oh my word!

I’ve been trying to do that thing that everyone has been doing where they choose a word for the year. You know, where you theme your year based on one word that sums up what you’d like to focus on that year – something that will help you change for the better the things about your life that you may not love.

I’ve thought and thought.

And thought.

And thought.

I was having trouble getting everything to fit just one word. I thought about drive and goal, but I think I really have plenty of those. Too much sometimes. I find myself missing the journey between now and the goal.

Then I tried rest, relax, de-stress. I don’t really need to do those things any more than I already do either. I’m pretty good at treating myself well when I need to. Strike two.

I thought simplify was a really great word for me…buuuuut then I realized that even if I managed to simplify everything, it may be neater but it doesn’t really help me focus on being a better me.

Fiddlesticks.

I even considered “adelante” which means “onward” or “forward, to the front of the line,” but that just seemed too pushy. Okay for a business slogan, not really okay for someone who needs to slow down and focus inward.

THEN IT HIT ME.

I’ve used my word three times already in this post: focus. I need more focus.

I’m so fortunate that my life is full of wonderful things – great friends, fun and fulfilling hobbies, family. I’ve spent the last few years trying my hand at many, many things. I’ve had time to myself to read, practice hobbies, rest, write. I’ve exercised, experimented with my diet, health and ayurveda, spent time with my animals, traveled and learned to cook.

So now I think it’s time to focus my attention and my efforts on perfecting a few of those things. I want to try to learn Spanish – because I’ve had that on my “to do” list for years. I want to cut out more of the superfluous stuff and purify what I accomplish.

I need to FOCUS.

I feel so much better now that I’ve chosen my word – or rather, my word finally chose me. It’s something I can say over and over again to myself and it will never be any less potent. I hope this is the key to becoming a better me.

To keep myself honest, I’m going to try to make updates about how I’m putting my shiney new word to work. I may not do it every week, but I’ll check in from time to time with a focus update.

Have you chosen your 2011 word? If not, what would you choose?

On the ferry across the English Channel to Calais

Check out all of the other "Oh" posts at Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday.