2013 . . . Word

     Yes, I know it has been awhile.  I thought I would do so great at blogging with the birth of my new baby, catch all her first milestones, you know.  Anyway,  it was a lot more overwhelming than I first anticipated.  Babies are hard!  I'd forgotten how much.  So, I am jumping back in, but not catching up.  Just going from here.  I enjoy blogging because it makes me sit and write, which is both therapeutic and good for your soul.  And, because I like to use it as a journal, so at least there will be something written and when I go up to the pearly gates and Heavenly Father asks me, "What have you done with your life?"  I will just refer him to my blog.  :)  (Think that'll work?)

     Last year, I decided to jump on the proverbial bandwagon and choose a one word goal for the year.  Last years word was "finish."  Which is still a marvelous word and great for me because I start a lot of things.  But, I was having a hard time finishing so out went the word.  I literally didn't finish on the word finish.  Oh well, what can you do? pick up and move on, right? 

     Now this word thing is pretty serious.  You don't just sit down one day and say, "my word is . . . ",  you have to ponder about it, mull it over, try it out, and then lastly, and most important, pray about it.  (At least that is what I do because if I am going to tie myself to something it better be something I feel is worthwhile and important, otherwise throw it out, don't have time for it.  Good, better, best, you know.)  Anyway, I wait til a word comes to me and then it takes awhile for it to really sink in and for me to commit to that word.  

     Sometimes I like to overcomplicate things, this is one of those years.  I knew what I wanted my word to be,  It was perfect, yet seemed too simple.  So, I thought about it and at the time lots of other people were letting others know what their words were.  Things like, "strong," "embrace," "awesomer."  And, I thought, mine is too simple, it needs to be more.  So, I tried out other words, (it's like a competition between words, bet they (words) never thought they'd have to compete, but they do) til I came back around to my original word.  After having a discussion with my sweetie, who is much more logical and simple-minded less complicated than I am, I knew I was on to something.  I had chosen my word.  Drumroll . . . 

HAPPY

   Yep, that's my word.  Happy, not happier, not happiest, not joy, not enjoy or enjoyable.  Simply happy.  I think happiness should be simple.  We were sent here to be happy and have joy.  Then, why is it so stinkin' hard?  I do think a big majority of it is because we are here on earth, with Lucifer and his angels trying to make us unhappy.  We are on this planet where things go wrong, we make mistakes, we hurt because of others mistakes, we can't control the things around us, we watch as our children are hurt, there are so many things that pull us down and tear at our hearts.  But, there are also times when we may make too big a deal about certain things, or may look for ways to be offended.  Maybe we really are offended and it was intentional, but who is that really hurting if we choose to take offense?  Sometimes we choose our own unhappiness.  So, that is what I am working on this year.  I want to be happy.  I don't want to be angry, sad, discouraged, stressed out, down, blue.  I want to be energetic, fun to be around, smiling, enjoyable, fun, uplifting and ultimately HAPPY!  Does this mean I will not have struggles with this?  Absolutely not.  I may not always be happy, but I am going to try to choose to be happy as much as I possibly can.  I will give it my best effort.  I want to enjoy what little time I have with my kids, because it does and is going soooo fast.  

(Yep, even moments like this).

     Each day when a negative thought creeps into my mind, and they always do, I try to think "happy, I am happy.  Just let that bad thought go, get it out, forget it, you don't need it and it isn't helping you."  Then, I try to refocus on something else.  Or, when at the end of the day, I sit back and think, "Wow, I didn't get anything done today."  I will replace that with something I did do, whether it was finish a good book, or play with the kids, or drive them all over the town, or even just taking care of my baby.  I will be happy with that and be grateful I could do it.

     I have already had many struggles with this so far and it is only the end of January!  There have been a couple days where I wanted to throw my word away, chuck it in the road and drive over it till it was nothing but tatters and trash but then I re-evaluated and came back around.  And, that is what I am hoping I can do each time.  So, I can have a marvelous, amazing, stupendous, rad, awesome, happy 2013.  

    And, with that, I bid you adieu.  I hope you will think, ponder and embrace a word of the year as well.  I think it is a worthwhile goal, especially if it makes you a better person or can help you to be happy too!

These are some of my favorite "HAPPY" quotes from my favorite people:

"People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be."  Abraham Lincoln

“I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.”  Audrey Hepburn

"Be believing, be happy, don't get discouraged.  Things will work out."  Pres. 
Hinckley

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.
attributed to Mother Teresa