One Word: 2016

Can you believe it's a new year already? Actually...now that I say that, I can believe it. 2015 seemed to have been a long year.

If you've been following my blog for awhile, you know that, instead of making a list of unrealistic new year's resolutions, I choose one word to work on for the entire year. This idea came from Compassion International, several years ago. I like the idea so much that I've decided to continue with it, probably for the rest of my life.

Along with one word for each year, I also like to add a bit of fun to each year as well. My favorite kind of shoe (that I wear nearly everyday) is the classic Converse All-Star. Ever since I was a freshman in high school, it has become a tradition that I get a new pair of these shoes every year for Christmas. Even though I'm now 26 years old, the tradition has continued. I will probably will wearing these shoes for the rest of my life.

Anyway, I use my shoes as a daily reminder of my One Word. Every time I look at my shoes, I remember to focus on the word that I chose for the year. Here are the words I've chosen since 2011:

Each year, I've learned more than I could ever imagine about myself, in relation to the one word I've chosen. I truly believe that God provides me with each word for a specific reason. Let's have a small recap: 

In 2012, I learned to be patient with God's plan. That just because I want something to happen right now, doesn't mean that is what God has planned for me. 

In 2013, I learned to trust that God's plan was perfect for my life. I learned to be patient and wait for God's instruction, but I was struggling with accepting that God's plan was right. I learned to trust. 

2014 taught me to breathe. I had found myself with very high stress levels (which I actually linked to the job that I had in 2013). I learned to meditate, pray, and calm down. At the end of 2013, I did quit my stressful job and that made my 2014 much calmer and happier! 

In 2015, I needed hope. In 2014, I spent my life savings on car repairs, had my apartment broken into and electronics stolen, and I struggled to find the money to pay my bills. Going into 2015, I was pretty hopeless that I would be able to continue living on my own without going into severe debt. It seemed like 2015 was getting in worse when, in August, I lost my job. A job that I thought I was meant to have for a long time. I cried for about a week straight. Then, I found a new job. A new job I had no idea I was qualified for or would enjoy. Now, I can't even imagine myself doing anything else. This new job allows all of my best qualities to work together. I can be energetic, I never have to sit still, I get to invent, create, and try new things. The people I work with are amazing and it's so much fun! Plus, I now make enough money to pay my bills AND eat food. Amazing, huh? 

In 2015, I found HOPE. 

Now that it's 2016, I have a new word. Health. 

I know, I know, how cliche, right? Lots of people promise to be more healthy in the new year. But, I really do need to. I'm not horrible when it comes to being active (my jobs allow for constant activity), but my diet is terrible. I've gotten into the habit of ordering delivery food to my house 1-2 times a week. When I do cook at home, it's things like mac and cheese, tacos, and other unhealthy food. Fruits and vegetables hardly ever make an appearance. 

So, this year, I plan to change my diet. Just slowly, at first. I think the downfall in most new year's resolutions is that people go from eating all junk food to eating only vegetables for two weeks, before losing steam. At first, I'm going to work on including fruits and veggies in my daily diet. Every meal with include one, or both, of these food groups. I will cut down my delivery food to just 1-2 times a month (this will also save a lot of money!). 

As time goes on, I plan to learn to cook healthier meals, drinking fresh fruit/veggie smoothies, cutting out snacking, and eating less sugar. I thought about cutting out caffeine drinks, but that's impossible. Haha. 

The sole goal of the year is to simply put healthier food into my body. But, if weight loss happens to follow, that would also be great! 

To help keep me on track, my new pair of shoes! They will serve as a daily reminder to put down the brownie and pick up the carrot stick.