Endure: My 2019 Word

I’ve had a hard time coming up with the mot juste for my 2019 Word of the Year. I wanted something that embraced diligence, discipline, consistency, tenacity… but none of those were quite right. I kept circling around to ‘persist,’ which I liked partly for the political connotations of the word as well as the meaning, but… I don’t know, it just didn’t feel exactly right.

I ended up choosing ‘endure’ as the word to have put on my reminder bracelet (made by Positive Charm on Etsy), partly because I love the song “The Earth Only Endures” by the Waterboys (video below), and partly because I’ve always loved a section in Hebrews.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2

endure

intransitive verb

1 : to continue in the same state : LAST
2 : to remain firm under suffering or misfortune without yielding

transitive verb

1 : to undergo especially without giving in : SUFFER
2 : to regard with acceptance or tolerance

persevere

intransitive verb

: to persist in a state, enterprise, or undertaking in spite of

persist

intransitive verb

1 : to go on resolutely or stubbornly in spite of opposition, importunity, or warning
2 obsolete : to remain unchanged or fixed in a specified character, condition, or position
3 : to be insistent in the repetition or pressing of an utterance (such as a question or an opinion)
4 : to continue to exist especially past a usual, expected, or normal time

Pertinent Quotes

“If you persist, you will prevail.” – Lailah Gifty Akita

“Events may be horrible or inescapable. Men have always a choice–if not whether, then how, they may endure.” – Lois McMaster Bujold, The Curse of Chalion

“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” – Christopher Reeve

“Enjoy when you can, and endure when you must.” – Goethe

“What is to give light must endure burning.” – Viktor E. Frankl

I particularly like that last one, since my Word for 2018 was Ignite. It’s cool to have a quote that ties last year’s word into this year’s.

So what about you? Have you chosen a word for 2019? What is it?

The Earth Only Endures – The Waterboys

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