What is Your Intention For 2014?

A few weeks ago I got an invite to the Christmas party for my part-time gig. Included in the invitation was an ornament with the word ‘Be” written on it and instructions inviting me to come up with own special “Be” word for the holiday season. At the same time in my blogging group Pushing Lovely, my friend Amiyrah asked us if we had thought about how we would be an “asset in the blogging community next year (2014).” Amiyrah mentioned that some bloggers had a word for 2013 that they stuck with throughout the year and asked if we had thought about words we wanted to use for 2014. Since then, there has been a fabulous discussion about our intention as bloggers and for our personal and professional lives for 2014. I have been rolling words for my head, reflecting on what I want my upcoming year to look like and have finally, finally decided on a word.

This year has been pretty good. Effin Guy and I are doing well…very well. While it’s been a challenge raising a teen, the road isn’t totally bumpy and there has been some good moments with The Bee. I have yet to be sent to jail and DHS hasn’t been called so I’d call that a win. My mom got a new kidney and so far it has been working well. She has had a few other complications but for the most part a woman with so may illnesses has been getting on fairly well. Work has been going well and I am feeling very excited about what is coming up next. But there is always a “but” and that three letter word is where I find the inspiration for my intentions for 2014.

The words I considered were purpose, fearless, determine, growth but I finally settled on flourish.

flour·ish [flur-ish, fluhr-] verb (used without object)

1. to be in a vigorous state; thrive: a period in which art flourished.
2. to be in its or in one’s prime; be at the height of fame, excellence, influence, etc.
3. to be successful; prosper.
4. to grow luxuriantly, or thrive in growth, as a plant.
5. to make dramatic, sweeping gestures: Flourish more when you act out the king’s great death scene

For so much of my life I feel like I just make do and settle. Instead of living a juicy life I procrastinate, I wait, I duck and dodge and just live in fear. I settle when I get in a bind, I settle when I’m afraid, I do just enough and then I stop.

No more self sabotage, worrying, keeping myself out of the game because I *think* that something is going to go down and that thing is something I will not be able to handle. I don’t want this to come off as a resolution that is going to be forgotten by mid February, this is a way to grow, to leap, to live.

So I leave you with a quote from America’s favorite family, The Simpsons. In Deep Space Homer, Homer has been tapped to go into out of space but at the last minutes loses his nerve. He calls Marge for encouragement:

Marge: But on the other hand, when you don’t take advantage of an opportunity, you can end up regretting it for the rest of your life.

Homer: You’re right, Marge. Just like the time I could have met Mr. T at the mall. The entire day I kept saying, “I’ll go a little later. I’ll go a little later.” And then when I got there, they told me he’d just left. And when I asked the mall guy if he would ever come back again, he said he didn’t know. Well, I’m never going to let something like that happen again! I’m going into space right now!

Blast off time.

-r

What will 2014 bring for you? Linkup with bloggers from Pushing Lovely by joining the link up hosted by Mrs RKFJ or share your words in the comments.