Happy New Year! It’s late, but that feels normal. It’s been a little busy in our patch of the world. It’s not only with general festive craziness but with a few other things, both unexpected and unavoidable. That seems par for the course in this time of life. We’re parenting three littles, trying to scrape together enough to feed said littles, and wondering why on earth we did PGCEs 10 years ago.

There are a lot of ideas on the train track of the mind these days, especially when I’m running, cycling, or walking to keep the crazy slightly at bay. On one recent run, there was a sudden idea – an epiphany, really. This Word of the Year concept isn’t such a waste of time.

Really? Choose Your Word of the Year and Life Will Be Better?

Maybe there have been too many American podcast episodes on my playlist. Choosing a Word of the Year has always felt a bit like one of those trendy How To books. People buy it hoping for answers and then realise it doesn’t have that much to say. It felt like a selling point or a gimmick.

But then, while I was watching a spur-winged goose flying over me and feeling the nine-kilometre tiredness starting to set in, I suddenly had a word flash across my mind: DISCOVERY.

Yes, Really! Discovering That Life Is Full of Newness

Last year, 2024, was most certainly a year of discovery. The more I thought about my experiences and most recent memories, the more it fit. Yes, that was what the year had turned out to be. Discovering (or maybe re-discovering) that I really like to move.

Discovering that sticking to a stricter routine on normal days makes me feel more secure about those times that make me deviate from said routine. Discovering that regaining a few hours of uninterrupted sleep after weaning, truly makes me a nicer, more productive, and more rational person. It was also a year discovering how deeply my soul feels loss, but let’s not get down that rabbit hole for now.

I discovered that showing grace towards my growing children when they were acting out can be relationship-building. I discovered that some birds like to do something called ‘anting.’ I discovered that I am capable of consistent exercise three times weekly for almost a whole year. I discovered that God is closer than I ever imagined.

And 2025’s word? I guess we’ll see. What’s yours?

Published here.