My Un-Word
So yesterday was the release of my latest book. It was also the day my online friend Darlene and a few others were launching “My Un-Word” a way cool idea about choosing a word for the year to strike from your vocabulary.
I’d planned to help promote it. But I also needed to celebrate my own book launch a little. So, I didn’t write about My Un-Word.
Then, this morning, I felt bad. Like I let her down. Like I shoulda found a way to do both.
But it is okay. You see, I had already decided my “un-word”. The word I need to STOP using.
It is “shoulda”.
Oh boy do I beat myself up with those seven little letters.
“I shoulda spent more time reading the Bible this morning.”
“I shoulda thought ahead and made a hot meal for the neighbors this week since they lost a grandparent to cancer.”
“I shoulda taken off this extra 15 poiunds long before they turned into 25.”
“I shoulda checked my Facebook feed better. I totally missed two friends birthdays and they never forget mine.”
Shoulda
Shoulda
SHOULDA
Well, I am banning that word from my vocabulary this year. I want to make the most of every moment and not regret the moments that have passed. Moments I can’t go back and do over.
How about you? Do you have a word you need to eliminate from your vocabulary this year?
Head over to My Un-Word for more info.
Oh, and if you do pick one, tell me what word in the comments here. I’d love to know!
Karen, my {UN} word for this year is {UN} afraid. Unafraid to step in faith with my Papa God. I like your “shoulda” word too. I can realte to that one also. God bless you Karen with your new book. Beth
Love is my word. I feel like that word is over used so much that it has lost it’s meaning. I’m not trying to totally eliminate it from my vocabulary. I only want to use it when referring to people that I truly love and not over use it on inanimate things like ice cream.
My unword is “I can’t” when I start to doubt my abilities to do something. Sometimes it is also just a matter of feeling comfortable in my comfort zone so I use this phrase as an excuse to get out of it. I feel I have missed some opportunities in life by not getting outside my comfort zone more in life. I guess it is hard for me sometimes since I tend to be a creature of habit. But I do my best to achieve the task when it is God calling me to do something to glorify Him.
“Fail”…as in I have failef God again, my husband again my kids…again.
I would have to claim ‘I need to’ as my un-phrase for the year. It’s a very passive set of words. But removing it from my vocab doesn’t seem like enough. It’s a set of words that warrants a replacement set. My replacement phrase is now ‘I will.’ It is definitive and decisive, not passive and complacent. And now I will close my note, I will get some water, and I will fold the laundry.
Mine is more of a phrase: what-if. I mull over the what-ifs of life more than I ever should and oh my goodness does Satan use that against me whenever he gets the chance! Since the one word I am focusing on this year is discover, I don’t think the what-ifs of life have any place with the discoveries that have been/are/will be happening!
Ridiculous…that is my “un-word”. I use it way too much when I am fed up with a situation or frustrated with a member of my household. “This is a ridiculous way to act!” “It is ridiculous how long it is taking to get out of the house!” I have been realizing how much I say it and it is too much! Thank you for the challenge!
Karen, thanks to your friends who came up with this idea.
Coulda has been on my list, for a good while. My therapist has wanted me to quit saying coulda, shoulda and I need to.
He says they are negative works. I’m going continue working on these three words this year, shoulda is going to be my un-word for this year.
I would have to agree with some others. “I can’t” and “shoulda” are words that I need to “un-word” in my vocabulary for this year.
My unword for the year is I can’t. I am doing Made to Crave and have decided that those two words are not in vocab this year. I can do all things in Jesus’ name. He will be my can. Also working on restoring my relationship with my 13 year old. That is another can. I know that this will not happen over night, but they will happen. ;)
Hi Karen! Is it okay to have 2?! My are “I can’t” and “shoulda”! I let can’t and shoulda keep me from trusting God’s plan for my life and moving forward. :(
I can’t
Living with a new pain the last few months, that “I can’t” seems to be a big part of my vocabulary. Sure need to remember that I can do all things thru Christ and when i do remember – I can!
Coulda-I beat myself up on the coulda – gone to a better college, coulda gotten 2 degrees,etc. I have to leave my past in the past and start and start doing my “shoulda”.
That’s it! That’s mine! Just ask my family. Regret is a constant in my life – I don’t ever feel like I did enough or made the right choice. I have an “I shoulda” for much of what I do, and all the things I think I should have done – especially if it was for someone else. Then I feel bad for a bit while I regret it. This is a great idea! This should be interesting – and a relief to my family. ha
Try / Trying
I’m trying and I’m gunna try are horrible default phrases for me.