A Word, The End of a Year

 

As you know if you have been following me for a while, I have a word I embrace each year. I have done this for much longer than I have been blogging because I realized resolutions just didn't work for me. But focusing on a single word, I could do that.

This year (2025) my word was HOPE. At the beginning of the year, I just knew I would have to hold on to hope because I felt strongly it was going to be a rough year in our world. It has been and continues to be rough, but hope has helped me persevere. 

Often when I embrace a word I start the year out with good intentions, but sometimes throughout the year I sort of set it aside. I don't think of it every day. The word I choose is usually for me alone to do the internal work and then I get distracted. 

Hope did hold my attention and often I would post on Instagram to hold on to hope in the dark night. For I do believe we are in dark times.

Now I have come to the end of the year and surprising to me I am still learning about my word. Like I said, it is usually internal work; but interestingly just a couple days I was reminded it also can be external. I came across a post on Instagram that said many things it hoped for others. The more I have thought of that the more my heart has grown, for I do hope also for others.

I hope for you that life is always "enough".

I hope for you that you will have peace.

I hope for you that your heart will feel joy.

I hope for you that you will be well.

I hope for you that you will always feel safe and cared for.

and

I hope for you that you will always have a full cup of tea.

The song that comes to mind is "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me". Hope soothes the rough edges and can give peace.

The picture above is a hint to my word for next year, which I will post on another day. It was taken at Multnomah Falls, a tributary, just this week.

Do you choose a word, or do you make resolutions for the new year?

Sending love,

Marilyn