Word of the Year: FOCUS

{picture via yourhomebasedmom}

Last year's word of the year was Choose. I have decided to carry on with chosing a new word as my yearly motto. This year is going to be busy with another Shields on the way in March so I've decided that my word for the year 2011 is FOCUS. To focus on what matters most and on the things that are important to me: my family (a baby is going to require a lot of my time - as well as enjoying my children and spending more time with my husband), my friends, my health, my home, serving others, doing things that I love (reading, photography, crafts, etc.) and my daily scripture study and prayer. I am going to take a step back from things that consume too much of my time. Things (like clutter for example) that aren't designed to bring me back to the things that really matter most to me and that may allow me to lose my focus. I was initially going to break it down into monthly goals, but with said baby on the way and a full plate already on my table, I don't think adding that step is wise. I will however have specific goals to meet throughout the year. With nesting already in motion, I've already begun organizing my home and taking things to Goodwill so I think I'm already off to a good start!

Many others have chosen the word "focus" as their word for the year such as one of my favorite bloggers: Leigh Anne from Your Home Based Mom. I was originally going to go with the word "connect" but felt that with the arrival of a baby coming soon and the need to focus on my family and health this year, that the word "focus" felt more appropriate and kept springing to my mind.

After making this decision, I discovered a powerful quote from Leigh Anne's blog that I wanted to share with you about focus:

“Both abundance and lack [of abundance] exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend … when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present—love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us [happiness]—the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth.” ~ Sarah Ban Breathnach

I'm really looking forward to this year and to what I will be able to accomplish by focusing on what matters most! Happy New Year! :)