You know how many people pick a word of the year? A word that is ‘their word’ for the year. I’ve sort of had an aversion to following along and doing what ‘everyone’ else is doing. Cause, of course, if I picked a word that was ‘MY word’ it would have to be something really impressive and would make people think I was really ‘cool’ and ‘with it’ and amazing and they would all want to be my friend and everyone would flock to follow me. And then I’d have to live up to that amazing word all year-long and actually be amazing and inspiring and make people just shake their heads in awe.
And then I would be stressed because I would most definitely not live up to my ‘word’ and I would let everyone down and then I would feel really stupid.
So I never joined the ranks of those who picked a ‘word of the year’. I saw a few new ‘words’ out there as the year began but I dismissed them with a sniff because I wasn’t joining in. Because I don’t have what it takes to follow through and stick to ‘my word’. And then it hit me – I didn’t need one word for the year – I needed two! Follow through. I need to take those words and be convicted to do my best to follow through. When I say I’m going to do something – follow through – and DO it! When I tell my kids we will do something they want to do, but later – make sure that ‘later’ really does come. Stop and do things now instead of always saying ‘later’. Make a point of doing the things I think I should do instead of just thinking I should.
And I’m shaking in my socks at the thought of actually clicking the publish button on this post. Because by claiming the phrase ‘follow through’ as the words I’m trying to live up to this year, it means I really have to get my act together and do something. And here I was enjoying sitting on the couch watching movies with my girls. Enjoying being thoroughly lazy! But wait!! Can’t I count that as following through on doing something with them? They do ask me to watch movies with them and I tell them no because I’m ‘too busy’. Hmmmmmm. Maybe this ‘follow through’ won’t be as bad as I thought. Along with ‘follow through’ I also need to do better this year with the phrase ‘use what you have on hand’. Nevermind the trip to IKEA on the first of January and the cartload of ‘business expenses’ I bought. I’ll start working hard on that second phrase now 😉
So. Here’s to a great year. A year of ‘follow through’. Doing what I say I will do and in a timely manner. And using what I have on hand instead of purchasing more. Yeah right. Maybe I’ll just save that one for NEXT year.
Do you have a ‘word of the year’? Do you make resolutions? Do you follow through?!
Jill
Sew a Fine Seam
Don’t miss a post! Follow along with me here.
That should have been my words for the year as well – I have huge prayers & hopes for this year!
I must admit that I’m a bit like you in that I don’t want to jump on the bandwagon and do what everyone else is doing either sometimes. I guess I have a little bit of a rebel in me. LOL. I didn’t post a summary of most viewed posts and I didn’t come up with a special word for the year. I also don’t make resolutions. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have goals and plans. I’m a list maker. Always have been and so it keeps me focused. I make lists of what I need to do for the day. I make lists of what needs to be done (overall) to the house. I keep a calendar handy with appts, birthdays and school holidays. I keep a grocery list handy. That keeps me motivated to take care of all the little things I have to manage. Then, I try to find time for the bigger things. I like your choice of words. It’s a good one for sure.
I hear you Kelly! I did do a round up of last years projects because I saw a link up party announced ahead of time and I decided I wanted to link up to it. I make lists too – and I need to do more lists than ever just to keep up cause I just can’t remember everything anymore! the big 4-0 happens for me this year – I feel old!
I’ll be following along to see your follow throughs! I don’t have a word of the year – maybe it should be organize so I can finally fit my car in the overstuffed garage!
Kelly
Hi Jill! “Follow through” is a perfect “word” of the year! There are no rules…I’ve always thought that it should be something that creates a spark…something to remember…or to guide us…not a specific word, per se. My word of the year for 2013 was “do”…and I did…lots. My word for 2014 is “inspire” but it was almost “create”…either one works…and maybe I’ll have TWO words this year…you’ve started a trend! Happy New Year, my friend…here’s to a year of discovering lots of wonderful things to “following through” on! xo
Thanks Jill, this was an encouragement to me for some personal reasons. God bless you for “following through” with pushing that send button. You never know when others need your encouragement as well! Love you, and may the LORD help you in your commitment!
Hi Jill, I am a new subscriber to your blog. With all the business of the Christmas & New Years Holidays – I am jut now opening up my first email from you. This was definitely what I needed to read and hear. I also do not make New Years Resolutions. I always have goals in mind and they’re usually written down so that I can be working on them or I know that they will be the next thing that I will be working on. I’ve suffered a lot of loss in the last several years and it has caused me to “go blank” in regards to crafting and also affected me being able to complete projects that I start. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome about 8 years ago, my Mom, who lived with us for many years, passed away 4 years ago, my sister passed away last year, my Daddy moved in with us 3 years ago because he was going through a divorce from his second wife and we realized that his memory wasn’t quite right. He was finally diagnosed with Dementia/Alzheimer’s Disease a month after my sister passed away last year. Because the Dementia was so advanced, he wasn’t allowed to live on his own anymore, so he couldn’t move back to his home and had to continue living with us. He recently asked to move into Assisted Living because the Dementia is worsening and he didn’t want us to have to watch him go down hill so closely (mainly the grandchildren). I haven’t been able to craft much of anything mainly because my thoughts are clouded and my mind is blank. When I sit down to paint, all I see in my mind is a blank canvas where usually I see this magnificent idea/picture that I’m wanting to try to paint onto canvas. A magical thing occurred in the last couple of weeks and I know that God was behind this – my 10 y/o niece has started painting and she needed some help. She called me to ask me to help her with her picture and some techniques. Ever since that moment, I have been able to paint or craft anything that comes to mind and complete it!! So, it has been a wonderful couple of weeks of productivity and completion… Thank you for your wonderful post about not jumping on the bandwagon and being like everyone else, fear of sounding/being “uncool”, the need to use what you have on hand instead of going out and buying more, and the use of the word/phrase “Follow Thru” – Doing what you say you will do, in a timely manner. Sometimes, I need this reminder with everything that has and is going on in my life because others are still there and just as important as they always have been. Thank you again for the reminder…… and for a great blog!
Follow through is great! But, I feel like you lifted a huge burden from my shoulders because I had been wracking my brain looking for a word of the year for 2014. Thanks to your words above, I feel like I don’t have to now. But, if I were to pick one it might be “Seek”. Like I am seeking a word, or time , or peace, of more spirituality, you get the picture! Good luck to you! I like your blog, I am a newbie!
Looks like your post did so much more than you ever imagine it could. I’m very proud of you Jill. I don’t tend to jump on band wagon of what everybody else is doing. That to me screams being held down and made to do what I don’t want to do. I was always told I’d better do what I should about too many things. If I didn’t do what I was told (even and especially as an adult – a wife and young Mother) I was made to feel I had terribly disappointed and hurt that person. Hence I was not a happy confident person. I’ve always been a fun loving spontaneous person, don’t like being tied down to everybody else’s have to’s. Something in me says NO WAY. I’m a bit of a gypsy. I was always told the way I was was wrong. How do you reconcile that way of being treated to who you are in your heart?
Go for it, do what makes you happy, what feels right, in being that way you’ll be able to make ones you love happy. That doesn’t mean you do anything wrong, it means you stay true to yourself. When you do what your heart says you’ll do your very best at creating, be true to yourself for life.Happy weekend Jill
Our word of the year is “togetherness”. I want to focus on activities that bring us together as a couple, a family, and with friends. Follow through is a good one- so hard to always do and easy to say “later” to. I think the bottom line is not trying to chose something that is outside of who you really are. I tend to do things on a whim, not always because I am following through, but because it’s how I am. Sometimes the guilt of trying to bend ourselves into a shape we don’t fit in to can be counterproductive. Play on one of your strengths instead 🙂