A year ago, at the beginning of 2012, I decided to adopt the annual tradition of picking a word of the year. Yes, it’s true, I copied this from a friend of mine. But like the poet says, if you’re going to steal, steal smart! Picking a word to focus on for the year is fun, and sometimes challenging. How can we summarize the hopes, dreams and plans for the next twelve months?
Fortunately, this year’s word came easily: Persist. It’s not a particularly glamorous word; it’s not lyrical or poetic. There’s even something a little annoying about the way it sounds. But let’s be honest: life itself is rarely glamorous or poetic; and it’s often annoying! Plus, I like this word. Always have.
As we’re tooling down the highway of life, the universe loves to put up roadblocks: money or job trouble, loss of family or friends, health concerns, and even just the countless pesky inconveniences we encounter every day. But when you’re headed in a good direction, you’ve got to keep going. Climb over, navigate around, push through. Continue steadfastly in your course. Persist.
“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan Press On! has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” – Calvin Coolidge
And so that’s the word that will define my year 2013. Do you have a word for the year?
Misha, I love this! A sister word to Persistence is Consistency. Maybe I’ll use Consistency for my word of the year. Then again, if you’re not persistent, what is there to be consistent with? Aha! How about Habit? Habit is useful to move us forward in the way we want to go. And it combines the best of persistence and consistency!
Much love!
Helen