I love the start of a New Year. And I love making resolutions. I’m a goal-oriented, list-loving sort of person, so resolutions work for me.*
But a couple years ago, author and friend Beth Vogtintroduced me to the idea of choosing one word for each year. I latched onto that right away…as have many others. It’s been fun to see bloggers all over the place in this past week make mention of their “one word” for 2013.
Thought I’d share mine today…**
I wish I had a crazy cool story for how I landed on that word. I might’ve even, gasp, considered making something up—but that only lasted about a millisecond. Didn’t figure lying was a great way to start out the year.
Instead, the word simply popped into my head one day as I was writing an email to my cool crit partner, Lindsay Harrel. As I was writing that email, I was thinking about my tendency to rush from task to task…
I struggle sometimes to be present in each moment, to embrace “now” when I feel like “later” and all its to-dos are breathing down my neck. But I don’t want to be that person this year. I don’t want to be Busy Melissa. Or Distant Melissa. Or Moody Melissa.
I want to embrace God and what He has for me this year. I want to live each day with an attitude of, “Whatever your plan, God, I’m in.” I want to tap into that unflagging peace I see in some of my favorite people.
I want to embrace each day.
And the people around me.
And the always-there opportunities to be blessing.
I want to embrace the highs I know are ahead—like the release of my debut novel later this year. Yay! But also the lows—‘cause crappy stuff happens and if I really want a shot at that maturity thing, I’ll learn to respond with grace.
I want to work hard this year. Play hard. And especially pray hard.
Some of what I embrace this year is going to be easy, natural. Other things, I’ll have to choose to choose to choose to embrace.
But the choosing starts now. With a “one word” and a sense of newness and resolve.
How about you? Is there anything you’re choosing to embrace this year? Do you have a “one word” for 2013?
*Lindsay Harrel can attest to this. She received a leeengthy email last week with my list of resolutions/goals and action steps for getting to each one. Yeah, sometimes my Type A side likes to take over.
**Fun friend and blogger Melanie Moore created my “One Word” button. She rocks! She’s providing free buttons for anyone who requests one. Check out more here.
Comments 38
Great word. My word this year is “Abide.”
Love that word, Julie.
I like your thoughts behind the meaning of the word for the year. They challenge me, since I don’t “embrace” very well. I don’t do a word for the year but on occasion the Lord will give me a verse for a year. That happened last week: Exodus 15:2 The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him. I don’t know what’s ahead this year in many areas of my life, but I see that through it all I need to hold on the Lord’s strength and the fact that He is my God and let songs of His praise be in my mouth no matter what happens.
Beautiful verse, Anne.
I agree with Beth…beautiful verse, Anne, and definitely one to hold close to in each new day and new year. Thanks for sharing!
So often it comes back to the love of writing for me–purely loving it. I want to embrace that and the gift God’s given me. Mostly, I want to embrace HIM.
~ Wendy
Me too! I feel like when I’m really, REALLY embracing God, that’s when embracing everything else sort of just happens…if that makes sense…
Great word, M-Tagg! I can so identify. My one word is humility…don’t even ask the story behind why.
Now I want to ask about the story, though…
Loved your post on the MBT Ponderers yesterday, by the way!
A wonderful word. I think embracing the now will help me conquer my one word. Joy.
Here’s to embracing the new year, friend! Love ya!
Joy is one of my favorite words ever! Love ya too. There was a definite lack of Jessica Patch in my life in December. Haha! I felt a sense of relief when your blog returned this week. 🙂
I’ve loved reading all the One Words Melanie created. Some really surprised me! Enjoy “embracing” the new year! I’m excited for you!!
Thanks, Jill. I think it’s amazing that Melanie offered to create buttons for everyone. What a sweetheart!
Yay!! So excited to embrace your highs and lows with you, friend. You already know this, but my word is “rejoice.” The journal you sent me totally confirmed that one for me. Not sure what this year will bring, but I’m planning to rejoice always, no matter what. (You may need to remind me of this if things don’t go my way…LOL)
Oh, and I can’t wait to literally embrace you and our time together when you visit in Feb! And then again in June! And September! Can’t wait to spend more time with you. I want to cherish every moment. 🙂
I LOVE how your “one word” happened, Linz. Too cool! And yes, I will be happy to remind you to rejoice…
And YAY for literal embraces. Ahh, we are going to have so much fun in SIX WEEKS! And then again in June. And September. Dude, we’re going to have to think of something fun for after September…there ALWAYS needs to be something on the calendar to assure me I’ll get my Linz-in-person fix. Haha! 🙂
Deeper. Last year’s was Deep. But I hear His voice saying, “Not there yet. I want to take you deeper.” SO I’m diving in, freaked out and excited about what I’ll discover, about me, my God, and the stories He’ll help me find.
But “Embrace” I love. Can totally relate. Must think often, “Now is my friend. Now. Stay in the now.” 🙂
Happy New Year, Melissa!
Deep. Deeper. I love that, Raj. So, you’re set up pretty well for next year’s word if you stick with the theme: Deepest. But yeah, I really love that…hope you discover wonderful things about yourself, God and your stories! 🙂
Woops…I got sidetracked going over to Melanie’s blog! 🙂
I’ve also realized I need to embrace more of the journey. Having children has shown me that life goes by SOOOOO quickly. If we spend all of our time just getting to the next moment, the next big event, the next year, life goes by and we haven’t really lived.
My word this year is Hope, from Jeremiah 29:11.
She has a GREAT blog!
And I love that verse…one of my faves, for sure…it’s like, comforting, exciting and calming all at once!
Love the word “embrace.” I haven’t chosen a word, Melissa, but I suppose if I did, it would be “faith.” Without it, nothing would make sense.
I loved your words today!
Faith is a good, good word. 🙂
That word fits you perfectly, Melissa! You embrace life with gusto and embrace faith with confident expectation. Great choice!
Thanks, Donna! I hope to embrace like crazy this year. 🙂
I need to go to Melanie’s blog and request a button for this year. She is such a gracious woman to create these buttons for all of us one-worders.
I love the word you’ve selected –and all the reasons why.
And you, Melissa, are one special woman. I am so thankful you are in my life.
Melanie is awesome. And thanks, Beth, for introducing the one word concept to me.
Thank you for your super kind words, Beth. I am thankful YOU are in my life. Seriously, I feel crazily blessed… 🙂
Love this word – what a great focus for the new year!
Thanks, Stacy! Your comment makes me realize another great word for the year would be “focus.” I definitely need to do a lot of that. 🙂
Love your word, Melissa! Last year mine was JOY – this year REJOICE.
I think I said above that “joy” is one of my favorite words ever, Loree! And, hey, you share this year’s word with Lindsay. Cool!
Your one word “Embrace” riveted me to my toes!! What a perfect word for the coming year and I wish I’d thought of it!! Hope you won’t mind my adding it to my one word “prioritize,” because they work well together. Don’t you think!?
In Christian Joy,
Barb Shelton
Hi Barb, thanks for stopping by! I am definitely willing to share “Embrace.” And yes, it works so well with prioritize. Enjoy embracing your various priorities today! Blessings!
Oh I love your one word. Embrace is such a great one, because we all should embrace life as God intended. He gives such GREAT life and embracing it makes Him smile! I love it!
Hey…I love your little Embrace Logo. What software did you use to make it?
Hey Sherrinda! Melanie Moore made my Embrace button for me. She’s making them free for anyone who requests one. Here’s the link to learn more: http://www.onlyabreath.com/2012/12/theyre-here-free-one-word-blog-buttons/
Hope is my word….all my hope is in Jesus.
There’s not a better place to put our hope, is there? Love it!
For 2013, my ONE word is “Resolve,” accompanied by the Scripture: So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. 2 Thessalonians 1:11 NLT
Melanie made a button for my website too!
Hi Kim! I read that same verse in August of last year (In The Message paraphrase) and it became my life verse. I love it so much! And I love your word to go along with it. Thanks so much for stopping by.