“When Giving is All We Have” by Alberto Ríos (and finally settled on my Word of the Year)

A beautiful poem from Alberto Ríos, who says:

This is a poem of thanks to those who live lives of service, which, I think, includes all of us—from the large measure to the smallest gesture, from care-giving to volunteerism to being an audience member or a reader. 

When Giving Is All We Have
by Alberto Ríos

                One river gives
                Its journey to the next.


We give because someone gave to us.
We give because nobody gave to us.

We give because giving has changed us.
We give because giving could have changed us.

We have been better for it,
We have been wounded by it—

Giving has many faces: It is loud and quiet,

….

(Read the rest here, at Poets.org.) 

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Which brings me to finally settling on a word for 2026. 

“Word of the Year” … “One Little Word” … whatever we want to call it. I like to do this, but I’m not always consistent. In 2024, I chose the word “Hope,” because hope was much-needed that year. Last year (after waaaaaay overthinking it) I chose the word “Create” (also much-needed, immensely-overthought, and ultimately overstuffed with goals I didn’t live up to as I'd hoped or envisioned. Maybe I should have chosen a phrase instead of word: “Hope to create and stop overthinking.”) 

Anyway. This year, I dithered for a while but eventually landed on: 

“Giving” (as Alberto Ríos presents it) and “engagement" aren’t exactly the same thing, but they're affectionate sisters. 

I am striving to engage with intentionality in the areas of life that are most important to me, and to let go of the things that sap my energy. I want to engage (begin to, continue to, or expand on previous engagement) in a variety of ways: 

Socially and politically (read: “Advocacy for human dignity and basic human decency, and the same human rights for all people everywhere.” It should be so simple. Why is it not?) 

Professionally (read: I want more accountability and formal community for my writing … Poetry! Picture Book Aspirations! All the Things!) 

Family: (read: We’re already a close family, but a busy one. I want more regularly scheduled get-togethers and dinners. Hear that, grown-up kids? I’m comin' for ya.) 

I know this doesn’t cover all the bases, and my thoughts on Engagement in 2026 will keep developing, but it's a start. 

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Tabatha at The Opposite of Indifference is hosting this week’s Poetry Friday round-up.