Every year in January the mood changes. People start getting serious about their lapsed gym memberships. The holiday sweets start to look sour. Everyone makes hollow resolutions.
I’ve stumbled across some people who have chosen a word for the year instead, a word that will help them focus on the thing that is truly important to them. I started thinking about what my one word would be for 2012, and I came to this conclusion:
Cliche, right? Isn’t that the point of every New Year’s resolution, to change?
Yes, and no. This word means more to me than meets the eye. You see, for the past year I have changed in one of the biggest ways imaginable: I became a mom. My life got turned upside down by Miss Alexa, and I would have it no other way. I became less selfish, opened my heart in ways I didn’t think possible, survived on less sleep than a hunted gazelle, learned how to juggle a baby, car seat, stroller and diaper bag alone in public. So much change! Still, all this change happened to me. I didn’t do much last year to affect any change.
I feel stagnant. Like I’m just coasting along. Like my ambition died.
That’s all about to change.
I can’t tell you how this word will manifest itself throughout the year because my life is a work in progress, but I can tell you what I’m doing right this minute to change.
Change my diet: This week H and I went meatless. We are planning to do this as long as possible, perhaps forever. I’ll write more on this later, but let’s just say it’s going well so far.
Change our cleaning methods: We are working toward a more efficient way of keeping our house in line now that Alexa is crawling and soon-to-be walking. She is a tornado, leaving a mess in her path, and we are being proactive to counteract her. Among the goals here: Do a cursory sweep every night before bed and put everything back in its place. It’s a work in progress.
Then there are some other changes in the foreseeable future:
Change our living situation: We are not content in our current apartment and are looking for a more compatible place to call home. We will be patient, but we will be looking.
Change into a morning person: I could use some tips on this one, but I need to be less of a zombie in the early morning for Alexa’s sake.
Change my blog focus: I used to love all the structured features I came up with, but lately I feel like they’re stifling me instead of helping me connect with you. More on this later.
Change my skills: I’m coming up with a list of projects to work on throughout the year so I can get in touch with my as-of-now-nonexistent crafty side. I’d like to better my photography skills, too.
I’m sure I’ll identify other things to change as they come along. I’m encouraged by this process. Would you be willing to try it? What would your word be?
“When you’re finished changing, you’re finished.” -Benjamin Franklin
