I stopped making New Year’s resolutions long ago. While I love the idea of setting goals, my resolutions always ended up tossed to the side a few weeks into the new year, and once they were broken it seemed as if I’d failed and it was just easier to leave them by the wayside rather than remind myself that I’d failed. For a few years I made “to-do” style lists, but eventually those got too lengthy and hard to keep track of as the year progressed.
So last year I decided to take a different approach, pick one word – just one – for the entire year. Of course, this really isn’t anything new. I’ve seen other bloggers do this for years, but for the first time ever, I decided to jump on the bandwagon. I didn’t write a post about it or anything, but I did select a word: FOCUS. I felt that in a lot of ways I lost my focus in 2016. So many areas of my life seemed to be out of my control, and I desperately wanted that control back. I wanted to focus on my family, on my friendships, on myself, on my work, on so many things, really… That in and of itself is probably the very the antithesis of “focus”, but it wasn’t going to stop me. I needed to get off the motherhood hamster wheel and focus.
And throughout 2017 I did just that; I brought the word “focus” into my daily life. I can’t tell you how many times in 2017 I sat frazzled in my office, home, or car and thought, “focus”. I pulled my kids aside at their championship games with a sole message, “focus”. I sat at our kitchen table with kids frustrated by homework, took a breath and focused. And although I didn’t clearly and intentionally share my word of the year with my husband, I can’t tell you how many times we sat on the phone trying to figure out how to be everywhere the kids needed us to be and thinking “we can do this, we just need to focus”.
Naturally, all of our efforts weren’t successful. There were periods where we had to readjust our focus. For example, I stepped back from my blog, which had been a focus for me for so long, to focus on areas where my husband and kids needed me. We dropped extra-curricular activities that were no longer working for us. And about 2 weeks into this school year, at my older daughter’s insistence, we majorly changed our approach to the school year. It forced me to focus and get organized in ways I’ve never, ever been organized before.
But it paid off.
Two thousand and seventeen was a year full of growth and success. I prepared for 2 federal trials and settled my biggest case ever. I started horseback riding again, which is something I wasn’t sure would ever happen (more on that later). Trips were taken, championships won, milestones were celebrated, we even survived a hurricane (and 20 hour evacuation). It was quite a year.
So in 2018 I’m selecting another word (and this year I’m writing about it!). Without further ado, my word for 2018 is “EMBRACE”. Why? Well, truthfully, it just seems like the next logical step. I worked hard in 2017, and while I don’t want to dial that back at all, I want to enjoy it more. There were times I felt so focused and so determined in 2017 that I missed the part that was supposed to be fun. I want to live and embrace fun. More importantly, I want to embrace areas of my life that may have been neglected. To embrace life, and those areas that may have been neglected, seems like the right way to approach 2018.
To embrace opportunities…here on my blog, but also at work, with my family, and with friends.
To embrace creativity…crafts, writing, and photography (and not necessarily as a part of a brand partnership).
To embrace those around me…because if I’ve learned anything from years past, they can be gone far too soon.
To embrace my own parenting style…and be totally okay with the fact that no one else understands it.
To embrace the moment…and stop worrying about things in the distant future or trying to relive things in the past.
To embrace imperfection…but refuse to settle.
To embrace uncertainty…which is by far the hardest, because honestly, I don’t know what this year is going to hold for me and I’m a bit of a control freak.
I could go on forever. There are so many ways that this word fits into my life right now, I can’t even begin to describe them all to you. I can’t wait to live this word in 2018.
What’s your word for 2018?
I use hashtags…this year I decided to go with #GettingShitDone and #Handled. Yours is way more elegant. Either way, as long as you are working it, that is all that matter.
Progress is my word. I gave up resolutions, and I gave up any other word for the year besides that one. Progress is a word that’s always the right one for me.
I usually don’t make resolutions or give myself words for the year, but I think “embrace” is a great word for the year!
I gave up on resolutions years ago! Life would get in the way, and then I would be disappointed. I prefer a word (consistent is the word for 2018).
Ugh. I struggle with consistency in a big way. That’s a great word for 2018.
Heck yeah! Embrace it all- looks like you’re ready for another amazing year in 2018!
Focus and embrace are both great words. I don’t do resolutions either. I find they just set me up to fail. I don’t know what my word is for this year is but it’s a great idea. I’ll have to think on that.
I love the idea of choosing a word to represent your goals for the New Year. I don’t mind resolutions for the most part but this concept seems to be easier to be mindful of.
My word for the year is Joy. I am planning on spending my year doing things that make me happy. I am going to try at least one new thing every month as well.
I love how you not only selected a word, but created your own monthly challenge. What a great way to keep things interesting and broaden your horizons. I might have to try that.
My word is abundance. I think it’s quite similar to embrace. I want to look for ways to live in abundance when it comes to all the really important things.
That’s a great word! A word that I didn’t consider, but maybe I should have. Wishing you abundance in 2018!
Oh this is really great. My word is forward, into everything that is exciting. It has to be better than last year!
That’s EXACTLY how I felt about 2016 (and 2015 if I’m being totally honest – it was a rough couple years). I hope your 2018 is full of forward progress!
My word is “reloading”. 2017 wiped me out. So it will appear this year that I am retreating…ducking behind a rock..but I’m not. I’m simply reloading.
Love, love, love this! What a great way to look at it. And trust me, I totally get it – 2017 was exhausting!
I love this post! Focus is a great word and I’m glad you were able to have a more focused 2017. And I love your choice of word this year.
I always do resolutions or goals, but never chose a word of the year…until this year, like you. I chose adventure and I think it’s going to change my whole outlook, too.
I also pretty much gave up on resolutions. Instead I’m just always trying to do my best and push myself further in life.