My one word for 2016

 

What’s your ‘one word’ for 2016? If you haven’t come across One Word 365 yet, it’s a fun alternative to New Year Resolutions. Instead of a long list, you just choose one word that will shape your year.
Observant readers of this blog will notice that I didn’t write about my one word for 2015 – and in my newsletter I wrote about why this was. (Subscribe to find out!)

This year, my word of the year is ‘anchored’. One of my friends shared with me a mental image of me as a boat in still, calm water, and for some unknown reason I burst into tears when she said it. I’m still trying to discover exactly why I reacted so emotionally, but I feel an affinity with this word.

To be anchored is to be tethered. I spent much of last year trying to pretend that I wasn’t tethered by my illness, and by the end of the year, I could feel the rope straining and digging into my skin. Whether I like it or not, I have limitations, though my tendency is to try to forget them. There is an important balance here: if you dwell on the limitations of chronic illness too long, you may grow despondent. If you ignore the limitations, you risk worsening your health and crashing when you do too much. For me, I constantly need to remind myself of my limitations, so that when I look at my ever-growing ‘to do’ list I remember that I am not God, and cannot do all things. It is a discipline to select, prioritise, guard my time when I would rather just say ‘yes’ to everything. Every ‘no’ feels like a loss.

To be tethered sounds like a negative thing, and yet I love looking at boats anchored in harbours. They look so peaceful, and the surroundings are so beautiful. I want to stay with this image this year, reminding myself that even a boat that doesn’t go anywhere can still enjoy a good view.

In the Bible, excluding the uses of the word in literal boats, the word ‘anchor’ appears just once, in Hebrews 6:19. It talks about the hope of a future with Christ as an anchor for the soul, something you can cling to. I love the thought of God’s promises as an anchor for the soul, holding you steady.

Over to you: 

  • Do you have a ‘one word’ for 2016? What is it?
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43 Responses to My one word for 2016

  1. Rebecka 3rd January, 2016 at 9:04 pm #

    I haven’t been able to come up with a word yet and I’m beginning to feel stressed. Now “stress” is the only word I can think of, but that would not be a good choice!

    • Tanya 24th February, 2016 at 12:09 pm #

      Bahaha! This made me laugh out loud. That’s basically how I ended up with ‘overwhelmed’ for 2015… Better choose wisely!

  2. Elaine 3rd January, 2016 at 8:28 pm #

    Sunrise. A very hopeful word.

    • Tanya 24th February, 2016 at 12:08 pm #

      So sorry for my delay in replying. This is such a lovely image. I hope it serves you well this year

  3. Margaret 3rd January, 2016 at 3:32 pm #

    I wasn’t planning to set a one word for 2016, but you have inspired me! I think it will be creativity…and my first act of creativity will be to blog about it!

    • Tanya 24th February, 2016 at 12:08 pm #

      So sorry for my delay in replying. YAY for creativity!

  4. beth dickinson 3rd January, 2016 at 3:29 pm #

    Dreams,
    dreams are scary there are so many that have died and over which I have cried in the last 16 years. Last year my Mum died but this has given me the oppertunity to move to scotland, something I have wanted to do for as long as I can remember. but chronic illness of mine and wanting to be close to mum prevented this. Yet why to see a dream come true does something so precious have to die. Yet in my mums passing several of my dreams have come alive again. All I can think of “unless a grain of wheat fall to the ground and dies”
    My Mum is a beliver and I know I will see her again and she would be delighted that my dreams are alive and well again. Though i have cried over mum so much seems dreams and tears go hand in hand. Yet I still had to pinch myself after 16 years of disappointment its hard to believe dreams do and can come true.

    • beth dickinson 3rd January, 2016 at 3:35 pm #

      ps Having dreams come true, doesn’t mean a lack of suffering. And I know some dreams will stay dead, such as being cured but when all had died its nice to have a few be resurrected, and i will be grateful for the ones that have come to life.

      • Tanya 24th February, 2016 at 12:08 pm #

        Yes, so true that dreams fulfilled doesn’t mean there’s a lack of suffering

    • Tanya 24th February, 2016 at 12:07 pm #

      So sorry for my delay in replying. Oh gosh, what a bittersweet dream it is. I’m so sorry that your Mum has died. “dreams and tears go hand in hand” – so much truth in this. Wishing you all the best for your life in Scotland

  5. M S Aitchison 3rd January, 2016 at 3:25 pm #

    My word of the year is ‘people’. I want to keep remembering to make time for those around me and to see everyone as individuals.

    • Tanya 24th February, 2016 at 12:06 pm #

      So sorry for my delay in replying. People are such a valuable way to spend our time! And it is a challenge to really see people, rather than dismissing them

  6. Jules 3rd January, 2016 at 3:23 pm #

    Thanks Tanya, you prompted me to find as word for myself, I am still uncertain but this seems to be resonating with me: notice https://julesprichards.wordpress.com/2016/01/02/just-notice/
    Best wishes to you for 2016.

    • Tanya 24th February, 2016 at 12:06 pm #

      So sorry for my delay in replying. Thanks for sharing your one word – I really enjoyed reading your post

  7. HisFireFly 3rd January, 2016 at 3:13 pm #

    My one word for 2016 is CLARITY
    I blogged about it here:

    http://hisfirefly.blogspot.com/2016/01/word-for-2016.html

    • Tanya 24th February, 2016 at 12:05 pm #

      So sorry for my delay in replying. Thanks so much for sharing your one word – really interesting stuff!

  8. Peppy 3rd January, 2016 at 3:12 pm #

    leap-frog

    • Tanya 24th February, 2016 at 12:05 pm #

      So sorry for my delay in replying. Mmmm, intriguing word!

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