I have always loved the holidays and Christmas, and I even love that it comes at the end of the year because I get to look forward to it all year long and its like the Grand Finale to our year. But in recent years, the end of the year- or beginning of a new one perhaps- has also made me a little anxious. Gearing up for a new year with all of the "resolutions" people make, myself included, are what usually end up getting me all frazzled. Without fail, every single year, I have resolved to: start working out again daily, eat healthier, wake up earlier, and stop biting my fingernails...and yet every December 29th(ish), I find myself waking up to the sound one of my kids crying for me to come get them out of their bed, eating various processed products throughout the day, and chewing my fingernails as if my life depended on it. So I decided last year that personally, making a ton of somewhat unrealistic resolutions was setting myself up for failure, and I needed new approach to the new year ahead. So Erik and I decided to scratch a list of resolutions, and instead pick ONE WORD that would define the coming year for us. For instance, for 2017, he picked "Active" and I picked "Positive". I tend to see the glass as half empty a lot of times, rationalizing my mindset it as being practical and logical, but it plays out as negativity, and I knew I really wanted to work on that- especially as we were gearing up for our big move and a lot of changes coming our way. Erik wanted to work on his health and building new friendships in Dallas, so his word was fitting for multiple goals he had.
At dinner the other night, we were able to sit down and talk about our year and our respective words and how we saw them play out over the year. We both noticed and called out how the other person had really succeeded in a lot of areas with our words! Erik has been so active in our new neighborhood- he organized a Dad's flag football game that everyone loved and wants to continue annually, has made some awesome new friends and seems to always be meeting up with guys to do stuff, and he has been way more dedicated to running and working out than in years past. Not because he had a resolution to work out every day, but because he had a desire to be more active in general.
I will say that my attitude towards moving and getting settled in Dallas been surprisingly positive this year, but not without a little work in that department. Changing my mindset about situations, people, and circumstances has taken time, but reminding myself of all the good parts of a particular situation and being grateful for all God has done and people He has put in our lives has helped me see the glass a little more full. I know that this area of my life is still a work in progress, but Erik and I both noticed a definite difference in my attitude over this year and that's something to celebrate!
We also chose new words for 2018, and I am excited to see how those words play out in our lives. Erik chose "Focused" and I chose "Purposeful". (Okay, I actually chose two- I also chose "Grateful" because I want to continue on my positivity journey and like I said, gratefulness is a key in that!) I want to be purposeful about how I spend my time, money, and invest in relationships. I want to be purposeful about how I parent our kids and in how I love and support Erik.
If making resolutions are stressing you out as much as they did for me, maybe this is a good year to scrap those lists and come up with just a word that you want to define your 2018. Maybe you write it out on your mirror, or keep in your car where you can see it, so that it can really penetrate and start doing some work in your life and soul. I would love to hear what some of your words are if you go that route!
