Hello, 2020. New Year. New Decade.

In years past, I used to put a lot of pressure on myself to come up with goals and resolutions, with timelines and timetables of how and when I was going to get things done. I never really checked that many goals off my list (and honestly, usually had listed way too many goals).

So, for the last few years I’ve picked a word for my year. It’s been more about me setting an intention and I’ve liked it so much better. I know, I know….everyone’s picking a word for the year these days. It’s nothing new. I get it; but it works for me.

Actually, the word picked me this year, so I’m excited to share.

Start.

Just Start. Simple and to the point. No frills. Just get up off my butt and start doing.

See, I still set goals. I’m such a goal setter and list maker and journal filler. When I looked back over my goals from last year (which were really good, by the way), there were so many I had made absolutely no progress on. None. Zip. Zilch.

Now 2019 was great. I grew a lot. I had unexpected challenges thrown at me. I was brave when I didn’t want to be. In fact one of my best days ever happened in 2019. And despite all my unchecked boxes on my list, I’m still going into 2020 feeling really optimistic.

My recurring questions and frustration was, “What was the point of setting goals if I wasn’t reaching them ?”

So I asked a myself a few questions before plowing into the new year with that one little word START burning in the back of my brain.

One of the questions I asked was, “Were my goals realistic?” Were they things I was really passionate about or would truly make me a better wife, mom, friend? I know what my core priorities are; but were the goals that I was setting really lining up with that?

Like I said, my word picked me.

Words like Declutter, Focus, Do Less (yes, that’s two) floated around. I kept coming back to that word Start. Just start. And if I could pick a sub word for my year it would be SIMPLIFY:

In other words START: with side of Simplify.

In a frustrated moment I vented, ” I don’t need new goals to reach. I just want to actually accomplish the goals I’ve already set!”

No one knows you better than you. I know myself pretty well. I was really honest with my frustrated self and I know God gave me wisdom and discernment. He pointed out two things: 1.) I had too many goals I was trying to focus on. In other words, I was like a scattered squirrel. 2) I was waiting for life to be more settled, my moments to be more quiet, and for me to catch up on my laundry before I set out to do things that really are important to me.

In other words, I needed to put the checklist down, close the cover on my creatively lettered bullet journal and just start, already.

This year is about Starting (and finishing) in the middle of the mess, the unfolded laundry, the grocery shopping, the unexpected illnesses.

In the middle of the imperfection of life will be the perfect time for me to START.

What’s your word for the year? What are some goals, big or small, you have for the new year?

In my last post Hindsight is 2020, I talked about how reflecting on the past helps us shape goals for the future (or maybe just make better decisions). I made two lists at the end of 2019: What Didn’t Work in 2019 and What I Want To Keep Doing in 2020. Both were very helpful as I began 2020.

Here’s to 2020 and the START of wonderful things.