My Inspiring Word for 2016

Some people like to choose a word at the turn of the year to give direction to the twelve months of opportunity that lie ahead.

I’m definitely one of those people.

Life is crazy, and without focus, we can become slaves to reaction. With four kids, a busy husband, and a creative passion that won’t lie down and be quiet, I’ve got to approach these hectic days of my life with intention, or else I just might lose them. More importantly, I might lose myself.

Last year, I chose:

I wanted to do less “multitasking” and more appreciating. I’ve gotten better, but honestly, there’s still plenty of room for progress. I could have used present again, but where’s the inspiration in that?

I’ll keep “present” tucked in my pocket, but I’m gonna add a new one. My people and I have something else to work on. There’s a disturbing trend in our household:  we complain.

• We whine about the school system (We live in the poorest part of Virginia, and we do not have the programs and classes available in the rest of the state. NO AP classes at the high school. Don’t even say “technology club” to me.)
• We grumble about the people who shop at Wal-Mart in their PJs.  (Seriously, full-on button-down flannel with sneakers.)
• We speak ill of others. My children vent about kids at school who don’t want to work and who spend lunch “pantsing” each other. I get uptight about parents who don’t stop their kids from posting suggestive pictures on Instagram. (What is WRONG with that mother?)
• I despair at the minutiae of my life, the endless pattern of laundry, scheduling, and meal prep that saps my energy. And I fuss about it.

Underlying these complaints is a spirit of superiority. We complain and pass judgement because somehow, we’re too important for Wal-Mart and laundry and kids struggling at school.

But we’re not. This sense of condescension goes against our faith. It promotes negativity. It drains energy.

Fortunately, I’ve got a solution: humility.

• When I’m humble, I remember that some days I don’t have it all together and that I shouldn’t judge the lady in flannel.
• When I’m humble, I recognize that all parents use different styles and my approach isn’t the only one that works.  I also recall the times I’ve stumbled as a parent and remind myself that we are all doing the best we can with what we’ve got.
• When I’m humble, I realize my children need compassion as much as intellectual stimulation.
• When I’m humble, I put the needs of others before me and stop spiraling down the negative path of self-pity.

So, here it is, the word for 2016:

Word Nerd Note: I’ve picked the adjective.  The verb humble means:

• to make (someone) feel less important or proud
• to easily defeat (someone or something) in a way that is surprising or not expected

Yikes! See how quickly things can change with just a shift in part of speech? That is definitely not the humble I will embrace in 2016, and it’s a good reminder that things can get ugly, fast.

Speaking of “embrace”, my blogging buddy Dana chose that as her word for 2016.  Read more at her blog, Kiss My List.

What word would you choose to define your actions in 2016? Why?

Thanks for sharing!

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