My Word for 2013

New Year's Resolutions never really worked for me, so I stopped making them years ago. Instead, I choose a word that I want to focus on for the year. It's kind of a common practice in scrapbooking circles, known as One Little Word. It's much simpler than a resolution because you never really fail, as long as you let that word guide you all year. When you make a mistake, you think a little about it (maybe write a little about it), then get back on course.

I gave a lot of thought to what my word would be for 2013. There are plenty of ways I could go: relaxation, focus, contentment, home. All good concepts, but none of them really captured what I need to work on. In the end, I decided what I really needed to do was to stop trying to do all the thinking about what could happen or not happen in the future and be more aware of today...this moment.

So my word for 2013 is:

 
Present in the little moments, paying attention to the here and now.

Present in my kids lives -- at their performances, in their classrooms, talking about their day, listening to their ideas.

Present in my relationships -- tuning into what others really need from me without them having to ask (or beg). Just being there when they need me.

This will be a challenge. The planner in me likes to think about tomorrow, and the next day and the next task on my to-do list...and the next idea....and the next place to go...

But then again, it might be pretty refreshing.

I made a little pocket on my layout to tuck some thoughts into throughout the year. I figure it will be fun to read them at the end of the year and see how I did.

Happy New Year!!