The decision has been made!

Well I’ve chosen my words for 2014, the first two took a while to nail down and just when I thought I was set a third popped into my brain and just won’t leave. So I guess I’ll have three words to focus on in 2014. In some ways they overlap but each resonates with me in a different way! I’m starting with one that is popular with many people, SIMPLIFY. As the last year entailed uprooting from a home we’d lived in for 32 years there has been a lot of packing, sorting, recycling and discarding going on. But not enough! I still find my closets stuffed with items I don’t care for, boxes full of items waiting to find a place (I’m thinking someone else’s place!) and some re-arranging of the items I did keep needs to be done to make life flow more easily. Not only is there home-type items on the simplify list but also artistic, business, personal items and schedules that need to be pared back as well. I’m getting excited just thinking about it. I keep referring back to last year’s word, Haven, and ready my description of what I think a haven should be. Simplifying will help me get there!

The second word on my horizon is TRANSFORM.

It’s something I’ll be working on in several different areas and levels of my life. I feel like I’ve been stagnant, just in a holding pattern, waiting for the “right time” to change things up. There’s no better time than now! Art-wise the transformation of an old garage space into my studio space began last fall, with the first of four projects being complete. In that it was also the largest of the four projects we are probably more like half-finished at this point. But there is still lots of transforming to be done, even after the construction phase!  I also have been in dire need of some physical transforming, so I’ll be tackling that too. I feel better just thinking about it, just think how good I’ll feel once I finally DO something about it! Which leads to my last word, the one that won’t leave me alone. For some it may not have the impact that it does for me but becoming more ASSERTIVE is a huge step in my life.

For as long as I can remember I’ve been a peacemaker, a fixer, a soother, doing whatever it takes to make sure others are happy, no one is ever mad. Any kind of turmoil or confrontation was to be avoided at all cost.  To be honest I’m tired of it. Tired enough to think making a change would be easier than continuing! I’ve already practiced a few times this year. 🙂 (Yes I realize it’s only the 3rd of January!) The world did not come to an end and it felt GOOD.  It may not always but I’m ready to try. I’ll need to be assertive for the transformations I’ll be undertaking this year so it goes nicely with that word too! As I kept having assertive come up over & over I also ran across this meme, which says it best:

So, there you have it – no settling allowed!

What words speak to you this year? Hold them close and find all the ways to use them.

Blessings,

Lynne