My word for the year--what's yours?

Wordle: WW
          Happy New Year to everyone. I hope 2015 is your happiest, best time ever. Do you do resolutions? Or do you do, like so many have said this year, “intentions”?
          I don’t care that much for the intentions meme because it just makes me think of the old “road to hell” saying and I’ve had enough good intentions to make that a scary thought. I don’t make resolutions because that is just setting myself up to fail. I don’t mind failure all that much, because as long as I’m failing, I’m still trying, but I’m not going to invite it, either, thank you very much.
          So I choose a word for the year. It wasn’t my idea, though I don’t know whose it was. In 2013, my word was joy—an easy choice because it’s my favorite word. In 2014, it was magic. I don’t remember why I chose this, but it was...well, yeah, it was a magical year.
          This year, however, a word didn’t fall from the sky or wake me in the night. I couldn’t think of one. I even asked the pastor at church if he’d mind tossing some good words out there for me.
          And even though he didn’t mean to—the word was just one he used in his sermon—and even though I’m not even crazy about the word, I snatched 2015’s word right off the pulpit.
          Expand.  
          No, wait, don’t judge. I know it’s not a cool word like magic or a beloved one like joy. It doesn’t even look pretty in print. But that’s the word. And here’s what I want to do with it.
  1. Expand my faith. No, I’m not going to proselytize or otherwise hit anyone in the face with it, but I am going to give it a bigger space.
  2. Expand my spirit. I’m a Pollyanna. I’m a happy girl who can find the good in almost any situation. I’m going to stop being embarrassed about that.
  3. Expand my vocabulary. I just love words, don’t you, and I don’t know enough of them. The fact that my...er...maturity is causing me to forget a lot of them necessitates me latching onto more and using them in fun places when I—
  4.  –expand my writing. I’m not sure how, yet, but it needs to grow.
  5. Expand healthy diet and exercise, because other habits have caused a great deal of expansion in areas I don’t care to discuss.
  6. Expand the width of my mind. It’s so easy for it to narrow up, to think experience always equals rectitude, to close against things that are new or uncomfortable.
  7. Expand my horizons. I want to go somewhere I haven’t been, see things I haven’t seen.

          There will probably be more expansion as I go along, and chances are good I won’t like some of it—that’s the way it goes.
          So, Happy New Year to you. Good luck with your resolutions or intentions—or with your words. If you’d like to share yours, we’d be happy to hear them.
          Oh! By the way, I sort of promised a prize with last week’s post. I’ve done a Random Name Pick and LoRee Peery is the winner! 
Liz Flaherty
Monday Wrangler

Comments

  1. Hi Liz! I'm thinking about going in the other direction and reducing. Reducing the number on my scales, reducing the money I spend, reducing the time I take away from writing, etc...
    Good luck to us both!

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    1. Sandra--I LOVE that attitude. What a great word! Good luck.

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    2. I'm with Margie--love the attitude and the word choice. Best of luck!

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    1. I spoke on peace for a December event. The long and short of it: Peace is Jesus.

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    2. Hard to argue with that, Vic. I hope it spreads around and becomes a worldwide phenomenon!

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  3. Faith. I committed myself to four projects this year, and now have to have lazer surgery on both eyes. Plus we're still looking for a new home, so definitely stepping out in FAITH this year!

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    1. Cataracts already, Molly? I have them, but they're not bad yet. However, I did have Lasik something like 17 years ago and I've never been sorry for one little minute. Good luck on all projects, events, and home searches.

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    2. No, been diagnosed with early glaucoma. Apparently, it skipped a generation in my family. The only other person with it was a great-uncle. So yay me....first it was just the left eye for four months, but as of today, the right eye decided to join in the elevated pressure 'fun'. Oh boy....

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  4. I'm still deciding on my word which I will announce on Thursday. But these are definitely great choices. mmmmmmm...

    Have you been to the Pacific NW?? You could come see me. Not that I have a spare bed, but...

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    1. We spent a week in Tacoma when our oldest and family were stationed at Ft. Lewis, going down to Bend, OR, where my sister lived. It was a great, fun place to visit, but I'm not sure I'll ever get the other half that far away again! Can't wait to see your word.

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  5. Expand is a great word for the new year. I'll be doing the same thing in many aspects of my life too. :)

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  6. Love your list, Liz! I don't have a word for 2015 (might have to think about that), but it's freeing to think of allowing my inner Pollyanna to flourish instead of trying to hide her under a barrel. OG might grumble, but he grumbles anyway.

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    1. LOL. Duane just rolls his eyes, but I think he's used enough to it that he doesn't really mind too much. I figure if I complained as much as I chirp, he'd REALLY hate that!

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  7. Excellent post, Liz! And I love how you expanded on your word. I've never selected a word of the year before. Lately, I've noticed myself using the word ONWARD, so I guess that will be my word for 2015. Also reminds me of "Onward, christian soldiers..."

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  8. Expand is a wonderful word. Mine is rest. I catch myself going in all directions at times until I hear the words in my spirit to cease striving. So I want to rest in the Lord and avoid spinning in so many directions. He will enable me to get done what He wants me to.

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    1. I hope you find your rest, LoRee. Thanks for visiting the Wranglers!

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  9. Liz, love your word "expand" and the explanation. You gave me much to think about this year. My word for 2014 was "gratitude." Not sure of one for this year - maybe re-engage. I just finished a doctorate and it consumed me for the last year. Now it is time to re-engage with my life, my family, my friends and my faith.

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    1. I think that's an excellent one, Carolyn, and one you can have fun with.

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  10. I suppose if I had a word for 2015 it would be engage. I kind of coasted in 2014. Just put up a blog this morning about goals and evaluation of same. I'm worried that intentions won't be taken seriously, so I'm being old fashioned and sticking with goals. ; )

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    1. Good for you, Roben. I did state a few intentions (swimming, for one major one) but don't know if I'll ever make it there. I'm going to come and visit right now...

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  11. Great post, Liz. I've been seeing posts everywhere for the past several weeks about choosing a word and I just couldn't think of one...until yesterday. I was having a conversation with my son and he was in the middle of saying, "No more talk, this year it's all about..." That's when it hit me. ACTION is my word for the year. No more talking, overthinking and endless planning. BTW I love your point about expanding your spirit and not apologizing for being Pollyanna. I think I'm going to borrow that concept, too. After all, we Pollyannas have to stick together. ;-)

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    1. LOL. I'm glad to have you to stick together with, Reese! And I love your word, too.

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