My Life in Our Father's World

Embracing Flexibility: Lessons from 2025

It has been nearly twelve months since I started my journey to become more flexible.

Thank you, Lisa Notes for walking with the 2025 Word of the Year community. You have encouraged us and kept us on track with your monthly challenges.

So here we go for the final time for 2025…

“We made it to the end of 2025 with our One Word! 

…before we jump into 2026, let’s reflect once more on 2025. On a scale of 1 (meh) to 5 (amazing!), how many stars would you give your word this year? 

Think about:

  • Did my word stick with me, or did it drift away months ago?
  • How often did I notice my word this year?
  • Did it meet my expectations—or maybe even surprise me?
  • Did it help me grow in a positive direction?
  • Am I glad I chose it—and would I recommend it to a friend?“

I would give my year with FLEXIBLE 🌟🌟🌟🌟

This year has indeed found me to be more flexible.

  • I made two trips to California, one trip to Ohio, and a couple of trips to Wisconsin.
  • I graduated with a degree in Early Childhood Education.
  • I left my job as a lead teacher at a childcare center (less than 2 miles from home).
  • I accepted an assistant director position at a nationwide childcare center (21 miles from home).
  • God drew us back into community with a wonderful church family. The drive is longer, but it feels like home instead of an anonymous worship service without accountability.

However, my flexibility sometimes allowed me to ignore things and procrastinate like never before. There were entire months that I did not interact with the 2025 One Word community.

I have learned a great deal about handling difficult situations and engaging in hard conversations.

In my experience, it is better to let God choose your annual WOTY because He sees the plans set before you and knows the best way to get you there.

Looking back on my WOTY history shows how each has built on the other.

  • Attitude of Gratitude – 2020
  • Abide – 2021
  • Encouragement – 2022
  • Teach/Learn – 2023
  • Renewal – 2024
  • Flexible – 2025

What is next, you ask? Throughout 2025, I have considered two or three different words. Along the way, each was discarded for one reason or another. I feel like God is telling me to STAY with it for 2026.

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ‘” – Jeremiah 29:11

21 comments

  1. Sounds like a good year for you, praise God. As I meditated on what my WOTY could be for 2026, ‘Acceptance’ came to mind, as in the Serenity Prayer. I’m naturally too passive I think but I need to accept things I can’t change and be courageous to accept that I can do all things through him who strengthens me

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  3. Barb, I appreciate your journey during this past year. Thanks so much for sharing. Your choice of “flexible” takes me back to my final ten years of teaching. The transition from rural Montana to a much larger, urban school system in Columbus, Ohio challenged and stretched me. Indeed, I had to embrace being more flexible.

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  4. It’s always so amazing to see what opens up from a single word — positive and negative. It’s interesting that you consider flexibility is what allows you to procrastinate. And that you have decided to stay with your word for another year. Steadfastness and flexibility are partners!

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  10. Flexibility is such a stretching word, Barb! The seasons in my life when God called me to be flexible usually involved change, moving, and interesting relationship scenarios. May the Lord give you grace for every relationship and situation that calls upon your ability to be flexible. And may the Lord give you wisdom for every situation.

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  11. What a flexible year you had, Barb! I love that you also included how your word showed you some shadow sides…that might be a good question for us all to consider in 2026 with our new words. I’ll try to remember to include that sometimes!

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