You’ll never plough a field by turning it over in your mind.

Irish Proverb

I chose a word for 2024, and maybe you did, too. How is that word working for you? My life got busy and I forgot about it, until the end of January when I was writing a summary of the month, I realized the word I had chosen had been very much in use! At first I thought, if this is what my word means, I don’t want it for a whole year. I decided to embrace it, since I am convinced I need it even though it didn’t seem to ‘fit’ my personality. I think there was a reason that word came to my mind at the beginning of the year.

The word is act.

Words have power. One little word can shape the year, set intentions and focus lives. It can made decisions easier. January and February have been full of action. I’m not sure it’s because I chose that word or because God knew I would need that word. Since I didn’t want to forget it again, I have made a plan to remind myself to use my word.

1. Remember it. Ideally, I want to see it every day. It has it’s own page at the beginning of my planner. It could also be written on the front cover of a journal, as wallpaper on the phone or on a sticky note in the kitchen.
2. Understand it. I looked it up and got excited. I like a word that has lots of meanings and can be used in so many different ways. Act means a thing done, a pretense, a statute, a main division of a play. As a verb it can be to do something, behave in a way specified, to take effect, to perform or pretend. It also helps to put in writing why I think this word will be beneficial to me, which I plan to do soon. There were also phrases with the word like: act of faith, act of God, act one’s age. Years ago, a friend used to say “Act like nothin’ is”, when I felt uncertain as a teenager. I was so delighted to remember this!
3. Share it. I’m telling you so you can remind me when I forget. I also told a couple friends and my mother.
4. Use it. Since I have brought my word back to mind, I have set one intention aligned with it: Act energetic for five minutes after supper. I’ve found you can clean up a pretty big kitchen mess if you pretend to be energetic for just a little while. An idea came my way today: Energy is not finite. This is something I want to think about. I think my battery is full in the morning and wears out by about 4 o’clock. I have called myself a low energy person most of my life. To act requires energy so I might need to challenge that belief. Seemingly, some things drain energy and some refill it. The idea was to do more of what energizes. I’ve made a list of Bible verses that tell me to act. I plan to copy the song “Give Me This Mountain” and put it on the fridge!
5. Reflect on it. My plan is to reflect on it monthly, check in with the acts I did. And hopefully have new ideas for each season.
6. Connect with it. These are ideas I might use in the future: Paint the word on a rock and put it in the garden. Write it on a mug from the thrift store and drink tea from it every day. Create a mind map, vision board, or poster with pictures that make me think of action. I might memorize a verse or poem and I’ve already been collecting quotes.

Words may inspire but only action creates change.

Simon Sinek

I’m excited to see what this word will teach me. I want to act as opposed to watching, thinking or complaining, or even to reading and learning – all of which are much more natural to me. It seems to be time to use what I know and do it! We’ll see how this goes. Do you have a word of the year? How do you plan to use it? Please share your word and/or your ideas in the comments!

–Liz

P. S. Just for fun, see if you can match up these literary lovers! Click here to download and print.