Do you have a word of the year? I do. For the past three years, I’ve chosen a word to guide me through the year. It started when I began exploring year-long Christian devotionals, and the idea just resonated with me.
Here are my words so far:
- 2023: And
- 2024: Nuance
- 2025: Engage
This year’s word surprised me because it came to me early—in November, during my early morning Bible study and devotional. The word engage kept appearing in my thoughts, almost like a quiet nudge. I wasn’t sure what to make of it at first.
Later, while volunteering at church as part of the Volunteer Central team, I found confirmation. Another team member shared how her word came early, too. For her, the word is ascend. She’s not entirely sure what it means yet, but as a Christian counselor stepping into more management roles, it feels significant. We had a great conversation about how these words shape our perspectives and paths.
Reflecting on my previous words, I’ve gained a lot of insight over the years. In 2023, I struggled with seeing things in shades of grey. I was very much a black-or-white thinker. The word and challenged me to embrace complexity—to hold together ideas, emotions, and situations that didn’t seem to belong.
In 2024, nuance became my guide. It taught me to let go of rigid expectations, especially in relationships. I often wanted more from others than they could give, and learning to appreciate subtlety and small shifts was a challenge. But when I accepted those moments, they brought peace.
Every time I think of engage, I picture Captain Jean-Luc Picard from Star Trek: The Next Generation, boldly commanding the Enterprise into new frontiers. That image inspires me to step into the year with intention and courage.
What about you? Do you have a word of the year? I’d love to hear about it.
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