Three great things, and my word for 2018
Happy New Year dearest friends! This is the twelfth new year we're celebrating on this blog! I just counted it out on my fingers and gasped at how much time has passed, and how Typepad has kept me as a customer all this time -- ha! Seriously, though, I'm very much a nostalgic person, and probably won't leave this space for a while because of so much history that's been played out here.
I'm also very much into resolutions, but quickly transcribe them into goals. I am but, if anything, a wisher, a dreamer, but over the years have realized, for me, that they can be better achieved by setting some concrete milestones within a certain timeframe. I can't write a book without words on a page. I can't run a race without regular running days. Not to say the trajectory of success is straight up. But without my goals, I would truly be aimless.
In 2017, you've seen a lot of my wishes come true. I was talking to one of my critique partners the other day about how I was "on fire" last year! HA! Either on fire with the pace, chasing a fire to put it out, or running from it. I wouldn't have it any other way, but I did learn a ton about my priority setting and stress level. I love work stress (vs. personal stress, which is something else entirely), always claimed to thrive on it since I was in high school--but I think I have some sharper tools in my tool box, which I hope to address with my word of 2018.
I think the first thing to go when we're busy is the feeling of gratitude. Sometimes, even the greatest of gifts become a fly-by-day event; more so, the tiniest of gifts never get acknowledged. The fire that we are, that we're chasing, or is chasing us, prevents us from taking stock of both the responsibilities and joys of life.
You might think--yeah, so I'll be more thankful. That's great! But in working with this word, this year, I'm staring my "three great things" list. When my kids were little, we'd go around the table if the conversation was running thin. I'd ask them about their "three great things" of the day. Toddlers and young children are so good at this game, because they see the smallest things as the greatest gifts.
This year, I want to tap into this practiced gratitude. It just so happens that my newest daily planner inserts for my Filofax A5 has a spot just for this intention. Everyday since the new year, I've practiced writing down "three great things." Three, tangible items that really brought joy to my day.
While this year will prove to be just as busy, I hope that I can reclaim the gratitude that my soul needs, and the people around me deserves!
How about you? Do you have a word of the year? Do you believe in and what are your resolutions?
