A New Word for a New Year

Happy New Year everybody! 2013 could possibly end up being the most hectic, busy, stressful year with respect to work that I've ever had.  That's a startling and depressing revelation.  In addition, 2013 will be the year I turn 40.  Also startling and depressing. Both of these things makes this post especially relevant I think.

A few years ago I started to follow along the practice of picking a word of focus for that year.  One that maybe wasn't always active, but in the day to day, something that I was mindful of.  Last year, I chose 'Self'.  And for the most part, I think this word helped me quite a bit.  A few examples:  Though very hard to do, I ended a once greatly valued relationship because it had become one that was causing me more emotional turmoil than happiness.  I started a new space so I could take the blog and the friendships that have come from it in a new, better, more comfortable direction for me.  I remembered that my needs were just as important as the projects needs during a field season and thus had one that was actually fun as well as productive.  I chose my needs over work a number of times knowing I needed that walk or that ride or those few minutes knitting for my emotional well-being.  Though hard to admit I needed it, I reached out to a friend and asked for help...which has put me on a journey that while just beginning is already beneficial to my mental and physical state.  I discovered the sheer joy of a road bike and logged in 250 miles even though I only had about 2 months of biking weather when I wasn't in the field...and probably logged in an equivalent number of miles in walks/runs/hikes.  I returned to a yoga class this fall.  With the help of Pinterest as a recipe index, I'm more conscious of what I am eating...and in the field and out have made some diet changes for the better. 

This year, I still want to focus on self.  Because I feel there is so much more progress that can be made in that area.  But I'm adding a new word that I think actually falls hand in hand.
  

'SUCCESS'

Though not in the way you may think.  So maybe more appropriately I should cheat and use 2 words and say 

'redefining SUCCESS'

I'm finally learning that if I set strict goals or have set expectations, I usually fail.  Not because they are unreachable or unattainable and not because I'm incapable of achieving them.  But because I set too many too high to be remotely reasonable in the time frame I give myself. I do this with work, with physical activity, and with personal goals.  Which means I 'fail' way more than I 'succeed'.  Failing discourages me (of course) and puts me in a frenzy (like last month) and the first thing to suffer is the attention to my physical health.  I was talking to a friend last night about this word and after much discussion she informed me that I am my worst enemy.  Do you remember that line in 'The Holiday'?  "That was brilliant.  Brutal but brilliant".  But sadly, it's also true...I don't need anyone else to make me feel bad about myself...I'm a master at doing that all on my own.  

So I've been thinking about that lately.  I want to run/bike longer and faster, I want to have greater flexibility both physically and mentally, I want to be superhuman with respect to my workload, I want to lose weight, I want to read more, I want to eat better, I want to knit more sweaters, I want to learn and do more photography, I want to get back to my art, I want to learn how to sew...I could go on and on.  These wants, they won't change.   

But what I hope does change by focusing on this word(s) is how I go about achieving them. The easiest example to explain this is how I normally approach an exercise goal.  I have a tendency to pick either a daily goal of minutes of intense exercise or a long-term goal (run X miles in X minutes).  So when I only can get out for a 20 minutes walk because of time or energy instead of a 4 mile run, I consider it a failure which is so not good for my mental state.  In fact, often, if that short walk is all I could do, I don't even do it because it 'isn't enough'.  This year, I want/need to approach this differently.  My plan (thanks Mel for this word...so much better than goal!) is just to move everyday.  This means that whether I run 6 miles...or I walk a quarter of a mile...or I do 1 sun salute...or I do 1 crunch, I should consider it a success because I moved. This doesn't change those long-term goals/expectations or make them any less important...I'm just focusing on the day-to-day and redefining what I consider to be a success. Hopefully this means that more days will be 'successes' with respect to work, exercise, art etc rather than 'failures'.  Which will go a long way to improving my mental peace and thus how I take care of my 'self'.

How about you?  What word will you focus on in 2013?

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Now playing:  You Get What You Give by Chuck Ragan


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