For the past two years, I’ve chosen a guiding word for the year ahead. In 2013, my word was reach, which represented getting outside of my comfort zone after 4 years of doing the same thing, reaching out to others and trying to dream bigger. In 2014, I chose the word abundance, which served me in about a thousand ways this year including encouraging me to think outside the box, recognize all the possibilities open to me, and to think big instead of small. I love both of these words – I was actually reluctant to switch away from abundance, I don’t think it’s finished teaching me things – and will definitely keep them in my toolbox.
For 2015, my word is grace. I can’t say exactly where it came from, but when I was making shortlists of words for the year, grace kept appearing at the very top. This is the first of my words that has felt a little beyond me: I’m not religious, and “graceful” is not even one of the top 50 words that me or anyone I know would use to describe me. I don’t know how to embody grace, I’m pretty bad at having faith in things, I fall down a lot, and I don’t always take care of myself. But I wish I was better at all those things, which is exactly why I need this word this year.
Grace is one of those beautiful words that has so many different meanings and so many synonyms for each of those meanings. Some of my favourites are: charm, ease, kindness, charity, enhance, embellish, elevate.
There are three ways that I want to approach grace this year:
- Be graceful: I want to make choices that are in line with my values, stay centered, act calmly, dress well, listen to my still small inner voice, take care of myself, and not fall down so much.
- Say grace: The way you might say grace around the dinner table to show your thanks for the food, I want to actively appreciate everything I am lucky enough to have in my life. I want to full experience and enjoy the moment. I want to tell people what they mean to me and keep in touch better.
- Grace of the world: I want to working on letting go more and worrying less. I want to embrace that things work out the way they’re supposed to, and try to believe that “what misses me was never meant for me, and what is meant for me will never miss me.”
My choosing a word for each year is inspired by Ali Edwards’ One Little Word project. Her word this year is give which I love for all its various meanings and may adopt as one of my secondary words for the year (along with whimsy). I love having three little words that have a special meaning in my life, and I’m looking forward to seeing how grace grows with me this year.
Do you choose a word or intention to guide your year?
More about my words of the year: Reach and Abundance. You can download that wallpaper here.
