A single word for the year. New concept for me. I'm not ready to choose 'no' as my word for 2024, although I say 'yes' too often.
Like you, I'm seeking to be more present to things (which turn out to be the Lord and His people) that matter; really matter. During 2023, too many yeses were crowding out my commitment to invest more into important personal relationships. Some of those yeses occurred a few years ago. Like the northbound train that comes rolling into FTC in the middle of each night, the momentum of those yeses persists and their noise rings in my ears. Only a lengthy and noisy stop is possible.
For me (and maybe for you), this may take more than a year.
I like your poem. And I'm a fan of having a word for the year - last year was the first time I did that, and the word was Courage. It was a helpful one as I traversed some difficult work challenges, a broken friendship, and other places-I'd-rather-not-be.
This year I have written guiding questions instead of having one word. They've been useful - and sort of my way of evaluating whether something is a Yes or No:
1. Does this align with my mission?
2. Does this create opportunity for others to grow?
3. Does this cultivate connection among people whose backgrounds/circumstances are different than mine?
4. Does this diminish funds that I could more prudently save?
A single word for the year. New concept for me. I'm not ready to choose 'no' as my word for 2024, although I say 'yes' too often.
Like you, I'm seeking to be more present to things (which turn out to be the Lord and His people) that matter; really matter. During 2023, too many yeses were crowding out my commitment to invest more into important personal relationships. Some of those yeses occurred a few years ago. Like the northbound train that comes rolling into FTC in the middle of each night, the momentum of those yeses persists and their noise rings in my ears. Only a lengthy and noisy stop is possible.
For me (and maybe for you), this may take more than a year.
I like your poem. And I'm a fan of having a word for the year - last year was the first time I did that, and the word was Courage. It was a helpful one as I traversed some difficult work challenges, a broken friendship, and other places-I'd-rather-not-be.
This year I have written guiding questions instead of having one word. They've been useful - and sort of my way of evaluating whether something is a Yes or No:
1. Does this align with my mission?
2. Does this create opportunity for others to grow?
3. Does this cultivate connection among people whose backgrounds/circumstances are different than mine?
4. Does this diminish funds that I could more prudently save?
5. Does this help develop a God-given talent?