One Word 2020

The new year is upon us. We have stepped out from 2019 and before us stretches a fresh new decade and year.  Old calendars are removed and replaced with crisp, new ones. In the air there is a feeling of promise for what could be. Are you ready for 2020?

I've been pondering my Word for 2020, and tried a few on for size. I wanted the word to evoke positive thoughts, to be meaningful for where I'm at right now in my life circumstances, and to be almost like a breath prayer.

I've settled on  the word BREATHE.

I can't help but think of my precious grandchild who was born the other day, on December 29th. He took his first breath at 7:15 a.m. What a miracle life is!

Breath is the foundation of life. There is no life without it. It permeates our being.

Our breath is holy, since it originated with God. According to Genesis 2, He breathed his breath in us, and we became living souls.  That's a thought to sit with!

When I'm overwhelmed, the word BREATHE will remind me to get back to basics. I'll stop tensing up and trying to figure things out. Just breathe. In and out.  Finding my breath will help me to surrender what I can not do in my own strength. It will remind me that I'm going into 2020 with God, rather than on my own, and that He's always with me, as near as my breath.

I don't know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future.

Have you chosen a word or phrase for 2020?

New Year, New Word, More Me

So, the Christmas season has officially come and gone. Ordinary Time begins.

 The  remnants of my decorations include the pointsettia plants I received, which are still thriving. I usually let them hang around until  they drop off their leaves once and for all from lack of watering ;)  As well, I have some greenery in our planters outside, which bring beauty to an otherwise drab looking entrance. In the spring I'll deal with those! I do keep up some indoor winter decor until the spring season arrives. I enjoy having a little seasonal decor in my home.

Along with the new year comes thoughts of a new word or phrase for the year. I've pondered this for a while and have decided that my OneWord this year will be community. I feel that that word encompasses a lot. For me, it represents my intention to  get outside of my head more often (hello Enneagram 5!) and put some more action behind my thoughts and ideas. I'm going to keep a journal of all the ways that I have participated in 'community' in 2019. Will it change my life for the better? Will I become more of who God created me to be? We shall see. I don't want a NEW ME, I want to be MORE ME. And of course, that sometimes means making uncomfortable choices. Leaving the security of the comfort zone and stepping out. Small ways and small steps count!

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

Do you have a focus for 2019?

More

More. That's the word that I'm taking into 2018 with me. I don't do resolutions anymore, mainly because they don't really work for me. I do like to set goals or 'intentions' as is the buzzword these days, it seems. But I don't intend to list them or berate myself for failing to meet them.

Back to 'more'. This word is directly related to the verse I'm holding onto for this year.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen

Now, I'm not sure what this is going to look like for me and my family this year. But nevertheless, it is God's Word and since He doesn't lie, I'll continue to believe it. By faith, because isn't that the only way we can hold onto promises? We trust that the one who makes them will keep them. 

The Year That Was

Here we are... looking out over a vast space with no idea what is going to transpire in the next twelve months. Every year is like that.

I guess you could also say it's like being handed an unopened gift, but one that can only be examined one little bit at a time. No tearing and ripping into it.  Not until the end of the year are we able to look back and give an opinion on the year that was.

The year that was...
As I was journalling one day, I wrote an entry called Life and Death in 2017. Because it really was the year of life and death. Literally and figuratively. To sum it up,  it was a VERY HARD YEAR. And yet, it held some of the biggest joys of my life, too. Life is like that.

Truth be told, when it's hard, we really find out what we really believe and where we really put our trust and hope. We find out how important our community is. We are thankful for little things. We keep telling ourselves the truth. We take less for granted and we hold more tightly to things we value (and they're not really usually things). We know how fleeting life is. We only have today. Who knows what tomorrow brings?

My 'mantra' for 2017 was "Always, we begin again". It was so apt for me. I'm going to take that into 2018 as well, because I think it's a life saver. We can't look back and dwell on regrets or missteps. Yes, we can learn, but in the end, we begin again. Take what we've learned and move ahead. Begin again.

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

Next post: One Word 2018

Begin Again

Happy New Year everyone!

At this time of the year, many are sharing their "One Word"  for the year. I find that very interesting. I think it's a great practice, usually because it helps us stay aware of how we are living our lives, it's a positive focus, and it helps us on the way to becoming the 'best version of ourselves' as it's commonly referred to. This, for me, means I want to continue to grow personally in my journey of being transformed through the power of God, to bring him glory, to grow in love towards myself, others, and God.

Having said all that, I'm not so great at One Words.  Sometimes I don't even remember my One Word for the year. For example, as I was reviewing my journals, I realized my word for 2016 was "listen". I guess I actually HAVE been working at being a better listener but I had forgotten that I had chosen that as my One Word. Oh well. Such is me.

This year, I have settled on a phrase instead of a word:  Always, we begin again. (St. Benedict)

If I start a fitness program, and drop off, I'll pick myself up and begin again.
If I start strong in my healthy eating goals, and then lose my resolve, I'll begin again.
If I lose my patience or hope or will, I'll pick myself up and begin again.
If I feel overwhelmed, I'll look up, and begin again.
If I start something I really want to do and peeter out, I'll begin again.
If I do things out of selfish ambition and love is not evident, I will repent, and begin again.
If I find myself mired in life-sucking activities, I'll repent, and begin again.

Yes, no matter what, I will keep on keeping on. Always, I will begin again. By the grace of God.

Time to Tidy Up

So, are you feeling that, with a new year, it's time to declutter and simplify your life? Me, too. That's why I decided to read the life-changing magic of tidying up by Marie Kondo. I wanted to gain some some new perspectives on decluttering, and definitely got that here.

Some of the info gleaned: 

• When simplifying your possessions, choose one category at a time and spread them all over the floor; then decide if each item "sparks joy". If not, give it away or discard it. For example, if you are purging books, empty all of your bookshelves in your home all at once. Then pick up each book and ruthlessly determine if it is a keeper. How does it make you feel?  Research shows that if you have a book that you are 'going to read one day', you most likely never will. Keep that in mind, too.

• Respect your clothing and fold items up neatly and mostly upright, not stacked or hung. They will be kinder to you.

• Shoeboxes are the best organizational tool, hands down.

• Storage containers (rubbermaid bins, etc) are NOT your friend. The smaller ones are a waste of money (see above) AND the larger ones just teach you to hoard. And they clutter up your home unnecessarily. If you are storing things, you probably don't need them. 

• A tidy home gives you peace of mind and  tidying up boosts your confidence in your decision-making ability (I could use that!)

• The reason you can't let something go is either because of attachment to the past and/or fear of the future.

• Letting things go teaches you that you can do without a LOT of things. And that regretting a decision is not the end of the world. 

• Letting go of things teaches you to make decisions based on your personal values, and this relates to your whole life. It helps you know who you are and what you really care about.

So, did I just read this book and do nothing? Remembering that my ONE WORD for this year is MOVE (as in: don't just sit there, do something!), I decided to begin tidying up. I began with my husband's t shirt drawer. I didn't take a 'before' pic. I really should have because those poor t shirts were a jumble of mixed fibers! No matter how many times I organize that drawer, it doesn't stay that way for more than 2 days. So, I followed Kondo's recommendation and did this:

And you know what? He prefers it! This drawer has stayed neater longer because hubs is not upsetting the stack when he chooses a shirt.

I also went through my drawers and compartmentalized with shoeboxes. Bingo! I also decided to be kind to my socks and not roll them up into a ball. Apparently, there's a better way. Just a couple of folds will do.

I don't agree with all this author suggests. I don't have a shrine in my house and I don't think my clothing or my house needs to be thanked for what they do. Yes, I appreciate them, but I thank God for them ;)   But, Kondo did confirm to me that I definitely have feelings toward inanimate objects such as jewellery, books, and clothing. I have gotten rid of a stack of joyless belongings, and really, I do feel better now.

I am planning to tackle my books and paper files gradually, just  because I'm a tad rebellious. I'm not going to dump all my papers or books on the floor all at once. That would just make me want to scream and run away.

So, are you ready to do some serious tidying up? Check out this book, but if you buy it, make sure it 'sparks joy' if it's going to take up space on your shelf!

Looking Ahead

Have you considered a 'One Word' for the year? The one I've decided upon, which seems to have chosen me, because I'm not really a big fan of it, is...

I was trying to think of words meaning the opposite of procrastinate, and I settled on this one. Maybe not exactly the opposite, but it seems to have grabbed me. 

Not long after this decision, my eyes landed on my little old desktop calendar/notepad of quotes I have near my computer and this what it said: Procrastination is a form of self-abuse. Whoa, that's a little harsh, isn't it? But maybe a confirmation. Anyway, so I've decided to stick with MOVE.  As in, don't just think about it... MOVE! proceed, advance, etc, How that plays out this year and if it will make a difference, we shall see. It can't hurt to focus on a word that brings positive change, right? 

I hoped to find a Bible verse I could settle on with the word 'move' in it, which would encourage me and this is the one that came to mind --Matthew 17:20. 

That's always been a somewhat perplexing verse to me, so hopefully this year it will become clearer. What does it mean to have faith the size of a mustard seed? I've got a few mountains that need to be moved. How about you?