In Others’ Words: My One Word for 2018

 



Let’s talk about choosing One Word for the coming year. 

 

2018 is just over a month away, but if you’ve been reading this blog for awhile, then you know that I gave up New Year’s resolutions over a decade ago. Why? All those good intentions — the “I wills” and the “I won’ts” — faded so quickly, and I always misplaced my list of resolutions before January was over.

I believe in choosing One Word and focusing on it for 365 days. Doing so changes my perspective. My heart. My actions.

Before I tell you the One Word I selected for 2018, here’s a quick recap of my One Words for the past 12 years.

 

2006: gratitude – I kept a gratitude journal and found my “glass-half-empty” attitude revolutionized.
2007: simplify – A severe illness turned this word into survival. I embraced simpler things in ways I never imagined.
2008: content – as in “be content with such things as you have” (Hebrews 13:5) I bought a lot less that year!
2009 & 2010: forgiveness – I had a lot to learn and unlearn about forgiveness.
2011: hope – I clung to this word when life hurt or when my heart ached for others who were hurting. I asked myself, “Are you going to abandon hope?” My answer: No.
2012: trust – During a year of change, I faced doubting versus trusting — and chose to trust.
2013: confidence – I’m so much stronger emotionally after keeping my heart and mind set on “not throwing away my confidence.” (Hebrews 10:35-36)
2014: think – I anchored my thinking to truth more and more, rather than letting my thoughts go wandering around in doubts and lies.
2015: collaborate – “to work jointly on an activity, especially to produce or create something.” I focused on collaborating with God in my writing life.
2016: prosper – to act wisely, as in “And David was acting wisely (prospering) in all his ways for the LORD was with him.” 1 Samuel 18 14. This word stayed with me as I confronted a lot of major (and minor) decisions.
2017: inheritance – Psalm 16:5-6 talks about having a “delightful inheritance.” To be honest, I wasn’t as intentional about my One Word as I’ve been in the past. Life was just one challenge after another. But God continued to show me the word again and again in small ways … and I’ve been encouraged that there’s more to this life than the here and now.

 

My One Word for 2018 is kindness. Why? There’s been a lot of divisiveness in the world this past year and we need more kindness.The verse I’m anchoring this One Word to is “Be kind to one another …” (Ephesians 4:32a). I also found a fun, multicolored visual on Etsy that says, “Throw kindness around like confetti.”

 

  In Your Words: I’d love to know if you’ve selected One Word for 2018 — and what it is. Or if you prefer to do resolutions, tell me why!

 

In Others\’ Words: My One Word for 2018 http://wp.me/p63waO-2sr #One Word #kindness

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\”Be kind to one another …\” Ephesians 4:32a NASB http://wp.me/p63waO-2sr #OneWord #kindness

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