2020 Word of the Year and Goals

Happy New Year, everyone!

I hope you had the best time ringing in 2020 with your loved ones. I still have a hard time believing it’s the end of a decade. My last 10 years have been a rollercoaster of really high highs and extremely low lows. I am so thankful for my Redeemer! I’m welcoming the new “Roaring 20s” with open arms.

Each holiday season, in lieu of New Year’s Resolutions I try to choose a Word of the Year – a word that I use to center my focus and goals. I always reflect back on when I began in 2016. My Word of the Year was simply “JOY”, and 2016 really was a year of joy for me. As much as I hate to say it, I felt the Holy Spirit choose my 2017 Word – “CHANGE”. Yikes! That’s a hard one. 2017 was full of change, both good and bad. And 2019 was “IMAGINE”. All I can say is WHAT.A.YEAR. Baby Bounds has completely changed my life.

So, after much thought and prayer, my Word of the Year for 2020 is “INTENTIONAL“.

I mentioned how the last decade was rough on me. I felt like I was simply existing or surviving but never thriving. I knew there was more to life than what I was living, but it continued to escape me. The bottom line was I had no hope. I had no real goals. I had achieved almost all I ever wanted from life by 23, so it was all downhill from there. I had no idea what I wanted to do next.

INTENTIONAL is also a resolution – I am going to create a lifestyle of conscious attempts to live according to my values and beliefs.  How will this look? I’m not sure, so I will take it one day at a time. In the meantime, here are my GOALS for 2020:

1. Plan several INTENTIONAL moments with Liam: This includes road trips, same day adventures, crafts, reading, and more!
2. Plan several INTENTIONAL moments with Judson: This includes date nights out and in, purposeful relaxation around the house to just be together, cooking together, enjoying our farm, and more.
3. Have INTENTIONAL Bible study: I’m often asked about Bible study techniques and how to study the Bible, not just read it. I could probably write a blog post a day on that topic. It’s hard, and it’s supposed to be hard. I’m now looking for topical studies, not just devotional studies. By topics I mean women’s leadership, marriage, motherhood, faith, perseverence, and peace.
4. Be INTENTIONAL with my journal. This may be puzzling to you, but I need to be honest in my journal. It is my place of release, to talk things through with myself. However, most of the time I keep it light because who knows who could read them someday! I need to use it for its INTENT.
5. Travel, travel, travel. Give me all the travel! I love exploring, tasting, and enjoying life outside of my comfort zone. I really want to include Liam on some adventures. He is not going on a 10 day singing tour of Ireland though. That’s my time!
6. Spend more time with family. Every year begins with dread: “Is this the year I lose Mom?” Heck, it could be the year I lose anyone, so I’m going to spend as much time as I can with the people I love most.
7. Spend more time with friends. Moving 90 miles away from your best friends is tough. It’s close enough to drive, so there’s no excuse. I just don’t see them enough. And I have some really good friends.
8. Learn to love myself. I’m not going to elaborate, but this is one area in which I am really failing.
9. Allow myself to let others love me. Another area in which I suck.
10. Learn that it’s okay to not have plans and just BE.

Tell me, do you have a Word of the Year, or do you write New Year’s Resolutions? Stop by tomorrow and I will tell you a little bit about what’s been going on lately. See you then!