One Little Word

 Photo credit:  Ali Edwards

A few years ago I was introduced to "One Little Word" (thank you Ali Edwards!). The idea is to choose one word that you wish to focus on for the year. It can be something that motivates you or inspires you.  It can be a characteristic that you wish to develop or work on. The main point is that this is YOUR word.

In the past, my words have been Simplify, Selfless and Healthy. When I look back at the years that I chose those words, they fit so well. The year I chose Simplify was a great year of learning about reducing consumption, recycling, living a greener life and just living a simple existence.  The next year I chose to focus on how I could be a more cheerful giver of myself.  I spent more time doing things for others and less time focused on myself.  Last year I chose Healthy and at the end of 2011, I felt healthier than I have in a long time (and I am 30 pounds lighter).  

After thinking on it for a few days, I have decided that my 2012 focus will be:

Finish
You see, I am great at starting things. I'm creative, I have great ideas and I dream big and have lofty goals. But somehow between dreaming up an idea and completing it I tend to lose my focus. Hence the reason that my kitchen backsplash has been incomplete for two years, my bedroom has not been painted since we moved, I have stacks of fabric and patterns for clothes for the girls that have never made it to the sewing machine, and there is a large roll of upholstery fabric in my attic...that was bought 10 years ago to cover a couch that we don't even have anymore.

So this year will be the year that I FINISH what I start.  Whether it be a small thing (like making those hairbows for Layla that I bought fabric for three months ago), or a big thing (like finally getting around to painting and decorating our master bedroom).  

Here is a list of a few things on my "need to finish" list:

1.  Reach my weight loss goal--I lost 30 pounds last year and I still have about 40 more to get to my "I-feel-healthy-at-this-weight" weight.
2.  Kitchen Backsplash
3.  Paint and decorate master bedroom
4.  Paint Madalyn's dresser
5.  Finally get the girl's beach portrait from 2010 printed and framed and hung over the mantle
6.  Get my scrapbooks caught up...or at least get the last two years completed and printed
7.  Finally switch all our cleaning products over to homemade/organic

This is just a start and I'm sure there will be many more projects that will come up over the course of the year.  I want to not only be a "starter" but I want to be a "finisher."

Here's to a great 2012!  Happy New Year!