One Word 365: purposeful

I may sound like a broken record but this past year has been a world-wind.
Ups, downs, limbo. Lots Of Limbo.

One thing God has given me this year is HERE. You. Or at least the idea of you. People. Someone out there reading my ramblings. Being allowed to pen my thoughts. To try to get these wide array of emotions out to be sorted, organized, and put away again.

During this last year as I grew as a blogger. A writer. I read more than ever before. Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of these awesome hard backs packed with brilliant info and snatch up every Free or ridiculously cheap book that has application to y life but who has the time? Blogs. I read blogs. They're likae little devotionals for the busy mom. Some are pin-able with great ideas for kid-friendly meals or DIY projects on the cheap but some are just to pin in your gut. They resonate. They heal aches inside. They catalyst you into the next day. And most of all, they're respecters of time. With short, easy-to-read blips, I can read and move on with life. I don't like starting something I can't finish. A blog post I can finish between cleaning up breakfast and refereeing the next fight.

One thing that seemed to be found in several different circles I puts around in was this thing called "One Word". This was where someone, in my case who I was reading was usually a wife, mom, DIYing women, who would choose a word to focus on for that year. I liked this idea. No more silly resolutions you had to document so you could even remember what they were. No more daily list of what craziness I need to accomplish that day. Just a single word. A word that would hopefully define the year for that person. One Word for 365 days.

As the year closed, I sat catching my breath. Feeling like I'd missed something. I know I lived it. I have a few more wrinkles to prove it. Maybe I missed Christmas. I hadn't preped for it like years before. I was literally shopping the week before Christmas. Maybe it was Thanksgiving. I'd been so caught up in my woes that my heart slipped past the bubbling effect of true gratefulness. Maybe it was the real presence of being a birthday parties. Maybe it was real food. Maybe it was organization. Maybe it was the past year. Maybe it was purpose.

As others posted their words to focus on, strive for, and live by I was determined not to miss this year!

This year my word will be purposefully! Life is too important and is over too fast to live any other way. With launching a new church plant this Easter, my oldest starting kindergarten, my middle child starting preschool, and my youngest hopefully potty training. I don't want regrets. There are too many people in this world to love on! I don't want to just carry on half-hearted small talk, shake some hands, give shallow complements. I don't want to fill out some school papers with the right answers.

I intentionally haven't capitalized the word purposefully. I want this year to pass slower. Calmer. I want to walk with intent not run haphazardly. I don't want to make a statement. I don't need to put on a fancy show. I want things to be meaningful. I just want it to be on purpose!

I want to have purpose.  I want to touch people's lives on purpose. I want to live a life of love purposefully! Be purposeful.

Do you do a word of the year? Do you want to start this year with a word? Share!