A Word For The Year

Two words that I dislike are // goals & resolutions.

A goal is something that you aim for with a soccer ball or a football. I think we should leave that word on the field and out of our energetic lives.

Resolutions remind me to resolve something. As in something I didn’t do right or well. Something that needs fixing. This doesn’t exactly speak to the type of energy I want to enter a new season with.

I love the word // intent. Or intention.

The meaning behind doing something.

Last year (2019) my word for the year was INTENTIONAL.

I wanted to be intentional and thoughtful with my time and my money. Before I said yes, I wanted to pause and consider. Does this feel like a push (externally) or a pull (internally)?

If it was a push, then I would let it go. If it was a pull, then I would lean in.

I was intentional about a lot of things outside of just where I spent my time and where I spent my money, but I guess it can all point back to those two resources anyhow.

I’ll explain. I was intentional with change, specifically our travel habits. We were in a rut with our travel and I was so stinking tired of it. We talked about making plans to travel further, like a road trip to Nashville or maybe another drive down to Savannah.

All of which made me want to puke with boredom.

At my core, I yearn for travel. It opens my heart and my mind wide open. I liken it to breathing in cold air on a chilly winter’s morning. It is energizing and invigorating.

Our travel rut was deeply and beautifully dug out by one shovel. A strong sturdy one. On the handle it read “Raymond doesn’t fly”.

My dreams of seeing the world would quickly vanish as I looked down at my feet stuck in the muddy rut of Raymond not flying. sigh

An opportunity came my way last year which had me entering credit card numbers on a screen within 5 minutes. Without thinking about it too much. Without asking Raymond what he thought or if he was kosher with it. I didn’t look down at that muddy rut, I just looked ahead and tapped those numbers into that keyboard.

The opportunity was to attend a conference on May 18 to hear Rachel Hollis speak. In Las Vegas.

May 18th is Raymond’s birthday. Coincidence? I think not.

I am not driving to Las Vegas.

And while I enjoyed Rachel and her books, this was far more about me being intentional with change.

I’ll cut to the chase here. That was one of the biggest boldest moves I have ever made for myself and my relationship. The trip was one for the books and the shovel was thrown away with all the other garbage excuses.

Intentional - it was my word and my mantra. And it freaking worked.

I don’t want you to get too caught up in the New Year, New You mentality. I love the fresh energy but gracious can we get a little breather.

What I do want you to do is mull over a word. Over an intent. Over a life guiding mantra.

How do you want to feel this year?

What do you want to fluff up and breathe new life into?

And if you are wondering, my word for this year (2020) is EXPLORE. A curious eye to exploring. The world (travel!). My relationships. My ministry of service. My excuses. Myself.

Curious and curious-er, my eye will be looking out for new ways to explore.