Every year, our family comes together to create a saying that will guide us throughout the year. It’s a tradition we’ve cherished for the past five years, and each year, our saying grows more meaningful as we reflect on where we are and what we want to achieve together. This year’s saying, “Bring Your Peace Wherever You Are,” is particularly special, as it came out of deep, meaningful conversations that helped us focus on what’s truly important as a family.
The Meaning Behind Our 2025 Saying
We live in a world full of chaos—both outside and inside our homes. The busyness of life, the demands of school, work, and commitments, combined with everything else going on in the world, can sometimes feel overwhelming. We wanted a saying that would remind us to be people who bring peace to every situation we encounter, no matter how chaotic it might be. Whether we’re at home, at school, on the sports field, or even in new environments, we want to be a calming presence, spreading kindness and understanding wherever we go.
Over the years, we’ve developed a tradition of sitting down together to create our family saying. This year, we used a step-by-step approach that involved every family member’s input and voice, making it a true reflection of who we are as a family.
You can do this process with your family too and I have outlined it below. You can also Download a FREE copy of the step by step process HERE.
Step 1: Set the Scene
We started by picking a relaxed time when everyone was together, like over dinner. Having snacks or a treat can make it more enjoyable, and we turned off distractions (TV, phones, etc.) to focus on each other. This step is all about creating a comfortable, distraction-free space where everyone feels relaxed and ready to share their thoughts.
Step 2: Invite Everyone’s Voice
We explained the purpose of the activity: “We’re creating a family saying that will inspire us and guide our actions this year.” We encouraged each person to share their ideas, asking questions like:
- What’s something we value as a family?
- What would we like to achieve together this year?
- What words make you feel positive and motivated?
Everyone had a chance to share their thoughts. If you want to you can write down all the suggestions on a piece of paper or whiteboard. If your family is visual this could really help. Our family was just happy for a discussion.
Step 3: Find Common Themes
Next, we looked for common themes in what everyone had shared. We identified words and ideas that seemed to resonate the most, and worked together to combine them into a short, memorable saying. For example, in the past years we have had:
- “Find a way”
- “Choose Kindness”
- “Be grateful each and every day”
We then worked together to shape these ideas into something simple, positive, and meaningful. This led us to our final saying, “Bring Your Peace Wherever You Are.”
Step 4: Finalise Your Saying
Once we had a draft, we read it aloud as a family and asked, “Does this feel right for our family?” We made a few tweaks until everyone was happy with it, ensuring that it captured the essence of what we wanted to focus on in the coming year.
Step 5: Frame It
To make our saying feel even more special we framed it and hung it in a visible spot, which was out hallway, where we can see it every day as a reminder of our shared values. It’s also the place where everyone can see it as they walk in to our home.
Step 6: Reflect at Year’s End
At the end of the year, we’ll gather together again to reflect on how we’ve lived out our family saying. We’ll look at the framed saying and ask:
- How have we lived this out?
- What stories or moments show how we embraced our saying?
- What could we do better or celebrate from this year?
This reflection process helps us see how our saying has shaped our actions, and it encourages us to continue growing together as a family.
Our family saying for 2025, “Bring Your Peace Wherever You Are,” is a reminder that no matter what life throws our way, we can always choose to bring peace to every situation. It’s a message we hope to live out each day, creating a positive and calming presence wherever we go. Through this tradition, we’ve learned the power of coming together, listening to each other, and finding strength in our shared values.
As you consider starting a similar tradition in your own family, I encourage you to take the time to reflect, create, and celebrate your shared vision for the year ahead. When we create these meaningful sayings together, they become powerful tools that guide us through life’s challenges and successes.
May 2025 be a year where you, too, bring your peace wherever you are.
** Download the step by step process of creating your family saying**
