Abundance

It's that time of year when we start thinking about what we did, and did not, accomplish since the last time we started thinking about such things. I know some people have already set their goals for 2010, some have thought about it, and some shy away from it as if it were the plague! I am somewhere in the middle of all of these. Last year I jumped on the one word bandwagon. You pick a word, then let that word guide you through the year. Last year I picked the word iChoose (yes, I cheated just a little to make it one word).

And now I will tell you how that went. It was awful. I suddenly for real felt responsible for ALL of my actions and reactions. I realized that I really am in control of myself, and myself only. I would be all mad and then I would see my little sign that said "iChoose" and I could not be mad any more, because it was all my choice. So, you know, it wasn't really awful, but it was an eye opener to all the blame I may have layed at the feet of others along the 30 something years of my life. It became a mantra I would say over and over in my head, sometimes with that gritted teeth voice, and sometimes with that Julie Andrews "The Hills are ALIVE!!!!" kind of voice. I have to say, it was hard, but worth it, to have that reminder all year long. I hope it's lodged it's message in my brain so that I never have to choose it again!

So, knowing what I have learned over the past year, I know that to make the word I choose a part of my life, I have to make something visible for me to look at and ponder. This has almost overtaken the actual choosing of the word. Should I make another picture? Should I do something in vinyl? Or maybe just a picture without the word on it... I have yet to decide how to make it a part of my life. And then once I pick the word what if all of a sudden I am tested in all the areas in which that word is involved??? (Hence the shying away from it as if it were, in fact, the plague.) Well, one thing I do know, is the word. Are you ready for it?

Abundance.

I first thought about this word in connection with a Wordful Wednesday post in November. Since then I have thought about it as I got ready for Christmas, and how I could apply it to a whole year. John found this quote while preparing a lesson and I love it. It's from President Monson:

"Both abundance and lack [of abundance] exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend … when we choose (darn it...) not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present—love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us [happiness]—the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth."

I think I would like a little heaven on earth! So how do I plan to apply this to my daily life? Well, I really hope to achieve the impossible. I plan to change. I know, what a crazy diluted mind I have, but from everything I've ever read in the scriptures and heard out of the prophet's mouths, it's that change is the most important thing we can do in this life. So, I'm going to try.

Here are some ideals, positive affirmations, if you will.

1. I have an abundance of time to do the things that really matter. (so, I think blogging is important to me and my desire to connect with the world. But, I must time it better. Like, not when dinner is supposed to be ready. Or, when my kids need me.)

2. I have an abundance of money to get the things we need. (I am terrible at recording expenditures. I hope to figure out a way to actually write down what I spend, and what I spend it on.)

3. I have an abundance of money to help those in need.

4. I am brave enough to act on the abundance of charitable ideas that float through my brain. (ever been scared to do something for some one? me too.)

5. I have an abundance of love for my children and my husband. (Now I just need to show it better.)

6. I have an abundance of self esteem. (remember, these are pos-i-tive aff-ir-ma-tions.)

So, those are some of my thoughts on my word for this year. There's always an abundance of words for everyone! If you decide to pick a word I'd love to know what it is. Until then, I'm sending out into the universe an abundance of good wishes for your most fantastic year ever!