One Word for the New Year: Guiding Your Family’s Journey This Year

The start of a new year feels like opening the first page of a blank journal—filled with endless possibilities and ready to be written with your family’s unique story. It’s a time to reflect on the lessons of the past, dream big for the future, and set meaningful intentions for the months ahead.

But here’s a fresh idea: instead of crafting a long list of resolutions that may fade by February, what if your family embraced a single, powerful word to guide your journey through 2025?

Choosing one word offers clarity and purpose, simplifying the path to personal growth and family connection. It becomes a beacon that lights your way, a reminder of what truly matters, and an anchor during life’s inevitable challenges. This approach is not only manageable but also transformative, sparking conversations, creativity, and mindfulness for both parents and children.

As we step into the new year together, let’s connect this practice to the beloved lessons found in Sprout. Sprout’s journey is a testament to how one simple intention—encouraged by his father’s wisdom—can lead to profound discovery and growth. Guided by a deep desire to understand the world, Sprout set out to uncover its truths, find its goodness, and record its lessons in his journal.

His story inspires us to approach life with curiosity, courage, and an open heart. This year, let’s take a page from Sprout’s journal and discover how choosing a single word can transform not just your resolutions, but your family’s entire year into an unforgettable adventure.

Traditional New Year’s resolutions often lead to overwhelming lists that are easily forgotten by February. In contrast, selecting a single word provides clarity and sustained focus, acting as a compass to guide your actions, decisions, and mindset throughout the year.

This approach centers on personal growth and character development, offering a simple yet profound way to inspire creativity and transformation. By embracing one word, families can unite around a shared vision, fostering meaningful conversations and collective growth.

This method encourages a proactive focus on who you want to become, rather than dwelling on past shortcomings, making it an ideal practice for families to adopt together.

This year, let’s embrace Discover . It’s a word full of curiosity, adventure, and open-mindedness. For children, it means uncovering new skills, stories, and friendships. For parents, it’s an invitation to learn alongside them and explore life’s possibilities. Together, “Discover” can spark joy and wonder in every corner of your family’s life.

In Sprout, we see how discovery shapes the young protagonist’s journey as he sets out into the world, encouraged by his father’s gentle wisdom. Sprout’s father believed the world was full of wonders waiting to be uncovered and inspired Sprout to approach life with open eyes and a curious heart.

Armed with a journal to record his findings, Sprout embarked on a journey that would teach him about knowledge, truth, goodness, and his own inner strength. His story reminds us that discovery isn’t just about finding something new; it’s about understanding the world and our place within it.

1. Discover New Books

• Visit the library or bookstore to explore stories from diverse cultures, genres, and voices.

• Create a “Sprout-inspired” journal by using Sprout’s Red Journal for your child to jot down thoughts, favorite quotes, or lessons from each book they read, starting with Sprout.

2. Discover the Outdoors

• Plan nature walks or weekend hikes to explore your local environment.

• Encourage your child to bring a small notebook on these outings to sketch or write about what they see, just like Sprout did.

3. Discover Each Other

• Dedicate time for family discussions about hopes, dreams, and lessons learned from the day.

• Use storytelling to share your own discoveries—whether it’s a new recipe, a funny anecdote, or a moment of personal growth.

4. Discover Creativity

• Experiment with art projects, writing prompts, or music.

• Create a “family discovery board” where everyone can pin drawings, ideas, or photographs of their adventures.

5. Discover Gratitude

• Start a “discovery jar” where family members can drop in notes about small but meaningful things they’ve noticed or are thankful for.

• Reflect on these discoveries together during family time, emphasizing how they’ve enriched your lives.

Display It

Seeing your word every day keeps it top of mind for the entire family. Write “Discover” on a chalkboard, dry-erase board, or poster and place it in a spot everyone passes frequently—like the kitchen or living room.

Add decorations that tie the word to something meaningful, like symbols from Sprout’s journey: leaves to represent growth, stars to symbolize wonder, or a journal sketch to remind you of exploration. Involve your children in decorating the display—they’ll feel more connected to the word when they’ve had a hand in bringing it to life.

Live It

Use “Discover” as a mantra during moments of frustration or uncertainty. For example:

• If someone feels stuck with a homework problem, ask, “What can we discover here?”

• Shift focus onto possibilities, fostering a problem-solving mindset.

Encourage curiosity in everyday tasks by asking open-ended questions like, “What do you think we’ll discover if we try this a different way?”

Reflect Together

Set aside time at the end of each month to gather as a family and discuss your experiences with “Discover.” Use prompts like:

• “What did we discover about ourselves this month?”

• “What new places or ideas did we explore?”

• “How did our focus on discovery help us through a challenge?”

These reflections can be informal conversations over dinner or more structured with a shared journal—just like Sprout recorded the wisdom he found on his journey.

Sprout’s story teaches us that discovery is not just about seeking knowledge—it’s about understanding life’s deeper truths and finding joy in the everyday. His father’s encouragement to record wisdom in a journal reminds us of the importance of reflection and mindfulness.

As you and your family embrace Discover this year, take inspiration from Sprout by documenting your own journey. Whether it’s through a family journal, shared conversations, or creative projects, these small acts of reflection will help you see how much you’ve grown together.

By choosing Discover as your family’s guiding word for 2025, you’re inviting growth, adventure, and connection into your lives—just as Sprout and his father did. Whether it’s uncovering a new favorite book, exploring the great outdoors, or learning more about each other, discovery has the power to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Here’s to a year of wonder, wisdom, and endless possibilities—one word at a time. Happy New Year!