For the last few years, I have chosen a word that I kept close to me as I made decisions and set priorities and intentions. It all started with Ali Worthington’s One Little Word project.

In 2013, my first to choose a word, I picked the word “Listen”. Then my mind was blown when I lost a job I loved and had been doing for five years, and my husband suggested that I start working on a freelance writing career. I had been hearing that suggestion in my own quiet moments, so when he brought it up I knew my word was working.

In 2014, my word was Create. It was my first full year of freelancing, so that year was focused on creating a new career path and creating networks and support systems to help me make a writing career a reality for myself. I was also attempting to get back to making art, and needed to make time for simply creating.

In 2015, my second full year of self-employment, I wanted to re-visit what I wanted to do as a writer and where my time needed to be spent to grow in my career and personal time. “Focus” was the word for the year. I even had a cuff made, and wore it every day – it was embossed with the phrase “Focus… it’s never too late.” A nod to my favorite quote, “It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” by George Eliot.

So for 2016, as soon as I started to think “what word should I pick for this year?” the word “Expand” popped into my head. Like, the second the question was asked in my mind, the word was there. Seemed like I needed to pay attention to it.
This year, I am feeling so much more confident in my work, and am wanting to be open to new opportunities to grow. I have been published consistently in local and regional publications, but I would like to start making connections in national magazines and other outlets, and begin working on some fiction and creative non-fiction stories. I’m also going to be working with a couple of local folks who have asked me to help them with writing projects, and am going to venture into a new publishing medium through my Junque Rethunque blog. (Stay tuned for more on that soon!)

So, that’s done. I am so looking forward to how my word will affect my work, my family, and my personal growth this year. If you choose a word each year, please share your process and word in the comments – I’d love to hear about it!