My One Word, 2014

We are halfway through the first month of 2014, and I hadn't even begun making a LIST of words for "My One Word".  For the last few years, I've been following My One Word and choosing, well, one word to work on for the year. What does God have in store for me? What do I need to work on this year?

Previously, I've done "Focus," "Move," and "Up."

I always do a word picture, and then save it to my phone and on my computer so it reminds me of what I need to work on.

So, why "CHOOSE"?

This blog - You Don't Choose A Life, You Live One. I've been taking part in a blogging workshop (amazing...) and one of the participants posted her blog today. She talks a little bit about a job situation that is less than ideal, and about her husband and kids and...well, it really hit home.

I've been in an uncomfortable place, work-wise, for a while now. My G's trip to Korea has loomed over our heads for months. I've felt tired and down and angry and whiny and just generally pissy.

But I don't have to be.

This week, I chose to go to the gym straight from work. You know what? I was much more able to spend time with Little G and really enjoy being home.

This week, I chose to let a few things slide and to help Little G with her own transition to "just us girls". You know what? She pitched in a LOT without me even having to ask.

Today, I CHOSE to smile when I wanted to let off some steam. I walked away, thought it over, and then I CHOSE to come back and finish the discussion and stand up for myself. You know what? The situation wasn't magically better. Nothing really got "fixed". But standing up for myself felt really good and it let the other person know that I was going to hold her to a higher standard.

In the Army, we are given very few choices. As a Facebook status reminded me this week, "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit." Army families are really good at understanding this. We don't choose where we live, most of the time. We don't choose our bosses. Our Soldiers don't choose much of anything, and a lot of family members don't get to either. Sometimes we don't even choose basic things like vacations - we take our trips when our Soldiers can get leave, and that is left up to the needs (whims) of the Army.

But we can choose to be thankful for what we do have. We can choose to enjoy what we are given. We can choose to be glad for any moments of communication, rather than grumble because our communication is too brief.

I think there will be a lot of choice for me in 2014. I realize that the blog that inspired me, actually said that we are to live our lives, rather than choose them. But I believe that we live better lives when we choose our focus, when we choose to be thankful, when we choose our own outlook on whatever happens in the lives we lead.

I choose, I want to remember to choose, to light that candle instead of cursing the darkness.