One of my Facebook friends posted about One Word 365 today and I got rather intrigued. I usually make resolutions. Some I do, some…not so much. I just looked over my resolutions for last year and I met only one out of eight. Yikes! That’s terrible. Part of the problem, is that because of my life as a speech pathologist I feel a great compulsion to write measurable goals. The thing is that goals that are really measurable are so specific that sometimes they are joy-stealers. However, if the resolution is too vague (e.g., lose weight), then how do you know if you have accomplished it or not? I also tend to be a bit over-zealous as to what I think I can realistically accomplish in a year. And this past year was much busier than usual.
Therefore, this year, instead of a list of resolutions, I am following One Word 365′s advice to pick a word to focus on and implement into my daily life. After mulling this over all day, I have decided to choose the word NOW. The reasons for this are varied. For one thing, I am a procrastinator by nature, so doing things now helps to prevent that. I did a 31 day experiment with anti-procrastination and it was pretty successful, so I want to make it a lifestyle. If I act now, then I will exercise more, having a more consistent quiet time with God, have a tidier house, stay caught up on grading…and the list goes one. I resolve to act NOW.
By choosing the word NOW, I will also be living in the moment. I want to appreciate the beauty, the humor, the wonder, the sacredness that occurs all throughout the day…only sometimes I’m so “other-focused” that I forget to notice. Here, now, I will experience, feel, taste, touch, listen, see, explore, ponder, question, and be. Now. Less going away in my head and thinking about my mental to do list and more being present.
Now also gives me permission to dream and to act a bit impulsively. Not “hey I bought a new car” impulsive, but more of a “Why yes! I will go outside and see if I can catch snowflakes on my tongue” kind of whimsy.
So, here’s to 2012. Here’s to NOW!
