The New Year is only a few days away! This is one of my favorite weeks of the year! It’s a week to rewind through the past year and also to look ahead to the next. I am definitely a futuristic thinker and always have been. When I was in high school I would think, when I am in college…. Then it was when I am married…. When I have a baby…. I can’t help it, it’s the way my mind works, therefore the thought of a new beginning with endless possibilities always intrigues me.
However for some of you, planning a year in advance is totally overwhelming. Last year another blogger was posting about One Word 365 so I decided to check it out. The objective of One Word is to choose one word to focus on for the next year on how you want to live or to be that resonates with you. Guess what? I loved the idea!
As I sat down with my goals I was planning for 2013, I kept coming back to my word that really changed how I view life. Even with my goal planning tendencies, it seemed that all of my goals came back to my One Word in 2013.
My One Word for 2013 was intentional. I know you will all be surprised (no, probably not at all!) By choosing this word, here are a few goals that were met in 2013 that I had never done before:
- I finally designed a blog and began my blogging adventure (which had been a dream goal of mine for the last few years).
- I completed 4 bible studies and grew in my faith.
- I was able to pursue my husband by making sure we had a babysitter each week for a date night.
- I wrote a story for my middle daughter about her pretend skunk (yes, we don’t know why she would want one either!)
- We met with a home builder and began discussing plans for our future home.
- I sold $300 of small items on Facebook (mostly clothes, toys, and small household items). I think the largest item was $50. I realize that $300 is not all that much but it also got me into the mode of getting rid of what we don’t need anymore, blessing others with our excess and out of the slump of looking at clutter and wishing it would take care of itself.
- I assisted my good friend in developing a Moms & Tween Daughters group that will begin in January.
- I volunteered in our Women’s Ministry at church.
I’m sharing this with you because it has been life changing for me. I’ve decided to change it up a little bit this year and I bought a cheap journal for my One Word. It’s pretty (which makes me happy) and the objective behind this is to include bible verses, conversations with others, and anything else that I come across that goes with my One Word. One of the reasons I’m including the journal is that I know that last year’s word touched my life far more than what I listed in the above bullets. I’d like this to become a place where I can come back to and see the growth on paper.
Here are a few examples of words that I’ve heard others use if you are interested in coming up with your own One Word for 2014: love, simplify, finish, patience, obedience, listen, sacrifice, change, faith, present, balance, dream, grace, celebrate, pursue, enjoy, connect, strength, create, rejoice, and discipline. There are many, many more but these are a few that might be of interest of you!
My 2014 One Word is present. As I have already mentioned above, I am a very futuristic thinker which helps me plan, set goals, and live with intention. However, I also can get so wrapped up in planning that I forget to live in the present moment.
My goal for my word of 2014 is to be present in whatever I’m doing. It doesn’t mean I can’t plan, but I want to slow down and savor the special moments each day. My kids are growing up before my eyes. I want to capture their stories, the precious moments of their childhood. I want to be there for my husband and see things through his eyes.
Are you excited to come join me on this? Have you ever done this before? When you have chosen your word, or your word chooses you (as intention did to me last year!) I’d love to know what it is! I love the diversity of this group and would love to have a place to check in, encourage each other and see how your word is impacting your life!
Happy New Year!
I am so excited about One Word 365. This is my first year doing it. I am torn between act (which I already have a blog post written for!) and move. Act -> stop planning to do things and start actually doing what I’m called to. Move -> move out of the way so God can move. I love your word. Present is something that I unintentionally started focusing on last year. It made a world of difference in my marriage and parenting. Thanks for you sharing your heart with us! Happy New Year!
You have a lovely blog here. ‘Present’ what a great word! Enjoyed reading your post. I need to write down some goals as well. I find when I organize myself and write things down they seem to get done sooner. : )
God bless
“Present” – I love the idea of being present with family, with friends, being IN the moment. Thank you for sharing this – very encouraging! Happy new year!
Present… what an awesome word, and I love how you chose it with honest intention! Thanks so much for linking up with Recommendation Saturday! It’s lovely to “meet” you!
Heart Hugs, Shelly <3
Hi Jenny!
I’ve been blogging now for almost 4 years and I have seen other bloggers choose a word for the year. However, this is the first year I have done it, too! I hadn’t planned on it, but then, just a couple of days before the new year, it came to me. My word is “courage”. Courage to move forward… courage to stop looking back. Courage to step out of the boat and experience everything God is offering me…and asking me to do! My word choice got me pretty excited about 2014 and God has already been showing and teaching me so much about it!
I love your word, too. Being present each day and appreciating the blessings that are right in front of us is so important! I’m looking forward to hearing more!
Blessings, Joan