2012 – “Connect”

My Word for 2012 is

Connect

At One Word 365 the title page has the instructions:

One word can change everything…  Choose just one word.

One word that sums up who you want to be or how you want to live or what you want to achieve by the end of 2012.

One word that you can focus on every day, all year long.

Last year – 2011 – I didn’t know about this idea, yet I choose a word for 2011.  It was “uncomfortable”.  I talked with a motivating speaker, and she challenged me that my comfort was not serving me well.  She was right.  I chose to be uncomfortable in 2011 – to do all those things that caused discomfort.  If you’re interested, the speaker, Deidre Hughey’s video is here.   (it’ll really make you think)

BUT – as well as the word “uncomfortable” served me, I needed a new 2012 word.  After pondering and praying, I chose:  “connect”.

For me – CONNECT –  may not mean exactly what you think it means…

Here’s what the word CONNECT will mean for me in 2012:

Connect – to “plug into” all that God wants to tell me, show me, make me.  To receive my energy and motivation from Him.  To praise Him – and give Him the glory.

Connect  – with Rob. To know him – to understand who God is designing him to be.  To encourage him.  To work with him.  To write with him.  To create the next 25 years.

 

Connect – to “fit together in a deliberate, planned way, all my roles and responsibilities.

Connect – to my body. I’m big.  Unhealthy big.  And – as surprising as it sounds – there are times I’m shocked at how big I am. (as though I don’t live in this body – just my head)    There’s a disconnect somewhere…   I need to connect my habits to health.

Connect – to “shape” my learning.  I want to learn from other wise people – I want to make friends and have stimulating conversations.  I want to understand other viewpoints and be introduced to new ideas.

At One Word 365 – they suggest:

Commit to writing a mile-marker post every 3 months or so. Being intentional about sharing our progress (or lack thereof) is good accountability and motivation to keep focusing on our word all year.

Life is truly best lived together.

So that’s what I’m going to do.  At the beginning of April I’ll add to this page, and chronicle my progress to  “CONNECT”…

UPDATE:  January 11, 2012

OK – this is WAY before my planned update in April…  BUT I needed to add, that when I “connect” I need to make sure I WRITE the person’s name correctly!  (sigh)

UPDATE:  March 27, 2012

Writing an Acrostic about my OneWord!  See post here.

Since January I’ve connected with wonderful people online:  Facebook, many blogs & other Christian Marriage Bloggers.  In addition I’ve ventured out of my safety zone to connect with the local LeadHer group! (they were very welcoming!)  To enhance/build/focus on my connection with God, I’ve been using two new applications during my quiet time – a prompt called “Grace Notes” and a Prayer list application.  Robert and I are moving forward with a new venture – Leadership Couples.  (It’s a big, hairy, audacious goal.)  I’m using Pomodoro to get up and move more during my day.  To be candid, “connecting with my body” is still my weakest connection.  It hasn’t had much of my attention…

UPDATE: December 2012

It’s been an interesting year –

  • the Facebook page for  Encourage Your Spouse reached the 1000 mark this year. (basically all in the year 2012).
  • Robert and I have connected with leadership couples and interviewed a number of fascinating people.
  • connected with people on Twitter
  • I’ve explored a great number of blogs with such wonderful and wise insights, left comments and briefly connected with new people
  • stepped out from Encourage Your Spouse to write two guest posts
  • launched “Leadership Couples” with Robert, and had opportunities to serve couples in marriage
And now it’s on to 2013!
What’s the OneWord for 2013?

Realize