It's that time of year again.
The time of new starts, crisp mornings, and fresh calendars. A New Year--a gift for all of us.
That gift is 365 brand new days, full of possibility and change. Days gifted to us to fill however we want. Twenty-four hours each day, 365 times over.
My focus on refine didn't turn out like I had hoped at the beginning of 2014, but in the end, I know I learned much about myself, about others, about forgiveness and repentance, and most importantly about Jesus Christ.
I thought about where I want to go in 2015, how I want to focus my efforts, and what word I should choose that could guide me throughout the year. I didn't want to make the same mistake as 2014, where I slogged through most of the year trying to find my footing yet feeling directionless. I know my weaknesses. I know where I struggle the most, and I know where I need to improve.
I thought about spiritual goals, health goals, service goals, family goals, and school goals. All of these are interwoven inside me, inseparably connected. I want to create lasting change in me, change that is written upon my soul.
My word for 2015 is
The heart has long been used as a symbol representing the spiritual, emotional, moral, and intellectual core of a person. As the heart was once widely believed to be the seat of the human mind, the word heart continues to be used poetically to refer to the soul.
When I read that, I knew I'd found my word--a word that can be both universal and specific, both spiritual and physical. A word that can adjust throughout the year.
Even though I love what the word heart represents, I've always found the ♥ symbol to be kitschy and juvenile. Frankly, I've avoided using it very often and it's not something that I associate with my "self." No ♥ T-shirts or jewelry. No ♥ notepads or prints. Rarely any ♥s included in letters or written in chalk on the sidewalk. It has never been who I am. It is time to adjust my thinking a little bit.
I have a few ideas floating around my mind. First, I'm going to take the month of January to do precisely this:
The primary question I want to ask myself at the conclusion of each day of 2015 is, "Where was my heart today?"
I'm taking the month of January to listen to the whisperings of my heart, what I need to learn, who I need to help, where I should focus my energy, how I need to pray.
Happy New Year to you all. May you fill 2015's days with joy.
♥
The time of new starts, crisp mornings, and fresh calendars. A New Year--a gift for all of us.
That gift is 365 brand new days, full of possibility and change. Days gifted to us to fill however we want. Twenty-four hours each day, 365 times over.
My focus on refine didn't turn out like I had hoped at the beginning of 2014, but in the end, I know I learned much about myself, about others, about forgiveness and repentance, and most importantly about Jesus Christ.
I thought about where I want to go in 2015, how I want to focus my efforts, and what word I should choose that could guide me throughout the year. I didn't want to make the same mistake as 2014, where I slogged through most of the year trying to find my footing yet feeling directionless. I know my weaknesses. I know where I struggle the most, and I know where I need to improve.
I thought about spiritual goals, health goals, service goals, family goals, and school goals. All of these are interwoven inside me, inseparably connected. I want to create lasting change in me, change that is written upon my soul.
My word for 2015 is
heart
The heart has long been used as a symbol representing the spiritual, emotional, moral, and intellectual core of a person. As the heart was once widely believed to be the seat of the human mind, the word heart continues to be used poetically to refer to the soul.
When I read that, I knew I'd found my word--a word that can be both universal and specific, both spiritual and physical. A word that can adjust throughout the year.
Even though I love what the word heart represents, I've always found the ♥ symbol to be kitschy and juvenile. Frankly, I've avoided using it very often and it's not something that I associate with my "self." No ♥ T-shirts or jewelry. No ♥ notepads or prints. Rarely any ♥s included in letters or written in chalk on the sidewalk. It has never been who I am. It is time to adjust my thinking a little bit.
I have a few ideas floating around my mind. First, I'm going to take the month of January to do precisely this:
I'm taking the month of January to listen to the whisperings of my heart, what I need to learn, who I need to help, where I should focus my energy, how I need to pray.
Happy New Year to you all. May you fill 2015's days with joy.
♥
Great choice of words. As long as you don't start dotting your i's with little hearts - LOL.
ReplyDeleteI ♥ U
ReplyDeleteA seemingly simple word - I am pretty sure that it will take you further and deeper than you expect.
ReplyDeleteI don't everiss your posts, J. Even when I can't comment, I read and find something of interest, something funny, something inspirational. When I travel (and I love to do that!) and see young missionaries I have a whole different outlook and I think of your sons. I love how blogging has made the world so much smaller.
Good word. All the best.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great word. It can mean so many things, about getting back to our core. I'm actually a little bit of heart drawer. I write little notes with hearts to my husband and kids frequently, so I'm totallly into this word.
ReplyDeleteI love the necklace & am looking for the perfect heart necklace since I am having heart surgery 1/13. This is simple and beautiful!
ReplyDeletePrayers for you and your surgery. I found it on Etsy--they have many different styles and vendors.
Delete((hugs))