Welcoming 2014

2013 was a good year for us.  It was a relatively quiet, smooth year without a lot of change or excitement, and I'm perfectly okay with that.  When I look back to my goals and intentions for 2013, I'm proud to say that I did a pretty good job.  Of course I was better in some areas than others, but for the most part, I stuck with them and they've become a regular part of my life. 

As we begin 2014, I'd like to continue the tradition.  Rather than making a New Year's resolution, I want to just lay out some goals and intentions for myself....areas where I'd like to improve or perhaps refocus a bit. So, in no particular order, here they are:

• Floss daily.  This is a hard one for me.  I despise flossing.  I mean really, there's nothing fun about it.  It's gross.  It hurts my gums.  Bleh.  But every time I go to the dentist, I'm told I need to floss.  So, for once in my life, I'm going to commit to this.  It's 2 minutes out of my day right?  I can do this and my teeth will thank me.
• Continue to be present with Liam.  This is a carry-over from last year, and since I find that this one requires constant attention, I'm adding it to this year's list.  This one can be difficult.  Especially in this technological age where we are constantly bombarded by distracters.  So....I want to continue to stay tuned in and to give him my full attention during our time together.
• Less Facebook.  I have mixed feelings about Facebook.  I really do enjoy connecting with friends and seeing what people are up to.  However, I find that it can be a huge time suck.  So, in an effort to be more present, I want to limit myself to only checking it a couple of times a day.  I just deleted the app from my phone and already I feel a huge difference.  It's just too easy to mindlessly pick up my phone and get sucked in.  Truthfully, deleting it felt strangely liberating.... 
• Eat mindfully.  I plan to do a post on this soon, but I've been making some major dietary changes and it's having a profound effect on my well-being. I want to continue this practice because I am feeling so much better! 
• Pray more and worry less.  I heard this phrase the other day and it has stuck with me:  "Worrying is like praying for something you don't want".  I tend to be a bit of a worrywart so this really resonated with me.  I'm going to use this phrase to help me stop my unnecessary worrying in it's tracks, choosing instead, to focus on my blessings.

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• And finally, I WILL finish my dissertation.  I saved this one for last because it's closely tied to my word for the year.  This it folks.  This is my year of completion, and I plan to do whatever it takes. 

So, for 2014, I have chosen the word faith.  

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Recently, I find myself being called to faith in multiple ways.  I need to have faith that I will finish my PhD.  I need to have faith that I will find a job when I'm done.  I need to have faith that we'll be blessed with another child.  I need to have faith that I am exactly where I am supposed to be....and the list goes on. 

I have also recently found myself being pulled back towards my faith and my relationship with God.  It's not that I ever stopped believing or praying, but I definitely became less intentional about it.  This year I feel called to recenter myself in my faith, a journey which begins with a return to the church.  It's not that I ever disliked going to mass, I just didn't make it a priority.  These days, however, I find that I need that weekly meditational time to keep me centered.  

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I have so many hopes for this year and I must have faith that it will all play out exactly as it should.

So 2014 is about faith. Finding faith and keeping the faith.