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My One Word for 2013

Our words carry weight.  They can either tear down or build up, and I have always been a fan of the latter.  So, what about claiming one word for the new year – – one word to inspire, motivate, and remind.  Alright, I say.  Let’s give it a try.  Here’s my one word for 2013:

My One Word for 2013 by The Thinking Closet

Yes, that’s me.  Ha!  This photo was taken 10 years ago in 2003 by my friend Matt Gore.  I was in a theatre company during college called Workout, and each fall, we would journey to an abbey called St. Procopius in Lisle, Illinois for a time of retreat, reflection, and playing in the yard!  Looking at this old photo – – it’s clearly a moment stuck in time.  Though I still have that Cheers shirt that used to belong to my Mom and the blue silk headscarf from an ancient trunk in upstate New York, that flat stomach is long gone.  “She took the midnight train going anywhere”…and never came back.  (Smile.)  But I digress….

Leap.

The word chose me more than I chose it.  When brainstorming, it was the first word to pop into my head, and much like the possums still living in our crawl-space, it just wouldn’t leave.  So, 2013 is going to be the year of the leap for me.

Leaping can be thrilling, but oh so scary, can’t it?  It seems that just when I’m about to take a leap in life, those scraggly voices deep within rise up:

  • What if you don’t make it across?
  • What if you fall and get hurt?
  • What if no one catches you?
  • What if you look foolish?
  • What if no one cares?
  • What if…?
  • What if…?
  • What if…?

Do you know those voices?  I them all too well.  But one thing that I have learned in the short time I have had on this planet is that that a life ruled by fear is no life at all.  Nor is it the life I’ve been called to live.

Here’s a treasured quote of mine that I first read in the book, The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron:

My One Word for 2013 by The Thinking Closet
Graphic created using Recite This.

When I reflect back, some of the most growing moments in my life have been terrifying leaps.

Holding Deanna’s hand on the playground.  Leap.  Going on my first mission trip to Reynosa, Mexico.  Leap.  Getting up on that stage to audition after crying and vomiting in the boys bathroom.  Leap.  Gathering around the flagpole to pray.  Leap.  Accepting the position to manage the college Writing Center even though I didn’t know a gerund from a participle from an infinitive.  Leap.  Saying yes to dating Mark even though it would be long-distance.  Leap.  Walking into CWHS without an interview and asking for one.  Leap.  Starting a blog even though I wasn’t sure what it quite would be or if anyone would care to read it.  Leap.

Don’t get me wrong – – my knees are not without scrapes and bruises; my heart not without scars.  But that’s part of being a human.  Part of living.  Part of leaping.

So, in these first few days of 2013, I sit in quiet anticipation of all that this new year holds – – this 2013.  For one, I’ll be leaping into a new decade of life!  That’s right.  I turn thirty (ack!) this March.  How bout them apples?

I look forward to the thrills ahead, but also anticipate great trial.  Thus, here is my new year’s prayer: for the courage to silence the scraggly voices and the faith to take a running start and leap into the wild unknown.

And believe a net awaits.

What about you, dear reader?  If you had to proclaim one single word for your 2013, what would it be?

This is Lauren, signing off.

P.S. Thanks to Elise and Aimee for giving me the idea to choose one word for 2013.

Where to Next?

This practice stuck! I’ve been choosing a word of the year for a decade now. It’s been one of the most meaningful annual traditions of my adult life. For the curious ones, here are some more rabbit trails worth exploring:

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38 Comments

  1. Oooh! This post is just my cup o’ tea: inspirational words from Lauren Lanker, fun pix, powerful quotes, discussions on fear, and a call for the reader to participate!!! Mmm good! Though I’m late on this, it’s perfect timing since I’ve only recently been thinking about this concept. My word this year is “ASK.” Because of my own fear and worries, I haven’t been asking God for things out of fear of not getting them, fear of being disappointed. But Matthew 7:7-12 has persuaded me to be bold and ask Him. I’ll ask him for a godly marriage, ask him for growth, ask him for help. It’s good for me to remember the Lord longs to give us that ABUNDANT life you spoke of, Laur. Thanks for this.

    1. I can relate to not asking for things from God out of fear of disappointment for them not coming to fruition. Whenever I audition for a role, I never expect to get it, so that I’m not disappointed if the cast list goes up and my name is not on it. Yes, I might be saving myself some pain, but perhaps I’m missing out on the sheer joy of asking and receiving what I ask for!

      So proud of you, dear sister, for stepping out boldly in this new year and asking God for the things on your heart. I’ll ask Him for those things you mentioned along with you. And thank you for drawing my eyes to Matthew 7 today; such a great text!

  2. I love your word! Mine is SOAR and I, too, had (and still have) those deep scraggly voices trying to limit me with fear. Now, I’m choosing to feel the fear and do what I am passionate about anyway. Thanks for this inspiring post! You rock!

    1. SOAR – – what a wonderful word! It brings such beautiful imagery to mind, and after visiting your blog, it looks like you and your family are already soaring into 2013. And I like what you said about feeling the fear and choosing to pursue passion anyway. That’s what it’s about isn’t it? Not necessarily trying to ignore it, but facing fears head on, and plowing full speed ahead. Thanks for your inspiring comment! Made my day.

  3. Your posts make ‘MY’ day! I particularly enjoy how real and personal they are. This one especially hits close to home to me as I have the same mindset for this year. Rather than leap, my word if “cling”. Clinging to God for the guidance I so desperately need in every aspect of my life. Thank you again for the provoking thought! It is so encouraging.

    1. Thanks so much for your words, Dusty (coolest name ever!). After a visit to your blog, I found my soul nourished by your reflections and testimonies. And I love the word you chose. I tend to be a bit of a control freak, so thank you for reminding me about our need to cling to God in all aspects of our lives. Amen, sister.

  4. How did I miss this post until now? Well, at least I found it. I don’t think I ever saw that picture from your work out retreat before…or if I did, I’m so glad to see it again! 🙂 I love that you push through fear and are leaping forward! If a net doesn’t appear, the Everlasting arms sure will!

    I am thinking my one word is POUR…I am sensing I need to POUR out my life more than ever as I am more than double your very young age (though I know it’s hard when you’re there at 29 turning 30)…POUR myself more into teaching nursing students, into the children’s ministry at church, into praying, into sharing God’s love with others….I’m sensing an urgency on this one as our world is getting darker and darker. No time to waste (though I know there is something to be said for waiting and sitting and listening).

    Maybe it’s because I am also getting older I want to use my strength as much as I can…or maybe it’s the times in which we live. Maybe it’s because I heard Bill Hybels speak back in August on the sower and the seed, and that if more seeds are to take root in the good soil, we have to sow MORE, (pour out more seed) so that the 25% will equal MORE PEOPLE growing! (Remembering Godspell I can see your students acting it out…how the other 75% either got excited but then didn’t grow or fell among rocks or were blown away by the wind).

    Thanks for getting me to think about one word for the new year.

    1. Amen (re: His Everlasting arms). That’s actually how I see “the net.”

      And you really touched me with your word “POUR” and the reasoning behind it. You have so much love to give, Mom – – and I know that if you’re willing and open, God will use you immensely in the lives of all who you encounter. And thank you for the reminder about the sower and the seed parable. Such an important story to remember and act out in real life!

      Looking forward to seeing how “POUR” is manifested in your life in 2013!

      1. I hope I don’t pour myself out without letting myself get “FILLED UP” by sitting at the feet of my Master! Starting to pour out this week by suggesting a communal meal after our Moms in Prayer group tonight (I brought the Moroccan Chicken dish and others supplemented). Then in two weeks we’ll have an OPEN meeting and invite any and all women to pray for the children, families, teachers, and administrators of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Ct.

        1. Great idea to have a communal meal and an open meeting to pray for the Sandy Hook school, families, and community! Wish I could be there for that. You are definitely being used by God in so many ways already this year. Proud of you, Mom.

  5. One word, huh…I think it would be what I am doing now- “TRY”and I like “HONESTY” as well!

  6. Laur,
    Your words inspire me to keep putting on my old sneakers each day and doing the triple jump of life, with courage, determiniation, and whimsy, even at my advanced age.
    Love,
    Dad

    1. Yay, triple jump! Dad, I seriously think you drank a few sips from the fountain of youth – – you’re just as active and energetic as you were when I was a kid! Praying that wrist heals up quickly, so you can get back out there on the tennis court. Maybe we can play together during our next rendezvous.

  7. If they let me abbreviate a run on sentence b/c I talk so much, I could probably narrow down a mission statement for the year. Not so sure about me and one word unless it’s Shiraz. I’m totally being factious. Very cool post!

    1. Ha ha! Alex, you never fail to give me a smile, especially with your Shiraz comments! 😉 And I, too, am guilty of the run-on-sentence as I’m sure you know as someone who reads my blog. Maybe we should form a support group!

  8. I love your word, love that photo Lauren, and I especially love that you touch on fear. I have a post I’ve written up on the topic of fear and its affect on society. It’s something that really bothers me.

    I noticed that a lot of bloggers are picking a word for the new year and I quite like the idea, and your writing just makes it your own. It was, as usual, such a pleasure to read.

    If I were to pick a word this year, and I’ve thought much on it, it would be “believe.” I could also go with dive, drive and support. Leap would also sum up how I’m approaching this year. This year I plan to take a lot of risks and quite honestly they scare me, especially knowing that I won’t stop until I do them (and I’m a very risk adverse person). I think to do them, to take those risks we have to believe in ourselves. For me it’s even just a risk to write my own novel (one of my goals this year) because I consistently and constantly question myself. But if we keep questioning, wondering but what if, then we will never do, we will never dive in and support our dreams. So believe is my word, belief in myself, in my husband, in our passions, in our future and in our dreams. It is a word I became really connected to when we were unemployed this past year and I had to believe that it will all work out because of our hard work and unwillingness to give up. So I want to continue what I learned and take it to the next level.

    Cheers to you and leap away Lauren!
    Aubrey

    1. Aubrey, I love your comments, which are so chock full of your voice and sweet encouragement. The word “believe” sounds like the perfect word for you this year. So much growth will follow if and when you believe in yourself and your dreams. I am so excited that you are tackling your novel this year. I know that will be a challenge, but not one that you cannot handle, especially with a word like “believe” to back you up. I know I believe in you 100%! So, go after those dreams with reckless abandon. I can’t wait to see all that awaits you in 2013.

  9. I love that photo of you! 😀 I turned 30 this past year. I’ll be 31 this February. It was really hard for me, but I did some great stuff in my 30th year. I think it is probably why I started this blog. To encourage myself to try new hobbies and use my blog to track them.

    Here’s to being a 30-something! Cheers!

    1. I didn’t know we about the same age! Sa-weet. We can share stories of being children of the 80s (ha ha). I’m glad to hear that 30 was good to you; I decided I’m going to embrace it. We can’t help but grow older, so might as well enjoy each moment for what it is, right? And I love that 30 helped inspire you to start your blog. What an accomplishment that has been!

  10. I love it…great word for the year and great inspiring post. ps..you haven’t changed much in 10 years! Good for you!

    1. Ha ha, thanks Christina! A few more lines on the face…and I’m not quite sure I could get as much air as I did in that photo…but I’d like to think I’ll always be young at heart. At least, that’s the goal!

  11. Your favorite quote reminds me of a riding instructor who would tell me to “throw my heart over the fence and follow”. It was all about letting go of the fear of whether or not my horse would actually jump the fence and trusting that he would.

    It’s hard to let go of fear but the rewards of not letting it hold you back are immense. Leap indeed!

    1. I love that quote by your riding instructor – – how poetic! And how very true about so many things in life (I just may have to use that). I didn’t know you rode horses! You just keep getting cooler and cooler…. Do you still ride?

      And you’re right about the reward that comes with letting go of fear; I’ve felt it enough times now to push through the fear to get there.

      1. Back in the day (pre-kids and husband) I had a Thoroughbred gelding that I competed in hunter-jumper shows with. Riding is an expensive sport/hobby so I sold him not long after getting married. (In other words, my parents were no longer footing the bills!) I was still involved in riding through a good friend/former riding instructor up until I got pregnant with my third kid. And then I couldn’t find the time anymore! Maybe one day I might start again…I still have my saddle, boots, helment, and misc. riding stuff. Who knows what the future might hold!?!

        1. How romantic! And I love that you’re open to the possibility of riding again in the future…. Maybe that’s something your kids and you could do together when they’re older! (I know that if I had to choose between watching TV and horseback riding with my Mom, horseback riding would win every time.)

  12. Well said, my friend. Thanks for sharing your heart with us. Don’t worry…you’ll love 30! I think I’m way better in my 30s than I was in my 20s. As for my one word, I’m stuck on “love”. It sounds cliche, but not just the love that comes easily. I want to strive for the deep love for others that is challenging, comes with cost, but is full and only comes from abiding in Christ. Thank you for the inspiration today, Lauren.

    1. That’s good to hear! I’m actually looking forward to my 30s…I just perpetually feel 7 inside (and some days 16), so it comes as a bit of a shock to think, “This is the year!” And I think “Love” is a great word – – it never gets old in my book. And I love the kind of love you describe, love that doesn’t come easy, but comes with a cost…I strive for that love, too!

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