“Do not cling to old ways as you step into a new year.” ~ Sarah Young, Jesus Calling.

Of course the meaning is to let go of the old ways that don’t work. Hold on and carry with you to the things that are working. A friend of mine told me that rather than look back and see the things that didn’t go well and things she needs to change from the old year, she takes time to review her progress from the previous year. What a great idea! When you see your progress, you see what you’re doing right, what is helpful and good and true, and to use when you need it.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. ~ Philippians 4:8

What we focus on grows. With that in mind, I’m once more choosing a focus word for the new year, as I have for years now. I find this practice a great help, no matter that, as these things generally go, I remember my word at every turn for the first few weeks, then not so much in the coming months, then along about summer, I tend to forget all about the word or even what it was, and have to come here to look it up, if I didn’t note it down somewhere (and if I did, I lost it). I have to look it up several times through the rest of the year. But at least I’m given a touchstone to help me through. I find the word stays with me in my subconscious, and grows and guides.

Last year my word was Hope. An excerpt from the post I wrote:

My current hope is that Little Dude will give up singing about ‘poop’, and the rain will stop, and the roof won’t leak too badly before the new roof is on. To update you, I have one third of a new roof, managed before the workmen had to stop because of weather.

 How much has progressed! Little Dude did give up singing about poop, and the rain stopped, and I got a new roof, after much agony. All of that is past, and was resolved. One thing about life, as Carl Sandburg said, “It goes on.”

This year my word is Love. I focus on the word, and trust it to grow within, and to carry me the year through. I may forget it, but let it not forget me.

I know many of you practice choosing a word. What’s yours?