Grounded

Every year I pick a word to focus my mind around as I live, work, and grow. There have been years when I couldn’t get focused, some years when life’s challenges kept me from picking a word because I wanted different words to define my life, and one year when I loved the word I picked so much, I used it the next year. In full transparency, I picked that word in May so it took a while to get my actions realigned!

I began last year with a commitment to read more. I wanted to read more fiction and read to open my mind to new ways of thinking and leading.

In 2025 I managed to read (or listen to) 22 books. 

I started the year reading The Garden Within by Dr. Anita Phillips. While I do not have a green thumb, this book challenged me to evaluate the “growth” of my life. I began to consider what I am planting, what has taken root in my habits, how I am feeding my growth, and what is my life producing.

I also read Uncommon Ground: Living Faithfully in a World of Difference by Tim Keller with a variety of contributors sharing their perspectives on culture and faith. It reminded me how important it is to listen to people’s stories no matter where you are planted. 

I finished Brene Brown’s newest leadership book, Strong Ground and realized how important the harvesting is and the importance of how I show up for myself and others.

These books all alluded to - directly or indirectly- to being a good gardener. They challenged me to consider what needs to be uprooted, watered, nourished, and harvested in my life.

So in 2026 “Grounded” will be my word and I will ground myself in several things that keep my feet firmly planted as new things come my way.

I will do my best to remain grounded in:

My faith and family

The mission of my work

Healthy relationships

Curiosity

A calling to serve others 

Being disciplined and courageous…

Looking forward to a new year of growing!