In A Word...

Well here we are. A new year. I normally have that Spring Cleaning feeling right after Christmas. I think it has something to do with the amount of Christmas-related clutter that starts to take over the house. When the tree comes down and all the decorations go back, the house gets a good cleaning that often includes some clean-out so that newly acquired items will have a home.

The new year is traditionally a time for resolutions. I've never been a fan of New Year's resolutions. I figure if you have a big problem to work on or a goal you want to accomplish, you don't have to wait for a new year to get started.

As I reviewed events for 2009, I noticed that I had grasped a concept that has become a mantra so-to-speak these last few months. It is the concept of "choosing the better part." I have become better at deciding which events and activities will have more long-reaching importance in my life or the life of my children. I have found so much peace. I still hate it when my house is dirty, but I'm not as stressed about it.

Having this phrase to focus on has helped in many areas, and I will keep this in mind as I go through the year. I've also decided to choose a word this year that will be a "theme" to help me focus on many goals that I have. I was reading a post on a blog I follow (see column to the right, "Bloom") and discovered a word that really fit.

Mindful

I like it. Mindful means simply to be conscious or aware of something. I need to be mindful of many things: my weight, my children, my marriage, my friends, my home, my faith... There are so many goals I have. I believe that being aware and cognizant of them may help rather than what I usually do which consists of becoming so wrapped up in the pace of life that I forget what is important.

We'll see how it goes.

If you were to choose a word that would be your overall theme for the year, what would it be?