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Sunday, January 1, 2017

One Little Word 2017

I am excited to start the new year with a new word! There have been years where my word is very present here on the blog, especially in 2015 when I chose the word "be" and did weekly updates. Last year my word was a little more close to the heart: make. I tried to do a lot of things handmade and homemade but I also wanted to make time and space and focus on some self case. When we welcomed our first little baby at the beginning of December it felt life such an appropriate word.

Originally I had thought the word would help me finish some projects, but carpal tunnel kept me from knitting and sewing projects. Upon reflection, the year brought many opportunities to make in a different way: space for recovery, time for relaxing, routines for resting, date with my husband, etc.. Fall became a season of discovering and setting boundaries for myself and in the end, it wasn't as hard as I'd imagined. My family and friends worked extra hard to support me as I figured out what "resting" looked during various phases of the year. A broken rib, 13 bonus days of pregnancy and an extended hospital stay added to the equation and were certainly not part of my own plan, but reflection, I know that I did make the most of my year. 

This year I've chose the word: present.

One of the things that sticks with me from the last few weeks for pregnancy and beginning of motherhood is how much I lived each moment. During the waiting I worked hard to enjoy each moment, and think of each day as a bonus, and as we waded through the first week or so of parenthood my sense of time shifted from hours and days to moments and milestones. I try not to plan or look too far ahead, but rather enjoy the now and be present for my son and family, knowing that routine and rhythms will ebb and flow.

This is an attitude I want to bring into the new year. I can't say it's a change I want to make because it's already something I've been feeling shift inside my heart. But that's why I like this word. I don't need to change, but rather embrace what is already happening in and around me. 



I am currently reading Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist and found this quote particularly applicable:
What I'm learning essentially, is to stand where I am, plain and sometimes tired. Unflashy, profoundly unspectacular. But present and connected and grounded deeply in the love of God, which is changing everything. (19)
I'm am excited to find out what God is planning for 2017 and looking forward to blogging about my One Little Word throughout the year. I'm not setting a bunch of goals and making a plans for this space, but will instead see where the year takes us. Happy New Year!

2 comments:

andi said...

A brilliant way to start a new year.
Bravo you, for adapting the word making to fit unexpected situations.

Juliann in WA said...

Lovely post! I think you have a knack for being present but it will be fun to see how you embrace this wonderful word. (And I love that you wrote "our first baby" - more good things to come!)