what I feared.
My word seemed impossible.
It was also the thing I wanted most.
I started strong but directionless, trying to find ways to
live my word out in the little things. Life is daily, and so was my word. It
was encouragement, it was a challenge.
There were brief seasons the whole thing slipped my mind,
but the word always came back, ready to urge me onward.
And there were days I saw my life taking the shape of my word as I made hard choices while
keeping it in mind.
It seemed impossible, yet here at the year's end, I have
embraced and lived my word for 2013 more perhaps than I ever have before. And
because of it, I'm looking forward to how much I will own it and live it out
in ten years because I took the first steps now.
My word was FREE.
Now I'm looking forward to the next year and the next word. I’m not sure what it is yet, and I feel a bit like I'm trying too hard to find it. I'm not sure the fear will feel the same as it did last year, because last year my word was terrifying, and also I've seen what incredible things can happen in my life with a focus on one word for the bigger picture. Though I haven't quite found my word for 2014 yet, I think I'm close. I'm hoping it will clutch my heart and hold on fast much like free did. This year I'm more hopeful and a little bit less scared.
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