I don’t know about you, but there is something about the first day of a new year that I love. A new year feels like a chance to start over.
A blank slate.
A fresh start.
A new beginning.
Whatever you want to call it, I like to use this day to reflect on the year that has just passed and contemplate what I hope to accomplish during the next one.
Five years ago I decided to choose a word of the year. I chose the word joyful. Choosing that word was a great way to be mindful of my attitude, and there were several opportunities to choose joy when the opposite would have been much easier.
This year I have chosen a word that kind of surprised me. However, once it popped into my head no other word seemed to fit.
CREATE
Immediately after this word came to mind I remembered a Bible verse that I have always liked.
Psalm 51:10 (KJV) Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Often, I suffer from bouts of procrastination, biting off more than I can chew, and holding on too tightly to my problems. 🙂
Seriously though, I am a work in progress. This year I want to allow God to wipe the slate clean and renew my spirit.
Now, this word also serves another purpose for 2018. One of the definitions of create is to cause to happen; bring about; arrange, as by intention or design.
I am hoping to create margin in our busy schedule to enjoy just being together as a family. This is something that I try very hard to do, and I want to keep trying. I am not afraid to say no to something in order for us to have quiet times in the midst of a busy week.
My many hobbies have been put on the back-burner during the past year. I am hoping to do more creating in the form of sewing, crocheting, concocting recipes, and making our home lovely.
This year I also want to make sure our home is a place where we, and others, enjoy being. I want to create a space that is less cluttered and runs more efficiently.
Finally, I want to create more wiggle room in our budget which will allow us to do more things outside the home together. I also want to be more intentional and creative about paying off our debts.
Create is my word for 2018, and, after putting it here in black and white, it seems like a pretty good fit.
Do you have a word of the year?
