Word of The Year

Happy New Year! We had an amazing Christmas, and the most relaxing week to follow. There were snow flurries, lots of naps, and a million snuggles with my people. I took time off - which was refreshing to say the least, and we spent so much quality time as family. It was perfect.

 Collin challenged me to think about my "word of the year" - something that I don't usually do. He's amazing at growth, self-betterment, and overall way more in touch with himself than I ever could be. (want to be inspired? visit his blog) ... Anyways, I spent some time thinking about this, and wanted to share more. 

Here's the thing - just like everyone else, I'm busy. Which is fine, it doesn't bother me and in all honesty, keeps me sane. However, sometimes, when we're really busy, we tend to lose our ability to be present. Sort of like the classic "jack of all trades, master of none" or "just because you can, doesn't mean you should". Yeah, I can answer emails while feeding the kids lunch and catching every third word, but not only do I miss out on 2/3 of the conversation & happenings, I leave feeling distracted, frustrated and spread too thin. Being present for me is a priority, because I'm sick of feeling frazzled. It looks like less multi-tasking, more saying "no", and more prioritizing my time. I want to be present when I'm working, present when I'm with the kids, present when I have time with Collin and honestly, present for myself when I can. Just because I can multitask, doesn't mean I should. I'm essentially looking to compartmentalize my life, because right now, it's one blurry mess and I'm not able to give anything my undivided attention. And yeah, sure, this isn't for everyone. Some people love the mish-mash, it works for them and they're fulfilled on all levels. It just isn't for me right now. I used to handle this fairly well, but now, I'm a mess and need a change :) So, for 2017, my goal is to be present. Present in all that I'm doing, but not all at the same time. I'll definitely fall short, but I'll keep working on it, because my resolution isn't black & white, it's a process.

A few other things I'm going to work on:

1. Wake up at the same time every day, before the babes 

(this is my big one - it literally alters the course of my day when I do this)

2. Get out of my dinner RUT - try new recipes, make more dinners and eat less take-out (worth a shot, but damnit I love Thai food).

3. Do more creative things with the kids - it's a win-win for all of us

4. Survive (because let's face it, this is just as much a struggle as any!) 

I hope your holidays were memorable and that you're going into the new year with a full heart and abundant expectations! What is your word of the year?? I'd LOVE to hear!

always amazing art by Jenna Kutcher