Happy New Year! I’m not the only one to think it, I’m sure, but seriously how did 2012 creep up on us? Time flies by too fast…
As I’ve read some blogs in the last few days, I’ve noticed quite a few people who choose one word to improve on for the whole year—they pick one word and that word is their goal for the year. So, with some switching things around with my fabulous team members, Laura and Rachel, who were generous enough to follow my whim of changing challenges, I’m issuing this challenge to you!
What is one word that you want to improve on in 2012?
I know, this is not a normal challenge question, but as I thought about it, I came to realize that setting a one word goal can tell a lot about a person in that moment of time.
You can complete this challenge any way you like, though I recommend doing something that you can put out as a constant visual reminder throughout the year. Write your main word down, and then record some things you’re going to do to accomplish that goal!
Here’s a look at what we did.
------------
What Laura did:
Even though I slacked on my "One Little Word" project last year. My word last year was patience (which should be my word for every day of my life), I am picking a new word for 2012. My word for 2012 is SIMPLIFY.
In 2011, I planned on taking on so many creative projects. I really had my hopes set high in completing all that I set out for, but I fell short on so many things. The only thing I did keep up with was taking a photo every day for my Project Life book. Yes, I still have journaling to do, but all pictures were taken, and my album is coming along beautifully.
So to SIMPLIFY in 2012, I am still going to do a Project Life book, but I will be creating a Shutterfly Project Life album instead of putting a manual album together. I will most likely still be taking a photo a day in 2012, but the album that I will be creating will be a two-page spread for each month (seven or more photos on the two-page spread) instead of having a photo for every day in the album. It will be a lot SIMPLER.
Here is a sample page of the digital album.
Another thing I am going to start doing again in 2012 is keep a journal. I have been keeping a book for the past two years that I have felt obligated to write in every single day. Keeping a journal with no dates takes the obligation and stress away for having to write something every day (again ... trying to lead a SIMPLE life).
I also found a great idea that I want to start doing in 2012. I want to start to take a weekly picture of our family (not sure how I'm going to work that yet), but I found the idea here.
One other way I'm going to SIMPLIFY in 2012 is to cut down on the TV shows that I watch. The shows start to accumulate on my DVR and there have been times when I get stressed over all the shows I need to catch up on. That has to STOP. I want to spend more time reading, and I'm hoping my new Nook Tablet will help me accomplish that.
--------------
What Rachel did:
Rachel’s word this year is “Health”. She made a digital layout with her 15 fitness goals for 2012.
-------------
What I did:
I pondered about what my word for 2012 would be for quite awhile. I had many words pass through my head, then all the sudden I remembered a talk I heard last April by Lynn G. Robbins (a male Lynn, not female). (You can read the whole talk here.) My favorite paragraph says:
“Many of us create to do lists to remind us of things we want to accomplish. But people rarely have to be lists. Why? To do’s are activities or events that can be checked off the list when done. To be, however, is never done. You can’t earn checkmarks with to be’s. I can take my wife out for a lovely evening this Friday, which is a to do. But being a good husband is not an event; it needs to be part of my nature—my character, or who I am.”
It hit me that my word for 2012 should be, “BE”! Now, since it’s kind of an abstract word, I decided to break it down into things I want to be and then set goals for those things. Of course, I wanted to keep it simple and attainable, so I am choosing one thing I want to “be” each month and setting 3 small goals for each. I will choose a new “Be” every month, but I won’t stop working on the previous be’s. So by the end of the year, I hope to “be” improved in 36 small ways—so I can “be” a better person in 12 months than I am now!
To help me visualize this, I added some vinyl, a large “BE”, to my dry-erase board. I wrote “Healthy” on the top, since that is my goal for January (too many treats and not enough exercise for me during the holidays). I made three small goals of how I’m going to be healthier this month. This is in my office where I will see it constantly.
In addition to this, I’m writing all my goals in a Word document and at the end of each month I will do a little write-up of how I did on my goals. I’m also going to be posting my goals on my personal blog so my family and friends will know my goals and can help keep me in line! I need all the help I can get…!
----------------
And just a little announcement—there have been so many downloads on the free Christmas paper pack and elements, that I decided to give you some new digital goodies when we reach 100 blog followers and 300 fans on FB—we are really close! (Think winter color scheme and glitter!) So, please share with your friends if you are liking the challenges here at TIMC, or even just the freebies! And since there are no freebies this week, I’m keeping the Christmas papers and elements available for another week, so go grab them if you haven’t already! (2 and 3 posts back.)
Now, I challenge you to come up with one little word for 2012!
No comments:
Post a Comment