2014 & Choose.

As I thought about 2014 last month, I just kept seeing the same old things. I was not and am not particularly excited about this year. I will be working at the same place, still taking classes to get my degree, still dealing with the same issues... same, same, same. I'm glad nothing completely crazy is going on, I'm just really ready to be at the next place. At the next stage. Doing the next thing.


My word for this year is choose. I'm excited about it. I've not yet put into words what the word light did for me in 2013, but I can't help feeling like it could've done more. Like I could have done more to put it into action. Like I could have made it a bigger part of my life. I have left so many things unfinished, I'm so tired of it. So I'm going to choose to make choose a part of my life this year. I want to get more out of this word-picking business than just doing what the prompts say. I want my word to be an experience.

So, here are my personal goals I'm choosing to set for 2014:

• Complete the Beach Body workout program I started last year that was "too hard". 
• Read one book a month (that is not a school book).
• Run at least four 5K's (Last year I only did two. When I ran in a 5K in November, I was overwhelmed by how much I missed it. I'm an outdoor runner though, so it will likely be a while before I can start training.) 
• I want to write more. I really miss blogging. When I do crafts or try something new, I always think about how I could blog it. I always get worried if I start, I will stop again and that makes me feel lazy. I'm going to try anyway. 
• Take more photos with my DSLR. I used to have hundreds of photos. Now I'm lucky if I take one hundred with my camera. Also, I need to take photos of the kids more. 

 I will start with these four goals and go from there. I don't want to overwhelm myself. Do you have any goals for 2014?

One Little Word 2013

2007 - Go
2008 - Evolve
2009 - Joy
2010 - Focus
2011 - Faith
2012 - Mindful

This will be the sixth year I will have chosen a word for my year. In 2012, I wasn't always mindful, but I did achieve some major personal goals. I paid off two credit cards - they are still paid off! A step in the right direction for me financially. Also, I started a Scentsy business. Another financial step that is in the baby stages of paying off. I reached my first goal of becoming a shooting star consultant (selling $500 of product in 14 days), and then my second goal of becoming a Certified Consultant, in the second month of my business. I started running in February, and I not only ran a 5k, but I ran a 6k a few months before it! I struggled with school for most of the year until this past term. My focus just was not there, but this past term I got an A in the class I took.

I am so proud of myself for being mindful to what I committed to do this year. This was such a hard year for me personally. I could've easily given up on anything, but I didn't. I have grown so much this year, and I am really proud of myself.

Now that I've patted myself on the back... ;) I've decided my word for 2013 will be LIGHT.

This word had been coming up a bit as of late. It is the tag line of a very new favorite blog, and I would read it randomly. It hit me that this was my word when I received an email from a coworker with the subject of "Be A Light", and with the simple message of "Thank you for being a light in my life." I had no inkling that I was a light in her life. It made me realize I could be a light. It made me realize I could be a better light.

I am excited to see where this word takes me. I am going to be in Ali Edwards' One Little Word class again this year. Last year I didn't participate. Excited that it's renewed this year and there are new projects.

Here's to the year of LIGHT.

One Little Word

My word for 2012 is mindful.

At times last year, I found it hard to focus on how blessed we were amidst the chaos. I really want to be mindful of the blessings we have. In being mindful of what we have, I hope to be more content with what we have. When we moved, I did a big clean out of all of our stuff, I would really like to keep this apartment as clutter free as possible so that the next time we move (which won't be for some time!) there won't be as much. Of course, I know we are bound to collect as we go on. I just hope we are able to shed the things we don't need as we have new things. I took so much stuff to Goodwill.

I also want to be mindful that although we are still in an adjustment period here and that this single mom thing is rough, we really do have so very much to be thankful for. When something seems like it is not going to work out, something else happens and it does. God always provides. I really believe that it is only because of Him that we have made it.

My 2011 word, faith, really brought me through and kept me going. Now I feel like it's time to reflect and be thankful. For all of the struggles, for all of the lessons learned. We will come out ahead. It will get better. We just have to keep going.