My Word

Back at the beginning of the year, when everyone was making resolutions, I read this post from Clover Lane, one of the blogs I love to read. She was copying someone else's idea of making a new year's resolution out of one word. I loved the idea. So I thought and thought of what my word would be. And this is what I came up with:
I printed the word out, stuck it in a dollar store frame, and now it sits on my nightstand to remind me each day.

There are 2 ways I'm trying to incorporate this word into my life:
1st, I want to simplify things in my jumbled-up mind. I constantly have to-do lists running through my mind. Seriously-- all day long. And, often, this stresses me out. I'm very detail-oriented (in other words, I freak out when something isn't perfect). As a result, I spend a lot of my time and energy on things that really aren't that important-- like staying hours after school to create cute little signs for a lesson I'm going to teach the next day. Was it on my to-do list? Yes. Was it important enough for me to spend all that time and energy? No. Is it the end of the world if I don't do it? Previously, I would have said yes. Crazy, huh? So to simplify the lists running through my mind, I am trying to decide which things are the most important and not "sweat the small stuff."

2nd, I want to embrace the 'simple pleasures' in life (hence, the new name of our blog!). I'm sorry to say that I wasn't a very cheerful or positive pregnant girl. I feel like I spent most of the last year uncomfortable and complaining. I stopped noticing all the good things around me like I used to. At the bottom of the stairwell to our condo, there used to be a beautiful rose bush. Every time it was in bloom and I was walking past, I would think the phrase, "stop and smell the roses." So I would . . . even when I was running late for work! And each time I breathed in the perfume, I would walk away thinking how pleasant this world is. Last summer, the grounds crew tore the rose bush out. I don't know why. But with or without a rose bush, I want to have that feeling again every single day. I want to notice the simple things around me that make me love my life! And so, for this year, I will be blogging about those things that make me happy. Enjoy!