Does anyone else choose a “word of the year?” I have done so for the last several years, though, like New Year’s resolutions, I often forget my word by mid-February.
This year, my word is “Flourish,” and I’m being more intentional about incorporating its meaning into many of my activities.
I love every one of these definitions. There isn’t a bad one in the bunch. Thrive; grow (luxuriantly); be in my prime; be successful; prosper; make sweeping gestures; add embellishments or fanfare…yes, please!
What does the Bible say about flourishing?
12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
Psalm 92:12-15
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
13 planted in the house of the Lord,
they will flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They will still bear fruit in old age,
they will stay fresh and green,
15 proclaiming, “The Lord is upright;
he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”
What great verses as I navigate my 60s! The bold text is mine. How will I flourish? Like a palm tree, growing like a cedar of Lebanon, planted in God’s house. In other words, as I stay close to God, embracing His righteousness, I will thrive and grow. And not just as any old tree, but one that says fresh, green, and vibrant, bearing fruit even as I age. What an awesome promise!
Flourishing in my everyday life
However, knowing the definition and the Scriptures and putting this all into practice are very different. I’ve always been a planner (some would accurately say over-planner), so I sketched out a few activities for the first quarter of 2025. I’ve learned that setting goals for a whole year just sets me up for failure, but three months sounds doable.
I made a list of things I’d like to accomplish that will help me grow physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. When I discussed my list with a co-worker, she mentioned something she was doing in her own life—a bingo card of goals for 2025.
I’ve always loved bingo. Consequently, in keeping with my quarterly emphasis, I created a Flourish Bingo card for the first quarter of 2025.
I set quite a few physical goals, such as walking, hiking, drinking, and a weekly Apple Fitness workout, but I also included some home management, recreation, relationship, and spiritual habits to round out my card.
My daily Bible reading, gratitude journaling, and prayer are non-negotiables. I love to learn more about God, so I created a square for taking a Right Now Media class each quarter.
I just now found a calligraphy class, but it won’t fit into this quarter—I’ll move it to the fall or winter when I’ll want more indoor activities. Writing today’s blog fulfills the “write one blog a month ” requirement, so I’ll be marking that square off as soon as I hit “publish.”
To be clear, I did not hit all these goals, and I knew I wouldn’t when I set up the card. But “someday” goals are still important. Maybe I didn’t get to spend a weekend away with Don yet this year, but I can put it back on my second-quarter card and try again.
And I also learned that just because I really, really want to accomplish something, I can’t do it all. I must prioritize; therefore, finishing taxes came before watercolor practice.
I couldn’t decide what I’d “win” if I got a BINGO. Maybe just the satisfaction of marking off each square. But I did it! I got a bingo, and I still have a few more days left in the quarter.
What’s the point?
First, who I am today matters. I’m not trying to reinvent myself, but no one is too old to try new things or find fun new ways to hit goals. Secondly, if I’m serious about flourishing, I’ve got to consciously make good choices. If I want to flourish in my “old age,” I need to stay close to Jesus, rooted in His Word, and intentional about my health, relationships, and free time.
Any advice for new squares to add in future quarters?
Now that 2019 is in my rear view mirror, I’ve set my focus forward. Each New Year’s Day I set goals for my year, begin a new Bible reading guide, plan ways to improve or change behavior or attitudes. Today is no different, and yet it is. As I approach my 60th birthday, I’m not as interested in improvement and change as I am with celebrating what’s already a part of my life. Yes – I still desire to grow and learn each day, but I also know God has done some amazing things in my life, given me wonderful relationships to nurture, gifts to be grateful for. I’m going to FOCUS this year – focus on what is right in front of me and do what is necessary to live in grace and walk in love.
Each morning I write down five things I’m grateful for…five gifts in my life. Some are silly (longer extension hose on the sump pump), some are monumental (healing), some seems small (the smell of brewing coffee), some are large (the furnace has worked great all winter long), some are spiritual (thankful for God’s unconditional love), some are physical (warm socks on a cold day), some are mental (clear mind for today’s work), some are emotional (joy over times with family and friends).
e we worried about it. Now don’t get me wrong – we didn’t live in a hovel. The house wasn’t an episode from Hoarders (until recently, and that’s a whole other blog). My mom’s mantra was “you’ll always have a house to clean, so spend time with your kids while you have them.” Great philosophy. I guess I inherited that gene.
Walking does many things for me, physically, emotionally, mentally and even spiritually. One 
was a saying my mom used to tell me when I complained in junior high about people being mean to me. Looking back, I cannot remember anyone’s actual actions or words toward me that I would consider mean…but I certainly do remember my mom’s advice, “Just be nice to them, Kris. Kill them with kindness.”
Ordinary Life Extraordinary Destiny 