My word for the 2020 year was RESTART. Like a computer reboot, restart doesn’t change things on your computer, rather it restarts again from its original state.
Each time throughout the year that I had a setback of sorts, I’d whisper to myself to RESTART right from where I was. It’s like the saying that I thought was Biblical… “Come as you are,” when referring folks to go to church. What I found was it’s not because that phrase is not directly mentioned anywhere in the Bible.
Regardless, I like to believe that for anyone wanting to go to church but are afraid, to try it anyway and show up. The church is supposed to be a haven, right? The first place where one can find refuge and feel no judgment or pressure to be anybody else except themselves, and to get the help needed to change. Change is the keyword.
I recently heard this line from Christian artist, Mathew West. A song titled: “Truth Be Told”. It goes like this… “There’s a sign on the door that says ‘come as you’, but I doubt it, cause if we lived like that was true, every Sunday morning pew would be crowded.” That solidified my thoughts. With most churches closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, where does one go to be their true selves and get assistance to change? Hmm, that’s a heavy question for another post. Until then, watch the video.
So, being human and staying in my comfort zone, I continued to ponder the definition of RESTART.
Dictionary.com had this to say about…
verb (riːˈstɑːt)
to start again
noun (ˈriːˌstɑːt)
- the act or an instance of starting again – the restart of the lap
- (as modifier)a restart device
That’s when the light bulb when off in my head. I realized I don’t just want to start again from where I’m at—the original state. Rather, I want to restart with the intention of a different outcome. And so, I decided my new word for 2021 is going to be RESET.
Dictionary.com had this to say about…
verb (used with object), re·set, re·set·ting.
To set again: to reset an alarm clock; to reset a broken bone.
To set, adjust, or fix in a new or different way: to reset priorities; to reset prices.
SEE MORE
verb (used without object), re·set, re·set·ting.
To become set again: The alarm bell resets automatically.
noun
An act or instance of setting again.
An act or instance of setting, adjusting, or fixing something in a new or different way: A reset of relations between the two countries may be impossible. Company executives recognized the need for a reset in their business. Something that is set again.
Back to the phrase: “Come as you are”. I also recognized for myself that I don’t want to be a “come as you are” person; instead, I want to be a “come as you hope to become” individual. It’s a personal affirmation to transform oneself however you choose to do so. I’d rather reset than restart because sometimes things can’t go back to their original state. If we think of it in computer terms, here is something else I found that puts it all together:
“…Restart/reboot vs reset, reset is different from reboot/restart. Reboot/restart doesn’t change things on your computer, while reset will change things in your computer. Resetting means erasing and restoring…”
If I learned anything from 2020, is that I want to grow at every given setback or challenge that comes swerving in my life. Cheers to a healthy and prosperous 2021, and your personal RESET journey.
Until next time…
Be well. Be safe. Be happy.
