My Word for the Year

If you’ve known me at least a year or more, you may know I do a word-for-the-year rather than resolutions. It works much better for me to think big picture about the journey I want to walk in the year ahead rather than mapping out a final destination or a sense of arrival points along the way. You can read about past words here, here, and here.

For me, resolutions tend to function like blinders. I end up missing many of the surprising ways God wants to show up in my life. A word, however, tends to function more like a filter or lens. I look around with some intention, but I’m much more open and free to respond to the ways God and my word may show up as I live each day.

My word for 2020 is FOCUS. I have a tendency to coast in a lot of ways. Don’t get me wrong – I’m a hard-worker, and I get a lot done. But it is very easy for me to get a lot done without really moving the needle on the more important things in life. I can move one pile of rocks from here to there without even realizing it.

I get distracted by all the things I want to do, the books I want to read, the things I want to try, the dreams I want to live, the people I want to love. And while my mind and heart are swimming in ALL THE THINGS, I get too overwhelmed to take the steps to make it happen. Before I know it, another year has come and gone, and while good – even great – things happened, I regret not living with more intentionality … more focus.

Age has taught me time is a precious, irreplaceable gift. A gift that goes faster each year. If I am not focused, I will whittle away this one wild and precious life. (Thank you, Mary Oliver.)

In 2020, I want to be more focused. I want to be a better steward of my “yes”. I want to say no the lesser loves in my love – the things and people I turn to for acceptance, meaning, and validation – in order to say YES to Divine Love.

If you have a word for 2020, I’d love to hear it and cheer you on!