Sunday, January 3, 2010

One Word

You probably already know that I'm not a fan of the New Years Resolutions.  I don't want to brag about being a fast learner or anything,  but  it only took me about 25 years to figure out that making long lists entitled Qualities I Wish I Had wasn't really working for me.  (What can I say?  It's a gift,)


What?  You mean everyone doesn't make resolutions that way?

Whatever.

Anyway, the only NYR I ever actually kept, was the year I vowed not to make resolutions anymore.  Except that yesterday I read this fascinating idea over at Crazyland (who got it from someone else, and oh how I love her for giving proper credit, srsly.), and it's still swirling around in my head as epiphanies sometimes do.

One Word.

Just choose a word, and for the next 365 days, try to live it a little bit better.


So today I've been pondering words, looking for word that means something to me.  A word I can really open up to, and live by, and BE.   I think that if there's one word I really want to live this year, it's this:

L chocolate letter I letter S letter T letter E N


I want to not just hear  - but really listen to what my children are saying.  I want to listen to my husband's counsel. I want to listen for the whisperings of the Holy Ghost in my life on a continuing basis, rather than just during a prescribed 15 minute period every morning.

Hey, maybe if I'm really listening, I can even overcome my annoying habit of talking over the top of other people. I'm telling you, the possibilities are endless.

I would LOVE for you to join me.

What's your word?

34 comments:

Kristina P. said...

My word last year was Nudity. It was a great year.

I will be posting my new word tomorrow.

I like Listen. You all come up with great words.

Tenae said...

I am also going for the one word resolution. I want to find a word that will encompass all the things i want to work on to become a better person and to remind me to stand a little taller. Still thinking........ I'll post when I know I have found it.
Listen is a great one!

Becky N. said...

I love the idea to listen. I'm tempted to steal it.

But I think... if I really take this idea to heart, at least, and it's probably the best thing for me to do because I also hate "Resolutions"... I think I would have to defer to a quote from the Book of Mormon that's been running through my head almost constantly. I really need to DO something about it. "If ye believe these things, see that ye do them."

DO.

DO!!!

I have so many things I believe in, or even so many things I just get ideas to incorporate into my life, or crafty things I think about doing... and then I don't DO them. What if I DID everything I contemplated this year? Or even half of it?? Wouldn't that be amazing?!?

Julie Ramsay said...

Love this post. Thanks for helping me to think of a new goal. Perhaps my one word goal would be service? We'll see....

Yvonne said...

I love this idea.

I think Listen is perfect--something I need to do--so much better than correct or control ; )

I'll have to give it some thought. Thanks for the idea.

And, Happy New Year.

Amy Peterson said...

Great idea!!! I'm really gonna have to think about this-- and it's got to be a good word, I'm gonna have to look at it all year long!

Dave said...

can i choose a short phrase?

follow through

Barbaloot said...

Hmm...I think my one word would be sleep. I could always use more of that:)

Tammy said...

I love this idea Randi! And I love your word. I think I would choose "focus". Focus more on what matters and less on what doesn't.

Tenae said...

It came to me last night when I was half asleep and half awake. My word is UPLIFT- be kinder, happier, more understanding and to leave people better for having known me.
Thanks for the inspiration. :)

Jolene said...

I love this idea too! I think I will take my word and put it up in my house in a picture or something so it's a reminder everyday. My word would have to be patience. Patience with my son and soon to be daughter, patience with the trials I am given, patience with those that frustrate the heck out of me!! Patience.

mormonhermitmom said...

Great idea. My word is MOVE!

Heather said...

What a great idea. I love your word. I'll have to think on this... it seems so much more do-able than my usual LIST.

rocslinger said...

Listen is good but I'm afraid of what I might hear.

I guess my word would be unstick (that is a word isn't it) as in unstick my butt off of the couch, unstick my eyes off the tv and do something more with my life.

Unknown said...

My word is focus. Focus on others, focus on service, focus on what's going on around me. Less focus on myself.

Emmy said...

Great word. Something I need to do more

Heidi said...

Love it! My word would be "heal". 2009 was a doozy of a year.

mindyluwho said...

I've seen this percolating around the internet. I love the idea and have been percolating it around in my brain. My word will be "EXCELLENCE". I will strive to do my best in everything, from the very mundane, like hanging my clothes up rather than tossing them on the closet floor, to the very big, like getting my bum out of bed to exercise in the morning!

Yvonne said...

I came up with my word--SMILE.

kanishk said...

I love your word. I'll have to think on this.

Work from home India

That Girl said...

.... I couldn't do it. I love words too much. Just ONE? .... Nope. I'm blank.

But I like yours.

Jennifer said...

Love this idea! I am going to need to really think about it!

Millie said...

Amen on "nudity."

I think mine this year will be "money." And I don't think that's a bad thing.

Corrine said...

i too need to listen more....not sure was not going to make any resolutions because i am perfect HAHA

RoeH said...

I was not blessed with being born with patience. It has plagued me all of my life and still goes on to this day. I don't know why some people have it and others do not. But I truly wish I did. Not having the will to make it an actual resolution, it will probably die on this comment table again. It is interesting though to choose one word. That would be mine.

Help I need a user name! said...

I choose Peace. I'm always stressed out, it seems, so I'm remembering to be peaceful this year. I hope.

Nikia, May and da kids said...

Faith. I forget sometimes to "Let Go and Let God."

I really enjoy reading through your posts!

May

Sue said...

A word of caution to Lucy - Never Pray For Patience! I used to do that all the time and I finally learned that when you pray for patience you are given plenty of things to strive to be patient about. Really. Too many things. So you feel like you need more patience and continue to pray for it. So you get more things happening to practice your patience. It took me many years to quit asking for patience and by then I had 8 kids. Moral of the story - be careful what you pray for.
My word would be Chop! Chop! as in Move it! Move it!
See how patient I've become?

Loralee and the gang... said...

I'm thinking "Motivation" would be a good word. Since in 2009 I've lacked it so much compared to all the years before. I need to be move motivated in everything, including learning how to motivate my children!

Lani Wendt Young said...

Thanks for the neat idea. Today Im thinking my word will be - endure. Cheerfully. Im always starting things. A new exercise program. A new cooking phase. Resolving to be nicer to my children. Listen to my husband better.

And then I get bored. Tired. Lazy. Impatient and BAAAM. crash and burn! So my word for 2010 is endure. Cheerfully!

Em-Cat said...

What a great idea. There are so many things you can learn and do with your word.

I think my word is going to be "Patience." That means I'm going to have a ton of things happen this year to try my patience (ugh), but if I actually open my heart to being patient...it won't be so hard to do. Right? Right? Please say I'm right!

JennAventures said...

Stumbled upon your blog. Love it!

I love the idea of a word...I think mine needs to be "Present"

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

My word this year is selfless. I'm trying to sacrifice a little more for my family - put them first. Let Neil sleep in, think of fun things to do with the kids instead of leaving them to their own devices, push through the tiredness and run this house a little better even though I'd rather play online reading blogs...

Err...speaking of...I have dishes to do...

Rhonda said...

Two words for me: Keep swimming (Nemo is my bud, ya know) or Keep TRYING. Depending on however childish or adult I would like to appear when saying my mantra.

I know I will fail at many things this year but I KNOW I can do anything as long as I don't give up.