A few years ago, I jumped onto that One Word bandwagon. I would choose a word and it would last all of a few months with me scrambling to find ways that I could force a summary of my life into #oneword. That had me thinking… What happened to new year resolutions? …which then had me thinking about when it was that I even learned about new year resolutions… I’m pretty sure it was in Sister Josephine’s third grade class, with her standing over my desk, waiting for me to finish, because yes, even then, I was a last minute kind of girl.
And I suppose that’s why as I start this post, I’m already overwhelmed by the fact that I’m days late in finding my #oneword. 1- because at some point, setting new year resolutions changed to setting a New Year WORD (just one) and 2- because I’m nervous that anything I write will get lost in the 2017 WORD “movement” among all the other writers and bloggers that are claiming their own originality in said “movement” blog posts (p.s. to my blogger friends out there, please don’t take offense to that..)
But seriously, is there anyone else completely overwhelmed by the outpouring of the “Welcome 2017” posts in blogosphere world?!
It’s like somehow we’ve all forgotten that with each new year comes a freshness and newness that is begging to be utilized. And for planners like me that go insanely disorganized come June, the regrouping that January offers isn’t just an opportunity, but a necessity–so why not join in and write about it.
The thing is, unfortunately what I’m finding in all of these “original” posts is one common theme: 2016 sucked. It was awful because “my dog died,” and “I left my job,” and “my dad has cancer” and “we lost the computer” and “grief is hard.” Goodness gracious people! …But don’t forget though that I am right there with you!
(…and p.s. as a counselor who struggles with anxiety and depression and often times lives in her own “woe is me world,” I do have to add that grief is important…in moderation. Carry on.)
In the process here is what I’ve learned:
We all know that with each year that passes we go through the same heartaches, hardships, trials…and somehow those are what we are left with rather than the unseemingly lessons we’ve been taught through the tribulations.
That needs to change! We jump to the next thing without embracing the current that will ultimately propel us to move-on.
What I’ve found is that One Word 2017 is supposed to make up for all “stuff” 2016 left behind and for the rejuvenation that 2017 is offering. One new blogger friend stated this: “A Word-of-the-Year is a lens through which I can view my real life.”
Soooo….
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Let me rephrase that in the way that I read and interpreted it: My life- is now summed up in one word?! For the WHOLE YEAR?!
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NO. EFFING. WAY. (I can say effing, right?! It’s culturally relevant.)
Maybe I’m just frustrated because of the pressure that One Word and New Year Resolution standards have me living up to.
I sit here reading so many of your beautiful and Spirit-filled words that bring inspiration and hope. And they have me yearning for more, begging for more of Jesus and His infinite plan for us. And like everyone else, I go back to 2016, and December, and how I was crying out MERCY!! “Mercy” maybe that should be my word. And shoot. Here comes the anxiety!
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I’m going to preface this next part: Not a day goes by that I don’t thank God for my husband, his commitment, and his job that allow me to stay home and be the best wife I can be (all while folding his laundry and doing the dishes after the breakfast that I make him). It’s seriously a privilege and one that I will never take lightly; especially considering that we don’t have any children yet. I get to blog because of him, and I get to run my own business with passion and zeal because of him, and I get to partner with 2 of the world’s most renown doctors, because of him… and Him. So yes, I’m filled with gratitude to be living my dreams in so many wonderful ways. BUT it’s hard work. MERCY. Me. Preface complete.
My cousin posted this video on facebook earlier this week:
I may not be a stay-at-home-mom yet, but I get it. ..and I’m just a stay-at-home-WIFE
So are you ready for my word? After all of that?!
Me.
…and you may read that and call ME the most selfish human being ever…but I’m not lying at all when I say that it’s needed. I could join in with others who have claimed, “joy” and “hope” and “peace” and “trust” (because there are a lot of you..and that’s AWESOME, truly). But for ME, I need to take the time and focus on this life in the here and the now among all that house-wife BUSY, to embrace the lessons learned through the last year and grow from them before jumping to the next.
Scripture is not off in the least:
So be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you. (emphasis mine. 1 Peter 5:6-7, The Message)
Trey’s “anthem” verse and mission is this:
I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13, NIV)
Think he’ll share his mission with me?
This is the first part in a two part series about self-care. Read Part Two Here!
Also- because self-care is so important, I’m doing a special R+F give-away to the first 2 people to comment on this post with helpful hints and tips of how you take care of yourself. One way I do it is with a little pampering, free facial anyone?
