Word of the Year.

I am sure that you have seen and heard of those who have one word that represents their goal for the year. I have written about it in the past. It is an interesting concept. On one hand, it does help keep one focused on a goal or reflection. Yet, on the other hand, it can limit the scope of possibilities for the year.

Sometimes, choosing these words take a long time of reflection. One might not even be able to choose a word for the year until March. Other times, the word is constantly showing up in one’s life- as if the cosmos has already decided for you.

For me, the word this year is “organize(d)”. Seems as if that word is popping up all around me.

Just recently, we have a neighbor who said that while his mother and sister were visiting, they were critiquing his cabinets and telling him that he had to “get organized” before the birth of his son. From what I have seen, this friend is quite organized but it made me wonder about our home. Perhaps the frustration that I have been feeling recently, is due to the fact that I cannot find anything where I “think” it is located.

Lest you think otherwise, this is NOT how our cupboards look but it is how they seem to me when I am trying to find something.

Looking at our basement, I realize that we need to “get organized”. We have lived in our current home for three years. Once the initial renovations were completed, we put away all the items from our numerous cardboard boxes. At that stage of the move, we just wanted the boxes emptied and the items behind closed doors. “We’ll sort and arrange those things later,” as we pushed the bulging closet doors with our hip.

Well, later has come. We need to get organized!

I have been thinking about that word: organize(d).

The Cambridge Dictionary defines organize (or organise- UK spelling): to do or arrange things, plans, ideas, etc., according to a particular system so that they can be used or understood easily.

What I like about the word “organize” is that it is a verb, and that when acted upon, items or ideas can be easily grasped- physically or intellectually. I think of how much time I waste and the frustration of not knowing where some item is. Or, because of too much “stuff” in the way, I do not want to go through the cupboard or closet to find the said item and so I do without or I have to purchase another. What a waste.

And so, this year, I am going “to get organized”. I am so tired of looking at my to-do list and not completing it. I write the item on the list and then keep transcribing it to another list. My failure to complete the list is partly because I do not have a plan in how I will accomplish the task and so I do not know how to begin.

But, as I have written before and as I have recognized, there is a balance between organization and some type of serendipity especially as it comes to schedules and accomplishing goals. I don’t want to be so regimented and so bound by an organizational structure that I cannot be spontaneous. Yet I cannot be completely spontaneous because then I will not accomplish anything.

In my recent Education for Ministry class at our church, we were discussing the word organize(d) and the word associations with it. “Structure” was the association that we came upon. We then looked at the pros/cons of the word structure. One of my classmates felt that structure is limiting to creativity. And while there is some truth to it, I find that structure- broadly based- aides and guides creativity. For how many of us, do better in editing/correcting a written document rather than starting with a blank page? It is much easier to write when one is given a topic or direction rather than carte blanche for anything.

And so, I need to “get organized” this year. I want to do so in our home. But I have also been thinking about “getting organized” with my health and physical care, in my maintenance of relationships and in my writing. The idea of getting organized is really about intentionality. What do I find important and how will I intentionally do what I need and want to do?

What about you? Do you have a word of the year? Do you want to get organized? How are you going to go about it? Is the organizing a physical one? A mental one? Or a spiritual one? The word “organize” also contains within it, the actions of planning and execution. Perhaps it is not so much the organizing that I need, but the planning and then, more importantly, the execution and completion of that plan.

How are you planning on living this year? How are you going to intentionally live into that plan?

What is the word that will help you achieve that?