2025 Word of the Year

I had to get this post in before the end of January!  New year.  New word.  

This is my 13th year selecting a word of the year.  I only saw a couple other people talking about their word of the year this new year and that is okay by me.  It is one of my favorite new year traditions and it seems to work better for me than making a list of new year's resolutions.

Here's a quick word of the year recap going back to 2013.  

It starts back in 2013 when I became a mom.  That was definitely a big year of change for me - a move from UT to AR, going from teaching 3rd grade to being a full time mom and adding Olive to the family.  Fast forward to 2024 and my word was cherish.  I didn't realize in January of 2024 that I'd be returning to teaching and we'd all be going back to school in the Fall.  I am thankful that cherish was my focus because I learned how to cherish more than ever last year.

2024: Cherish

2023: Shine

2022: Home

2021: Focus

2020: Family

2019: Listen

2018: Grow

2017: Care    

2016: Invite

2015: Enjoy

2014: Thrive

2013: Change

My 2025 word of the year is: ACTIVE!

Art by Leo.

I want to... 

Be ACTIVE with my kids.  Go on walks, exercise regularly, ride bikes, hike, play and say yes to their requests to be on the go and play.  Each of my kids has different interests and different love languages.  I want to actively connect with each one of them this year.  It's easy to work all week and crash on the weekends.  I want to do more connecting this year.

Be ACTIVE with my friendships.  It's easy get focused on my own busy schedule and stay in the routine of texting/checking in with friends.  I want to be the inviter, the plan maker and be sure to stay connected with my favorite people. And that means continuing with my blog and being better and replying to your sweet comments in the new year.  

Be ACTIVE in my school.  Get to know everyone better.  Learn more names.  Get to know families.  Make new friends.  Help Fletcher & Leo to connect with friends.  Reach out to people for help when I need it and finish the school year feeling well connected with everyone.  I have worked hard on this all year so I'm feeling good about this goal.

Be ACTIVE at church.  I enjoy participating in a couple different ministries, but it's been a challenge to stay connected and work full time.  I think there's a way to do both so my hope is to find a way to be active at church even though I'm missing out on all the week day stuff I used to do with my mom friends.

Be ACTIVE in my hobbies and in learning new things.  I love to blog, take pictures, garden, bake, make Bundt cakes, travel, organize, decorate and craft.  We have big dreams for our garden this year.  Maybe even a wild flower garden like ones we saw in Wisconsin.  Frame and print the pictures.  Read the stack of books sitting on my desk.  I have supplies to do lots of fun projects around the house.  Maybe I'll learn a new hobby or two this year.  I want to do more of that and less scrolling on my phone.

Be ACTIVE with my family.  Plan fun things.  Date nights.  Travel.  Play games.  Make yummy food.  Try new recipes.  Run errands together.  Enjoy being together.  Olive heads to junior high later this year so we'll be actively learning all the junior high things.  Kevin is working on some big things for work and we want to cheer for him along the way.

Happy New Year!

Do you have a word of the year or big goals in 2025?  I'd love to hear about them!