It’s been a popular practice I’ve been seeing the last few years for people to pick their “word for the year” to help guide them, to stay on course. Their North Star, as it were. I really like the idea, although I’ve found I usually have more than one word that I want to keep front and center, so I haven’t settled on just one to keep as my focus. This year is different.

One word, actually it’s a phrase, keeps coming to my mind as something that I believe would be helpful for me to stay attuned to. And that is…

Anyone who knows me at all knows that I tend to move at light-speed most of the time. Rushing here and there…whatever I need to do, do it quickly…there are ‘to do’ lists that need to be done, after all.

But it has especially struck me how quickly the last year has passed, maybe it has you as well. So much water under the bridge…new challenges…people suddenly gone from this life… perhaps it’s just a part of getting just a little bit older.

Whatever the reason, I’m going to try to keep this phrase front and center as I tackle whatever comes before me. To wait for the guidance…to listen for the inner voice before moving to the action. I think in many cases it will only be a matter of seconds, but in others it may be longer, and I want to let that guidance have time to present itself. This isn’t a phrase I came up with on my own – it’s from a small little book I’ve been re-reading at night before bed: The Seven Whispers by Christina Baldwin. (There are many other nuggets to glean from this book, all of which can serve as guiding lights. I love them all…”Maintain Peace of Mind”…”Love the Folks in Front of You…)

I’ve been starting my mornings with a little soothing music and meditation and prayer, with the dog snuggled up against my legs, and that has served to set my day off on the right foot. I want to carry that inner calm with me throughout the day, listening before acting, looking before leaping.

How about you – do you have a guiding word for this year? I’d love to hear your thoughts.