One Word

I'm going to be honest in saying I, gasp, never really make New Year's resolutions.

I find them daunting.

Lofty endeavors, especially ones I likely wont attain, aren't really my thing. Not accomplishing tasks makes me feel a failure and I don't need to add that to the list of things I get down on myself about. I have plenty of those already!

Instead of making loads of resolutions I may or may not live up to- I'm copying a dear friend of mine and choosing ONE word to define my year. This word will be the capstone of all decisions made. It will be what I refer to if I am feeling down, stressed, defeated, inadequate, overwhelmed, angry, depressed, etc.

My one word for the coming year is SIMPLIFY.

"Simplify" defines my entire life's focus right now. All my previous "resolutions" really could be summed up into this one word.

1) Simplify- don't overeat, savor each bite.
2) Simplify- don't feel the need to run every day, walk instead.
3) Simplify- don't go crazy with all the things I "should" be teaching my children to prepare them for school, just BE with them. Love them. Meet them where they are at. Enjoy every moment.
4) Simplify- spend less, appreciate what I have.
5) Simplify- be content with not having a perfectly decorated, or even clean, home- decorating isn't something I really care much about and I can tend to be obsessive about cleaning- so much that it takes me away from my children. Not ok.
6) Simplify- less time on electronics, more time in the Word.
7) Simplify- eat foods closer to the source, severely limit chemicals/preservatives/processed foods
8) Simplify- write more letters (not emails), read more books (not online articles)
9) Simplify- give more, attain less.
10)Simplify- love people, not things.
11)Simplify- THANK GOD in all things, all the time- BEFORE all else- and especially before complaining, whining, arguing, thinking unsavory thoughts.

I could go on and on and on. But, like I said- "Simplify" seems to be the theme.

What's your word?

Happy 2012, dear friends.