Reflection and My 2017 Word

Wow, what a year 2016 has been. I feel like we’ve been down so many unexpected paths, some good, some painful.

As I write this now, word has come to me of Carrie Fisher’s passing. 2016 has taken so many beloved people who have influenced and encouraged so many. While many of us may not have been alive during their generation, we grew up listening and watching them. They led us to believe in possibilities, helped get us through hard times, and inspired us to push a little harder.

My word for 2016 was “Joy.” I wanted to be joyful in my everyday life and find it in the little things. “Choose joy” became a mantra for me and I worked to become a kinder person from my attitude to my thoughts.

I’ve learned this is just the start and that one thing will always most certainly lead to another. With trying to be joyful in various situations, I realized I need to work on my patience, willpower, my ability to be present, and my anxiety. It’s definitely an ongoing progress and I don’t plan on stopping after a year.

2017 will continue with my journey in joy, and will also have a new focus and word.

You might be asking, why do I pick a word for each year? For me, it’s an easy way to stay focused on a word that is an overall theme for the year. When I’m faltering, I can say it out loud and it gives me motivation to keep going.

I wanted my word for 2017 to focus on all aspects of my life. I spent forever trying to figure out what it would be. There were a few I liked, but they just didn’t call out to me like I wanted them to. Finally, I decided on one that would fit.

2017’s word is CONSISTENT.

Here’s the breakdown as to why I picked this specific word.

I need to be consistent to move forward in all aspects of life, but there are three specific areas that I wish to focus on next year.

Health

I will be consistent in making proper food choices, taking time to move my body, writing in my journal, and practicing meditation daily. Consistency will help move these actions into habits. I have a high resting heart rate. One of the first things I do is make an appointment with my doctor to get this checked out. My health goal this year is to get my resting pulse down to 74 bpm.

Relationships

I will be consistent in taking time each day to focus and interact with my family. Contacting friends and family, and arrange time to hang out with them is a priority. I will also plan two adventures to go on with the family each month. The goal is to be present and not worrying about work or any other things that could get in my way of spending time with loved ones.

Blog

I will be consistent in blogging multiple times a week on set days, writing and sending out newsletters twice a month, keeping up with my editorial calendar, and always looking/thinking for content to share on the blog. There’s going to be a few different changes I’m making to the blog too this upcoming year! More about that in another post, but I’m super excited!

So there you have it!

Do you pick a word for your year? What is it?