“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language
And next year’s words await another voice.”
— T.S. Eliot
New Years is the chance for a fresh start. A new beginning. The start of a new chapter.
One of my most treasured New Year’s traditions is coming up with a word for the year: a single word that I want to be the theme for my entire year.
I started this practice five years ago, and it’s helped me live more intentionally.
When I’m questioning what’s the right thing to do, I will look to my word of the year for guidance.
It becomes a mantra I meditate on throughout the year
In 2017, my word was release.
I left my job, my community, my children and my grandchildren in Portland to follow my call to serve in Port Town-send.
In 2018, I was still quite new, so my word was embrace.
I embraced my new congregation and community with all my heart.
In 2019, my word was explore as I discovered the many wild spaces and places here on the Olympic Peninsula.
In 2020, my word was creativity — and it’s a good thing, too.
COVID hit that year and changed everything. I had to figure out how to convert from in-person services to online services and from paper manuscripts to teleprompters.
My word for 2021 was gather, as in “find ways for congregant to safely gather.”
Thus, I had to reimagine how to orient all of our services and events toward the out-of-doors.
My congregation bought canopies to keep off the rain, orchestrated three COVID vaccination drives and practiced proper COVID protocols.
On the cusp of 2022, I’ve decided my word for the new year will be sustainability.
I aim to help sustain our morale and our sense of connection to each other, the earth and the Great Mystery.
How about you?
What word would help you live with intention?
Whatever word you choose (or do not choose), I wish you joy today and in the year ahead.
May you each experience kindness, generosity and compassion that meets you when you need them most — and the wisdom to recognize them as the blessings they are.
Happy New Year, everyone!
________
Issues of Faith is a rotating column by religious leaders on the North Olympic Peninsula. The Rev. Kate Lore is a minister at the Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Port Townsend. Her email is katelore@gmail.com.
