Years ago, a leader gave me an assignment that caught me completely off guard: write 5-8 words I’d want used to describe me in my future (hopefully far off) eulogy. At first, it felt heavy—maybe even a little morbid—but as I dug into it, it became one of the most eye-opening exercises I’ve ever done. It forced me to confront a simple truth: if I want those words to describe me someday, I have to start living them out today.
Words like “faithful,” “generous,” “kind,” “disciplined,” and “encouraging” came to mind. But they weren’t just words for the distant future—they are qualities I needed to start weaving into my daily life. That exercise reminded me that no one writes my story but me. And the way I write it isn’t through big, sweeping moments. It’s through the small, repeated choices I make every single day.
As we step into 2025, most of us, myself included, have spent years focusing on resolutions about doing—losing weight, saving money, starting a project, or breaking a habit. There’s nothing wrong with those goals, and I’ve certainly made my fair share of them.
But this year feels different. Instead of focusing on what I want to accomplish, I want to focus on who I want to become. I want to revisit those words from that assignment years ago and start living them more intentionally.
So as we step into this new year, the focus isn’t just on tasks or accomplishments—it’s on character. Am I choosing patience in a difficult moment? Am I prioritizing time with my family? Am I showing kindness even when it’s inconvenient?
What about you? As you think about the year ahead, who do you want to become in 2025? What words do you want to describe you?
Let’s make 2025 not just a year of doing, but a year of being. Here’s to becoming the people we’re meant to be.