The Power of Words

It seems that I have been living in the world of “NEXT.” Next week, next month, next year. I have always been organized, a planner. While these can be positive attributes, they can also hold you back from living in the moment.

As a mother of a 6th grader and a 9th grader, I recently found myself saying things like, “He will only be living here for another three and a half years. In a few months, he will be getting his permit. A year from now we will be getting ready for her Bat Mitzvah.” I realized that I was talking like this more and more often. This powerful word – NEXT – was holding me back from being present in my daily life. With the new year approaching, I started thinking about changing my habits and thinking so that I could enjoy my daily life and not always worry about what was to come.

Instead of yet another resolution, one that is typically generic and easily broken, I decided to choose a word to help guide my 2017. I read about this idea on the Ali Edwards’ website.  Ali has a yearly project called One Little Word that she created in 2006. Her words were inspiring and powerful so I decided I would try picking a word. I chose the word “NOW” to help represent this New Year.

I want to notice and appreciate what is happening NOW. Live in the moment. Enjoy my husband, kids, and work, without worrying about tomorrow. If there are things I want to do or risks I want to take, I need to make it happen NOW because I won’t know what tomorrow will bring. I want to stop yearning for the past when the kids were little. Stop dwelling on how quickly time is passing by, and choose to appreciate them NOW. My family is healthy and happy and I know that makes me extremely lucky.

I encourage you all to pick a word. Something to help you navigate through the year ahead. I don’t know if I will stick with it or if/how it will change my life, but right NOW my word is present in my life and is guiding me daily. Here’s to living in a world of “NOW!”