New Year, New Word

A big trend for the last few years is to pick a word. One word. A single word that encapsulates everything you hope to focus on and accomplish for the whole 365 (366 this year) days. It sounded impossible to me. How did one sum a whole year up in a single word?

But last year, I realized a word was being given to me. Brave. It was something I thought I was, but realized I needed to be more. I needed to get out of and away from the comfortable, open myself up to new ideas, and try new things.

I did this by contacting people who I considered “better” than myself. In other words, I reached out to authors who had already been there/done that, and had an established following, several awards, and quite a few more published books. You know what? They were just as down-to-earth, friendly, and helpful as could be.

I contacted a local librarian as well, and ended up being able to do a book signing. And reached out to someone at the school my husband works at and was able to have a booth at an event they hosted.

I also got together with my friends Erin Howard and Heather Greer, and helped start a youtube channel. Definitely not something I had ever considered before.

But having a word was a fluke, right? I didn’t need to try to come up with another one. Yet, the more I thought about it, the more one word stuck in my head. Ready? Here it is.

STRETCH.

It’s almost a continuation of last year’s thoughts. But I’ve discovered I am a bit more brave, so now I need to continue to extend my reach. I want to stretch my mind, stretch my faith, stretch my reach. Maybe even stretch my body, if I can find some good yoga workouts.

And the more I stretch, finding new ways to meet new readers, finding new books to help expand my knowledge, finding new ideas and ways to grow closer to God, the better I will be all around. In writing. In life. In relationships. And in spirit.

What about you? Do you choose a word for the year? I’d love to hear yours and why you picked it. Or, are you like me, and a word picked you?

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Amy R Anguish, author of An Unexpected Legacy and Faith & Hope, grew up a preacher’s kid, and in spite of having lived in seven different states that are all south of the Mason Dixon line, she is not a football fan. Currently, she resides in Tennessee with her husband, daughter, and son, and usually a bossy cat or two. Amy has an English degree from Freed-Hardeman University that she intends to use to glorify God, and she wants her stories to show that while Christians face real struggles, it can still work out for good.

Check out her new book, Faith & Hope, available now.

Her new book, Saving Grace, releases September 2020.

Follow her at http://abitofanguish.weebly.com or http://www.facebook.com/amyanguishauthor