the year of: no word….!

Eight years ago, my word of 2013 was light.
Seven years ago, my word of 2014 was release.
Six years ago, my word of 2015 was nourish.
Five years ago, my word for 2016 was presence.
Four years ago, my word for 2017 was authentic.
Three years ago, my word for 2018 was hygge.
Two years ago, my word for 2019 was no.
Last year, my word for 2020 was faith.

Several months ago, I had a possible word picked out for 2021. A few days ago, I decided that word just didn’t fit anymore.

2021? I have no word.

And that’s OK. I do know that I want to continue to live with light. I want to release things that I don’t need anymore. I need to nourish my body and soul. I need to be more present. I want to continue to be authentic. I’d love to cultivate an atmosphere of hygge in my home. I’d like to continue saying no to things that aren’t necessary. And of course, I want to continue living a life with faith! I suppose you could say that my ‘word’ this year is just to bundle together all the words I’ve had!

I’d like to be intentional with my time, energy, and resources. Stop acquiring stuff I don’t need. Strengthen relationships. Simplify (again). Step away from the noise. Be content, but continue to grow and improve myself. And above all, live for God.

For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

Romans 14:7-9

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Colossians 3:1-4

Cheers, friends.

the year of: faith.

Seven years ago, my word of 2013 was light.
Six years ago, my word of 2014 was release.
Five years ago, my word of 2015 was nourish.
Four years ago, my word for 2016 was presence.
Three years ago, my word for 2017 was authentic.
Two years ago, my word for 2018 was hygge.

Last year, my word for 2019 was no.

This week, I pondered whether or not I even wanted to do a word for 2020. I’ve not really been paying attention to the words I used the last few years – sometimes doing the opposite of what I had hoped. Then this word showed up in several places and I decided to keep a word for 2020. This might be my last ‘word of the year.’ And it is a word that I want to keep for the rest of my life.

This word?

Faith.

The last few years have not felt as joyful as years prior. The last few years have felt more bitterness, stress, doubt, exhaustion, chaos, discontent, anger, and disappointment than years prior. They have been good years. Nothing terrible has happened to me. I’m healthy and well. But my soul is restless and drained.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. – Hebrews 11:1

I need to have more faith in God.  In everything that happens in my life.

For me, FAITH is:

1. putting God first.
2. trusting God with everything.
3. not worrying because God has a plan that is greater than mine.
4. knowing that there will be hard times. we are not promised a happy life on Earth.
5. staying away from things that aren’t beneficial to my growth (whether this be certain foods, social media, movies, whatever).
6. peace.

Here’s to having more faith this year…..

the year of: no.

Six years ago, my word of 2013 was light.
Five years ago, my word of 2014 was release.
Four years ago, my word of 2015 was nourish.
Three years ago, my word for 2016 was presence.
Two years ago, my word for 2017 was authentic.

Last year, my word for 2018 was hygge.

A few months ago, I knew exactly what word I wanted for 2019.

This year? The word for 2019 will be NO.

Yep. You heard that right. NO.

It’s a bold, powerful word. For me, NO is:

1. saying “not right now” to potential commitments.
2. being more intentional about how I spend my time.
3. allowing for better quality when I say, “yes.”
4. avoiding purchases to cut back on my debt.
5. refusing to conform.
6. staying away from things that aren’t beneficial to my growth (whether this be certain foods, social media, movies, whatever).
7. peace.

I’m tired of feeling overwhelmed. I’m tired of constantly comparing (even when I don’t intend to, I still do). I’m tired of wasting my time. I’m tired of forgetting to focus on what does matter: my relationship with God, my family, and relationships with people. I’m tired of being tired.

I’ve been reminded more of how short life is. Death has been on my mind a lot lately. I’m not sure why, but regardless, it is prompting me to be more intentional about how I use this life that I do have — whether it’s fifty years left, five years, five days.

This word is also a reminder to myself that I don’t need to be/do/consume all.

Less commitments, less business, less stress, less mess, less debt, less distractions.

More space, more time, more room to breathe. More life.

Cheers to your year, friends.