What My Word of the Year Has Taught Me So Far

A Word of the Year Update

Every January, people make resolutions. Some stick. Many don’t.

A few years ago, I discovered something that works better for me: choosing a single word to guide the year.

Not a list of impossible goals. Not a dozen habits to master overnight. Just one simple word.

This year, my word was Forward. I wrote about how and why I chose it here.

cup of tea, journal, and pen on wooden desk, for contemplating a word of the year update

Now that we’re well into the year, I thought it would be a good time to check in and see what that little word has helped me discover. So, here’s a little word of the year update.

Forward Didn’t Mean Fast

When I chose my word in January, I don’t think I realized what it would actually look like. I imagined big progress. Instead, most of my “forward” moments have been surprisingly ordinary.

Painting one more wall. Writing one more blog post. Taking one more photo. Learning one more new skill. Planting one more flower.

Sometimes moving forward isn’t exciting. Sometimes it’s simply refusing to quit.

Progress Doesn’t Always Look Like Progress

There were plenty of days this year when it felt like I wasn’t accomplishing much. Painting two backyard sheds has been a good reminder of that.

Some days all we seemed to do was scrape old paint. Or caulk. Or prime.

two storage sheds being prepared for painting

At the end of those days, it didn’t look dramatically different. But those small, often invisible steps were necessary before the pretty part could happen.

Life works that way too. Not every step forward is obvious while you’re taking it.

Forward Sometimes Means Changing Direction

One thing I’ve learned is that moving forward doesn’t always mean moving faster. Sometimes it means slowing down. Retirement has taught me that.

Instead of rushing from one responsibility to the next, now I’m learning to enjoy quieter mornings, slower projects, and a gentler pace.

Oddly enough, slowing down has helped me move forward in ways I never expected. Even something as ordinary as vacuuming feels different these days. I used to hurry through it because tomorrow’s work was already waiting. Now I catch myself smiling at those fresh carpet lines before the dogs undo all my hard work. It’s funny how slowing down can change even the smallest parts of homemaking, and life in general.

My Word Showed Up in Unexpected Places

When I look back over the past several months, I can see my word woven through so many parts of life.

Growing The Budgeting Granny. Reaching 10,000 Facebook followers.(Join us here!) Building Shedna Mae into the creative space I’d been dreaming about. Learning more about photography and video. Planning future garden projects.

None of those happened overnight. They happened one small step at a time.

mid-century modern walnut bookcase/desk wall unit — My Craft Castle in my she shed, Shedna Mae. I can’t wait to make it pretty!

You Don’t Have to Start on January 1

Here’s something I wish more people knew: You don’t have to wait for a new year to choose a word. Life doesn’t begin again every January.

If today feels like the beginning of a new season in your life, then today is the perfect day to choose your word. Maybe you’re retiring. Maybe your children have grown up and moved away. Maybe you’ve moved into a new home. Maybe you’re simply ready for a fresh start.

There’s no rule that says choosing a word of the year has to happen on January 1. It can happen on a Tuesday afternoon in July if that’s when your heart is ready.

Choosing a Word for Your Season

Your word doesn’t have to impress anyone. It simply needs to remind you of the direction you want to keep walking. Maybe your word is:

Peace
Simplify
Grace
Courage
Bloom
Home
Hope
Steady
Contentment
Restore

There isn’t a right or wrong choice. The best word is the one that quietly nudges you in the direction you want to grow.

A Little Tool That Helps Me Remember

If you’d like a simple place to keep your word where you’ll actually see it, I’ve created a free printable that you can download.

Print it, tuck it into your planner, frame it on your desk, or pin it to the refrigerator as a gentle reminder.

mockup of free printable for a Word of the Year Reflection Sheet

Sometimes we don’t need another complicated system. Sometimes we just need one meaningful word to guide us.

👉 Download my free Word of the Year Printable here.

🌿 From Granny’s Heart

When I chose Forward as my word for the year, I imagined making steady progress toward all the things I hoped to accomplish.

What I didn’t expect was to learn that moving forward isn’t always fast—or even obvious.

Sometimes moving forward looks like resting when your body needs it. Sometimes it means changing plans without giving up. Sometimes it’s celebrating tiny victories that no one else would notice.

If you’re wondering whether you’re making progress this year, don’t measure it only by what you’ve finished. Measure it by the ways you’ve grown, the courage you’ve shown, and the fact that you’re still showing up.

Every faithful little step is still a step forward.

Looking Ahead

As I look toward the rest of this year, I still think “Forward” is exactly the word I need. Not because everything is finished. Quite the opposite.

There are still gardens to tend. Projects to build. Recipes to share. Stories to write. And plenty of opportunities to keep taking one more small step.

slice of classic carrot cake with cream cheese frosting on a plate — Classic Carrot Cake, one of my signature recipes! 😊

If this year has taught me anything, it’s that moving forward isn’t about giant leaps. It’s about faithfully taking the next step—even when it feels small. Those small steps have a wonderful way of adding up.