Each January for the last three years I've selected a single word to help me focus on changes I wanted to make the coming year. This was something I read on Ali Edwards' blog, and it just seemed like a great idea. In January I selected my 2009 word. I didn't blog about it, but I did create a tag and added it to my January calendar page.
My 2009 word is Balance. Sometimes my life feels like a juggling act -- where I have all these balls in the air and I'm scrambling to catch the one falling while throwing these important but less "urgent" balls back in the air. I wanted balance.
I can look back over the last six months and find the balance. I'm calmer, less stressed. Because I sought balance, I chose things that bring balance back into my life:
I make worship a priority.
I try -- and this one I'm still less successful than I'd like -- to be in the moment instead of rushing ahead to what should be done.
I focus on work when I'm on the job and do my best to leave it there at quitting time. Balance.
I've reduced my sugar intake and increased my protein and vegetables. Balance.
I've increased my activity. Balance.
I probably need to add sleep in here -- still working on that one. LOL
I make time to feed my creativity -- again, balanced with the business end of scrapbooking.
Is it better all of the time? Absolutely not. The juggling balls are still in the air and can become overwhelming. But I'm getting better at putting them all down and walking away for a while. And sometimes I take one out of the rotation because it's just not worth my time. I'm learning to say no when someone tries to hand me a ball and I already have enough in the air. And some of those balls I've mistakenly accepted from others or grapped away when they rightfully belonged to others, I've given back. Sometimes one of the balls fall, and I'm better at forgiving myself and moving on.
Balance. It was the right word choice for me this year.
