I’m not a resolution maker. I am constantly making and updating goals for myself, but for the new year, I prefer selecting a word to use as a focus for the year.
For several years I have selected a word to guide my year. Some of my past words have been ENOUGH, CREATE, QUIET, SIMPLIFY and JOY.
My process for selecting a word differs from year to year. But, somehow a word finds me near the end of the year as I am looking towards what a new year will hold. Sometimes I go through several words until I find the word that feels right. Some years it seems as if the word finds me and won’t let go.
My word for 2025 is HOPE.
It makes sense in so many ways and in others, it doesn’t make sense at all.
So, why HOPE?
I know this year is going to hold many challenges. I work for an organization aptly called Hope Border Institute that exists to implement Catholic social teaching specifically in regards to immigration at the southern border. Going into 2025, we know that there will be many challenges facing our organization and our community this year.
I am also aware of several challenges that are upcoming for my family this year. Surgeries, international travel, life transitions and job changes are just a few that I can name here.
Amid these challenges that can feel overwhelming I want to exude and exhibit HOPE. I don’t want to despair. I don’t want to hate. I don’t want to be discouraged.
I want to hope.
My yoga teacher told a story in class yesterday that spoke straight to my heart and helped to solidify this desire that has been beating within my heart for the new year.
The story goes something like this…
You are standing around holding a cup of coffee and someone bumps into you, causing you to spill coffee. If you are asked why you spilled coffee, you would reply “because that person bumped into me”, but this reply is wrong. The correct response is that you spilled coffee because coffee is what was in your cup. If your cup were filled with tea, you would have spilled tea.
The point of the story is that you spill over with whatever you are filled with.
This year I want to be filled with HOPE so that HOPE is what spills over out of me.
I want to be filled with HOPE so that I can share HOPE.
This will take intention and care.
I will need to remind myself of this desire and this intention often.
There will be days and many moments when HOPE will feel far away.
But, I am convinced that if I set this word before me and set my intention to be filled with HOPE so that HOPE spills out—I will have a more hopeful year overall.
With all HOPE,
Monica