New Year, New Word
Last year I jumped on the “Word of the Year” bandwagon with the word INTENTIONAL and I liked it. (Read about it here: click here to follow.)
It didn’t change my life in a dramatic way but it saw me through a difficult year and, unlike a standard resolution, it made it all the way through to December helping me to seriously consider my choices and the effect each one might have on my life.
This year, I’m doing it again and my word is BASICS. Getting back to basics is nothing new, but having that reminder of my focus for the year right where I can see it every day, is. (and yes, it is right here in the window in front of my desk–one calm spot in the chaos that is my office)
Not only do I want to focus on the basics of living and the basics of relationships, I also want to focus on the basics of blogging (they updated the format of this blogging program and I have yet to learn how to make it do my bidding).
I want to focus on the basics of writing.
Master the fundamentals.
Having a more solid foundation would be a huge benefit to me. While I tried to be intentional about my decisions last year, I realized that I need to shore up my foundation for the coming years.
I’m entering a new phase of my life: it’s so much different than and so much the same as any other time in my life. (??? I know, right?) I’d like to be sure that the ground under my feet is as solid as it can be.
So here I go, into the unknown of a new year, with my word-of-the-year in hand hoping for the best, knowing that nobody ever gets it all right, that my blunders will hopefully be accidents of miscalculation, not intent.
I’m happy to be traveling with all of you, I appreciate your insights and encouragement, and hope you find insights and encouragement here when you come to visit.
If you had a guiding word for this new year, what would it be?
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Hi Carol. Happy 2019, and good luck with your blog this year.
My guiding word will be the same one I’ve tried to adopt each year for the past 13 years: PATIENCE! I’m hoping I can improve on last year’s performance.
Pablo, if anyone can do it, it’s you! Good luck with that and a wonderful 2019 to you all! P.S. If you’ve hung in there 13 years working on this, doesn’t that mean you’ve already won?
My word is “myself”. I want to make choices for my life that are true to who I am.
Good for you, Rachel. That’s such a tricky one because often we wonder if we’re being selfish. But being true to yourself sets a very good example for your children and allows them to feel comfortable being who they are. Kudos to you! And a Happy New Year to you and your family. Smooch those kiddos for me!
Again, I struggled with what word would be best for me. (I can be very indecisive) So after a while I googled “word of the year” and found this site that automatically generates a word for you. http://www.wordoftheyear.me/ I figured I’d have to do it a few times and maybe I’d find something that might fit. I clicked on the word generator and it gave me the word “Ready”. It immediately clicked with me. I have spent decades learning, searching, and readying myself for my authentic life, and I believe it’s time. I am ready for the world to open itself up. I am ready to walk the path I have chosen, the path of joy and fulfillment,
When the world opens itself up, jump in! I’m still saving caps so you’ll be ready for the summer art program. Start collecting sis, it’s your year!
“Grace” where there is grace, there is love. To extend grace to one another would all but eliminate our judge mental attitudes we have towards others. It would also reduce the hurts we inflict. God gave us His grace so we should extend it to others.
Jim, that’s a beautiful sentiment. What a wonderful way to approach each day. I’ll have to keep that in my back pocket for next year!
Happy New Year Carol. I am so sorry I am late getting back with you. BASICS! I love this word. Nothing like getting back to the basics of life. We are the one that make life complicated when it really does not have to be. Yes, life happens. We lose people in our lives, we get sick sometimes, we have down days, we have sad days, we overload ourselves to the point of stress. Why do we do that last one? Getting older makes all of the above easier to handle and muddle through. But getting back to the basics of life whatever that means for each individual is wonderful in my eyes. I have made some changes in 2019 and made some goals for me. They are pretty basic and so far 2019 is going well. Have a great rest of the month and I am really looking forward to your blogs and thoughts this year. Love you girl. Take care.
Love,
Susan Manry
Susan,
Happy New Year to you as well! It is crazy that we overload ourselves to the point of stress, like you said. But how refreshing it is to decide to focus only on the basics and let the rest of it take care of itself. I hope the changes you’ve made and reaching your goals make for a wonderful, happy year. It’s all ahead of us. Let’s enjoy!
Love you…c