The transition from 2024 to 2025 flew by and my plans to review my 2024 word and introduce my 2025 word before 2024 ended did not happen. Yet, I still want to have a formal goodbye to my 2024 word. Even though I didn’t post a lot about my word this year, I definitely experienced the word throughout the year. That’s why 2024 was my year to grow.
I haven’t posted a lot of graphics for my word this year, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t applied my word to my life. Growth takes many forms. In ourselves, in others, in life around us. From my health, my walk with Jesus, my writing, my work, and my family, I have experienced growing in some capacity.
Every year, I try to write in a journal once a month about my word. I use Bible verses and quotes as a starting point to dig deeper into my word. I wanted to share themes that sprouted from the word grow this year
The word GROW can be synonymous with plants
When I typed in the word grow, several graphics and quotes had plants in them. What’s interesting is that in order for a plant to grow, you need patience, time, & continuous love and care. This is exactly what we as people need.
We don’t grow without being watered. We need feul and we need rest. If we want to grow as people, we need to think of ourselves as plants and take care of ourselves.
I love this Bible verse:
Plant goodness, harvest the fruit of loyalty, plow the new ground of knowledge.
Hosea 10:12
GROW is about New Experiences
I saw a quote from Derek Hough (who is one of my favorite dancer/choreographers) on a recent post and he said:
Growth begins where awareness leads the way.
Derek Hough
My debut novel released into the world on June 4, 2024. To say this was a growing experience would be absolutely correct. In so many ways. From the cover design, to the final edits, every step I learned something.
And all these new to me experiences in 2024 is exactly why this was the perfect word for me.
These included:
- Working with a publisher
- Cover design
- Final edits
- Galley edits
- Cover reveal
- Launch team
- Release day
- Blog tour
- Writing a second book
- And many small things that still count in the grow department
Taking chances, and making changes help you GROW
As writers we have a lot of decisions to make for our story worlds. What names to use, what ages, hair color, and so much more. Sometimes I need to try something to move forward. And then change it because I found something better. But if I didn’t try something first, I wouldn’t know that. The fear of getting things wrong, can be a big deterrant. I’ve had to work through this fear. As a reader, I don’t think you want every book to be exactly the same, which is why I’m trying different plot points in my future stories.
The same could be said for any job or task we are working on. This isn’t just about being a writer. I’m just using that as a jumping off point to explain what I’ve learned this year.
There is so much more the word GROW
I love to look at synonyms, and the synonyms for GROW include evolve, develop, and produce.
This is what we do in our stories. They evolve, we develop them, and produce them. Because I’ve now published a book, I now know what’s expected after you write ‘the end’. I’ve learned how to edit more with my original writing and I know how I want a story to be. When I first started, I didn’t know any of these things.
I also am learning how to think like a published author. I finally get to have an Amazon Author account and a BookBub account. Those are big things for me.
What might some big things be for you in your life? Where have you evolved or developed something new and different?
GROW in My Personal Life
In one of the quotes I came across, it opened my eyes to something. I think in some ways the word grow wasn’t just about myself, but also how I could help others around me grow as well. I love to write encouraging words. To inspire others. I hope my stories do that.
But on a closer note, I hope that I can be an encourager to my family and my friends.
My first child (the middle one) married the love of his life in June. I now have a daughter. And I love watching both of them grow into a new married couple and our family grow from five to six people.
This has been such a blessing to experience in 2024.
If you want to see more grow graphics and quotes, I created a word page for the word grow on my website (as well as other words I’ve chosen for a word of the year). I also write for a writers blog and my January 2024 was all about my 2024 word when the year first started. I’m thankful to have had a chance to experience so much growth this year, and will always look fondly at 2024 as a year to grow.