One Word

It's New Year's Resolution time (cue sad trombone sound effects). I think it's a valuable thing to look at the past year and make goals for the year about to unfold. Think of all the things you accomplished and learned in 2012! However, it can be unpleasant to see where you fell short.

I decided to go back to the same site I used last year for my kid and adult resolution pages. Mique at Thirty Handmade Days  updated the printable for 2013. Click here to download your own.

The first item of business on the adult resolution paper is to think of one word to describe 2013. This is hard. Almost hard enough for me to give up entirely. I'd been looking at that ugly blank line for a few days before I read a blog post from Emily at Jones Design Company. Here's what Emily said (or read the whole post here):

To embrace means to clasp or hold close with the arms, usually as an expression of affection, as in a hug. It can also mean to include as part of something broader. But my favorite definition {and the one I’ll be working on this year} is to take up willingly or eagerly.

Embrace. Its such an emotionally rich word.

This year, I want to learn to embrace in the physical sense. Touch is something I struggle with, even with people I know and love. I need to embrace my kids more. I should embrace my husband more, too. And I need to learn how to let others embrace me.

Embracing a challenge has never been hard for me. I tend to meet complicated situations with enthusiasm--as long as I have a sense of control. In 2013, I need to learn to embrace all the places God is leading me, even if it means I have to surrender some control.

Even though I may seem like a put-together person on the outside, I am crippled by low self-esteem. Like many other women, I struggle with not feeling strong enough, sexy enough, smart enough, or spiritual enough. But in 2013, I am going to try to embrace myself. Right where I am. I will give myself the same grace I give others. I will remember that I answer to my kind and loving Father in Heaven, not society. It's His approval I will seek.

So Emily's word will become my word as well. I embrace 2013 willingly and eagerly.
What's your word?

(Image taken from Jones Design Company)