Word of the Year Recap: Strength

Years ago, when part of my work involved writing book reviews, I read a business book called Now, Discover Your Strengths. Written by Gallup Organization researchers Don Clifton and Marcus Buckingham, this bestseller asserts that the most effective way to motivate people is to develop their strengths rather than correct their weaknesses.

I don’t remember much else about the book, but the title has been a guiding light over the years, particularly when it comes to my girls’ education. I’ve encouraged them in areas of struggle, of course, but I’ve tried to focus more on helping them grow in areas where they seem especially gifted or skilled.

When I chose strength as my word for 2021, this was what I had in mind for myself. Like everyone else, there are things I’m good at and many more things I’m not so good at. One of my strengths—nurtured over years of newspaper and magazine reporting, freelancing and blogging—is the ability to string sentences together in a coherent manner.

Initially, I thought strength would inspire me as I worked on a book project that has been simmering in my heart for the last few years.

There are aspects of the content-sharing and publishing process that overwhelm and discourage me. Rather than focus on what I lack in these areas, as I’ve done for far too long, my plan was to concentrate on what I do well and simply write—more, and hopefully better.

This probably isn’t the best long-term strategy for people who hope to have their work published at some point. But for me, in 2021, it seemed to be the way forward.

At the end of the year, I find myself much further down the road with this project than I was when 2021 began. I have a tremendous amount of work left to do, but I’m grateful for the progress I’ve made so far.

Even so, as the year unfolded, it became obvious that strength was taking on a different—and much more literal—meaning for me. (This is usually how it is with my words of the year, by the way—I start out with one idea of what they might mean in my life and end up with a completely different perspective about why God impressed them on my heart.)

Although this is far from a running blog, I’ve written a few times about my exercise of choice and how it relates to the rest of my life. I mostly run so I can feel better and eat more, but lately, the desire to be strong and upright as I age has also been a motivator.

I started jogging outside once a week last year during the early days of Covid. I kept going through the summer and fall, but it never seemed to get any easier.

Then last winter, I finally forced myself to try running on the treadmill without holding on. (You can read more about that here.)

Much to my surprise, when I returned to exercising outside this past spring, I realized that letting go of the treadmill had strengthened me to the point where I actually enjoyed running on the trail.

I added a few simple core exercises to my daily routine and started going a bit farther every week. Tentatively, I set a modest goal for my morning runs that I had never thought possible before.

I hoped that I might somehow reach this goal before I had to stop running outside due to snow and cold. Much to my surprise, I achieved it in early November.

I’m not telling you all this to amaze you with my athletic prowess—far from it. I’ll be the first to admit that running a little more than 2 miles at the pace I set isn’t all that impressive.

But I’m always encouraging my children to persevere through hard things, and it would be hypocritical of me not to do this myself. So I’ve kept at it, even on days when all I want to do is quit halfway.

I was pretty weak to begin with, to be perfectly frank. But I’m ending the year physically stronger than I was when it started. And that’s a good thing.

That said, these last few months have made me acutely aware that tomorrow is not certain. Any day could bring a diagnosis, an accident or a life situation that prevents me from getting out on the trail at all, much less several times a week.

I could fret about that, or I could focus on running with endurance the race that is set out before me. (Hebrews 12:1) It’s not always easy, but I’m trying to choose the latter.

In a few weeks, I’ll share a new word for 2022. Although my intentional focus on strength is coming to a close, I hope to build on what I learned in 2021 as I run, write and do whatever else appears on my plate—planned or unplanned.

More importantly, I’ll continue to look to God—the source of my strength and the strength of my life—for wisdom, comfort, peace and deliverance in the new year.

♥ Lois

P.S. I’m linking up this week with OneWord2021, #tellhisstory, InstaEncouragements, Recharge Wednesday, Let’s Have Coffee, Inspire Me Monday and Grace & Truth.