Some years back, it became a thing to choose a word for the year. I liked the idea, so several years ago, after angsting over which word might best suit me, I chose one. Not long into the year I realized I had no idea what to do with it. So I did what I often do: nothing.
The following year, I tried again. I did a bit better with that one; it inspired a few activities that I followed through on, but it was more of a word-for-a-few-months than a word for the year.
Not quite ready to give up on the whole idea, last year I chose yet another word: grace. It was the right word at the right time, and its threads wove themselves throughout my 2017. Our Sunday school class did a study on grace; I read books with the word grace in their titles. I gave it to others. I gave it to myself. I received it (over and over and over again!) I feel I ended the year a better person because I am so much more mindful of the grace and gracefulness that inhabits my world. And I now understand how a word can help shape the direction I travel.
So what word sets the stage for my 2018? Amazingly, I did not have to even ponder what this year's word would be. When I found out a class I've been wanting to take - one which I had been willing to travel 2-hours round trip on Saturday mornings to attend - will be offered three minutes away on Thursday evenings this semester, my word became clear: PERSPECTIVES.
Although the word is both the title of the class and name of the organization behind it, the relevance of the timing is undeniable. Having just become officially retired, I am standing on the brink of possibilities and options. I can coast along and become an older version of the same old me, or I can choose to look at my life and the world I live in from different angles. A friend recently commented my new life status is "refired" and "funemployed." I liked her perspectives. There's no doubt it's my new perfect word.
The following year, I tried again. I did a bit better with that one; it inspired a few activities that I followed through on, but it was more of a word-for-a-few-months than a word for the year.
Not quite ready to give up on the whole idea, last year I chose yet another word: grace. It was the right word at the right time, and its threads wove themselves throughout my 2017. Our Sunday school class did a study on grace; I read books with the word grace in their titles. I gave it to others. I gave it to myself. I received it (over and over and over again!) I feel I ended the year a better person because I am so much more mindful of the grace and gracefulness that inhabits my world. And I now understand how a word can help shape the direction I travel.
So what word sets the stage for my 2018? Amazingly, I did not have to even ponder what this year's word would be. When I found out a class I've been wanting to take - one which I had been willing to travel 2-hours round trip on Saturday mornings to attend - will be offered three minutes away on Thursday evenings this semester, my word became clear: PERSPECTIVES.
Although the word is both the title of the class and name of the organization behind it, the relevance of the timing is undeniable. Having just become officially retired, I am standing on the brink of possibilities and options. I can coast along and become an older version of the same old me, or I can choose to look at my life and the world I live in from different angles. A friend recently commented my new life status is "refired" and "funemployed." I liked her perspectives. There's no doubt it's my new perfect word.
#newdirections, #perspectives, #refired
