Word of the Year & Free Printables

Happy New Year, you guys! I know there are times when it can be tough to choose a Word of the Year. But then there are other times when a single event or moment changes everything and the impact of that one word is enough to keep you motivated for 365 days.

Have you chosen a Word of the Year yet?

I can still picture the minute I decided what my 2019 Word of the Year would be. It was October 25^th and we were in the middle of the kitchen makeover for the Fall One Room Challenge. Both of S’s legs were in full casts following a major fall down the stairs in the parking garage at work.

After a long day at the emergency room it had taken four people in the pouring rain to help get her inside the house. We had to move furniture and cabinet doors and there was dust and dog hair everywhere. Our only goal was to regroup and at least feel settled for the night despite the piles of DIY.

I can remember walking into the kitchen after everyone had left just looking around at the mess and what had become my life. I know it sounds melodramatic but at the time, you guys, I can’t even tell you how overwhelmed I felt.

This was the moment I chose the word, “Simplify.”

I kept it to myself until my family returned home from their ski trip a few days ago. We were standing in the kitchen at Bliss Barracks when my baby sister said, “I know what my Word of the Year is going to be!”

Now, I’m gonna be totally honest with you guys, I was SHOCKED she already had her Word of the Year. She’s not the most organized person and I’ve never even heard her talk about yearly goals much less a Word of the Year.

That being said, I wish you guys could meet her sometime. While she is one of the flakiest people I’ve ever met, she is also one of the most loving people I’ve ever met. She is kind and encouraging, super funny, crazy smart and when she has bangs, she looks like a French version of our mom. I know I’m gushing here but she’s a fantastic mom, wife, sister and friend. We truly adore her.

When I asked my sister why she had finally decided to choose a Word of the Year after all this time, she simply said, “I felt like hit a wall and needed to change some things.”

I thought back to that day in October when I was standing in the middle of a kitchen under construction, surrounded by messy piles and knew exactly how she felt.   I felt the same way and I’m thinking there might be some of you that have felt that way too.

Choosing a Word of the Year doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does need to be a word that resonates with you so completely it will help keep you motivated all year. When you’re choosing a Word of the Year it should be purpose filled and make you want to change or get back on track almost immediately.

Your Word of the Year can help keep you grounded and focused. It can help anchor you and guide you when you feel like you’ve lost your way or are having trouble making decisions. It can change how you feel about your life, yourself and what goals you decide to achieve this year.

It’s crazy to think one word can be that powerful but it’s totally true. In the past I’ve chosen:

• Believe (2014)
• Committed (2015)
• Intention (2016)
• Open (2017)
• Consistent (2018)

and I can honestly say, every year I learn something about myself I never expect to learn. Sometimes it’s resilience, resolve, patience, kindness, balance, self-awareness, confidence, gratitude, learning to be a better planner, to be more empathetic, to relax or just sit in the quiet of the present moment.

Not all those lessons were easy lessons to learn but now that I’m on the other side of things, I can tell you with complete certainty, they were all necessary.

After I saw the messy DIY piles stacked up everywhere and all over the house for months, I knew I needed to choose a word that would inspire action which is why I chose:

sim·pli·fy

/ˈsimpləˌfī/

verb

to make (something) simpler or easier to do or understand

This year, more than any other year, I’m looking forward to:

• Keeping Sundays Sacred
• Cultivating Clarity
• Continuing to grow TCG with purpose
• Living Clutter-Free
• Doing more of the things I know work well
• Letting go of the things that no longer serve our needs
• Loving others well
• Showing up in a way I can be most proud
• Creating white space to think, breathe, rest and feel creative without the boundaries of time or appointments or things I’ve deemed “urgent” that can actually wait or tending to constant interruptions that are not priorities
• Embracing the gift of imperfection

One of my favorite things about using PowerSheets by the fabulous ladies at Cultivate What Matters is how many times we’re reminded it’s ok to grow slow. I know learning to simplify so many different areas of daily life by implementing these ideas is going to take time and I’m totally on board with Team Grace Not Perfection. I hope you are too!

If every year by February you’ve already fallen short on your New Year’s Resolutions, I highly encourage you to try choosing a Word of the Year instead. That one word can help keep you focused on what really matters to you and can inspire you to step out of your comfort zone and live a life you can be excited about every single day.

Ready to live out your Word of the Year?

We are too, and we can’t wait to cheer you on! These 5×7 Word of the Year printables can be easily printed out on card stock and framed, placed on your favorite bulletin board, the refrigerator, your planner, your desk at the office or to use as a bookmark!

 

Word-of-the-Year-Printable-Blush-The-Crowned-Goat-12

Word-of-the-Year-Printable-Gold-The-Crowned-Goat-13

Word-of-the-Year-Printable-Green-The-Crowned-Goat-14

Word-of-the-Year-Printable-Gray-The-Crowned-Goat-15

See you guys back here tomorrow. We’ll share our 2019 Home Goals and even though our current circumstances are not ideal, we’re still dreaming big and working to make this house a home so I’ll share all the details with you. Until next time, I’ll see you on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.

Many blessings,

CoCo