Intentional

Each new year I like to pick a word for the year. This year it’s intentional. My goal for the year – be intentional and to do you things with purpose. I want to be intentional with my words, my thoughts, my actions, my goals, and my prayers.

To that end, I have a couple “resolutions” to go with being intentional. First, my goal is to send out two handwritten cards each month to friends or family letting them know how important they are to me. Remember getting letters or cards in the mail? No one does that anymore. With technology, social media, texts, and emails, people never pick up a pen and paper anymore. All of those tools help me with everyday communications, but I want to make an extra effort – focus on the person I am writing to and focus on the words I am saying.

Second, read more books (because I love to read and never have time to do it so I will make time). I have a half dozen books or so just waiting for my attention. I’ve already started on “Furiously Happy” by Jenny Lawson. I love when a book makes me laugh (well, I actually love anything that makes me laugh). This book is fantastic.

Of course, I also resolve to work out more, eat better, cuss less, drink more water, and shop less. Who are we kidding? I will just say those things are always a work in progress each year.

While I like the idea of resolutions, what I like more is the effort behind them. Just make an effort. That effort may turn into a habit. Be strong. Be consistent. Resolutions and effort don’t just have to be a New Year’s thing; they can be an any day thing. Any time we strive to make ourselves better, we become better. That’s really what it is all about. Be your best self. Be intentional. Find your joy.

Do you have a word for the year? Did you make a resolution?

xoxo, Jane Anne