My “One Little Word”

I’m feeling inspired here folks!  My friend over at H&H did a great blog post about creating a word for yourself to basically describe your goals or your theme for the coming year.  Since this is officially my first post of 2012, I thought it would be a great time to come up with a word for myself.  I’ve been thinking about it for over a week, and I think I finally have the one.

Are you ready????

My One little word for 2012 is……..

 

Finish

What do you think? I guess I should explain. I’m merely a housewife.  I spend the majority of my time in my home, working on raising children, keeping a home, and the various chores associated with such tasks. But I am also a person with talents, hobbies, ideas, etc.  So, most of my days I am keeping a running list of things I’d like to accomplish.  Only problem?  I do a little here, and a little there, until I am spent- and things rarely get DONE.  I just want to check things off the list, ya know?  (I have a feeling a lot of S.A.H.M.’s feel this way).   Anywho- so my 2012 is going to be about FINISHING what I’ve started, accomplishing those little dreams I spend my time fantasizing about.  Case in point?  I have a bag full of this really really great fabric I bought almost TWO YEARS ago, that I was just sure I would sew into something great.  But its still sitting in a bag.  Its time Mandy….. lets go ahead and FINISH!

Ok, another example.  Since I am finally past the stage in my life where I am either constantly knocked up, birthing, or recovering from birth, I am trying to re-discover exercise and athletics.  However, in doing so, I have also begun to realize that I live in a HIGHLY competitive athletic, outdoorsy community.  Don’t get me wrong, I love all those people, and I while I am impressed by their accomplishments (first place, second place, setting new records, blah blah blah…..), I have come to realize that I have no desire to be competitive in sports, I am in it merely to do what I set out to do- FINISH.  Case in point?  I ran a marathon last year.  It was a REALLY big deal to me.  But I had no intention of running super fast, “placing”, or otherwise competing to impress.  Sorry folks, my goal was simply to finish.  And I am so proud that I did.  I have other thoughts in my head now (triathalon?  Bike race?)  Who knows?  But I would just like to be able to say “Yes, I did.  I finished.”

Last Scenario: I have little thoughts pop into my head all the time.  It could be the spirit whispering to me, it could be my subconscious reminding me of something I already thought of, I don’t know- but either way, I have a hard time following through on these items.  Call a friend to check on them, send a thank-you, tell the sweet sister who spoke in church last Sunday how much her lesson impacted you, etc.  Whatever it may be- I feel like I have a lot of unfulfilled inspirations.  I hope this year to DO more of what I think about doing.  It usually doesn’t take much time.  Just DO IT- just FINISH what you started (in your head….)

Does that make sense?  I hope so.  I really have thought about it a lot and it makes perfect sense to me, but sometimes it’s hard to put into words.  One of the Prophets had a motto, I think it was Pres. Hinkley?  Much like Nike, his goal was “Just DO It”.  THIS is what I am trying to say.  In fact, if I were allowed three little words, those would be the ones I would choose.  But, since you only get one, I will say to myself each and every day, Just do it- just FINISH.

This has already affected me.  The other day I had three specific things I wanted to accomplish.  They were: take down the rest of the Christmas stuff, clean out my closet, and clean the bathroom.  Over the course of my day I did manage to do the first two, in between driving to preschool, bathing the dang dog after she jumped in a mud puddle AGAIN, working on scouts stuff,  rotating laundry, etc, etc. Anyway, it came to the end of the day and I realized I hadn’t made it to the bathroom.  Normally, I would just say “Well, that will have to wait until tomorrow.”  But, I was thinking about my motto, and I really wanted to get it done.  I wanted to FINISH my list!  So, at 9:00 p.m., I filled up a bucket with hot soapy water and headed for the bathroom.  Seth couldn’t figure out what was going on because honestly, you rarely find me working at night.  I generally give up, surrounded by mess, and just go ahead and watch a T.V. show. :)  But I did it!  I FINISHED!

Ok, now I just have to keep it up for about 354 more days. Wish me luck!