New Year’s resolutions never really held much attraction for me and were not something I ever put into practice.  I used the excuse it was because I had heard so many people abandon their resolutions in a matter of months if not days, so why bother following what seemed an impractical practice?  In all honesty, however, I don’t believe practicality entered the equation.   I believe I was more afraid of failing.  Afraid of not achieving a goal I had put out to the universe and perhaps had been ill-conceived at its inception.  This didn’t mean I didn’t try to change and grow, have better health, save more money,  read more books and a myriad of other things I wished to accomplish.  It just meant there was no definitive goal.  

So it was with great interest during an interview that focused on the Gates Foundation and it’s accomplishments, I listened to Melinda Gates speak about how she does not do New Year’s revolutions either.  Instead, for several years, she has chosen a single word to represent the year ahead.  A word that she refers back to as she makes decisions about the trajectory of her life and even for day to day inspiration and guidance.  For me this was a beautiful concept.  A single word that I could use as a guiding post to help keep me on the path I wished to take.  

While novel to me, I found this approach to be well practiced as I searched to see if there was a particular way to find my word for 2020.  While it seemed there was no single concise way to accomplish this, I incorporated the following suggestions as I searched for my word.  I reflected back on the current year and what I had learned, how I had grown and changed.   I took a brief 5 minutes and wrote down all the words that came forward as I thought of the year ahead immediately going back and evaluating each one.  I projected how each word would lead my decisions.  I considered how each word felt as I spoke it, then how I felt as I wrote it again.  This helped me narrow down the list to only a few words.  Lastly I prayed.  I asked for assistance in choosing the word that would be the best guide for me on my journey in the coming year.  

So as this year ends and a new one begins, heralding in a new decade, I have a single word shining on my path to help me find the way.  To accompany me as an advisor and guide my footsteps.  I am sure I will still stray; that there will be shortcuts that aren’t really shortcuts and side trails that capture my attention, but with this word as my guiding beacon, I will be able to find my way back more easily than in the past.  This I believe.  

As I am embarking on a new practice this year I wonder do you set New Year’s resolutions or have a word of the year?  Perhaps you have found a different way of greeting the new year with intention. I would love to hear your preference as you dance into 2020.  Wishing you much light and joy on your heartfelt journey in 2020! ~♥~