One Word for 2013

I love the start of a New Year. And I love making resolutions. I’m a goal-oriented, list-loving sort of person, so resolutions work for me.*

But a couple years ago, author and friend Beth Vogt introduced me to the idea of choosing one word for each year. I latched onto that right away…as have many others. It’s been fun to see bloggers all over the place in this past week make mention of their “one word” for 2013.

Thought I’d share mine today...**

I wish I had a crazy cool story for how I landed on that word. I might’ve even, gasp, considered making something up—but that only lasted about a millisecond. Didn’t figure lying was a great way to start out the year.

Instead, the word simply popped into my head one day as I was writing an email to my cool crit partner, Lindsay Harrel. As I was writing that email, I was thinking about my tendency to rush from task to task…

I struggle sometimes to be present in each moment, to embrace “now” when I feel like “later” and all its to-dos are breathing down my neck. But I don’t want to be that person this year. I don’t want to be Busy Melissa. Or Distant Melissa. Or Moody Melissa.

I want to embrace God and what He has for me this year. I want to live each day with an attitude of, “Whatever your plan, God, I’m in.” I want to tap into that unflagging peace I see in some of my favorite people.

I want to embrace each day.

And the people around me.

And the always-there opportunities to be blessing.

I want to embrace the highs I know are ahead—like the release of my debut novel later this year. Yay! But also the lows—‘cause crappy stuff happens and if I really want a shot at that maturity thing, I’ll learn to respond with grace.

I want to work hard this year. Play hard. And especially pray hard.

Some of what I embrace this year is going to be easy, natural. Other things, I’ll have to choose to choose to choose to embrace.

But the choosing starts now. With a "one word" and a sense of newness and resolve.

How about you? Is there anything you’re choosing to embrace this year? Do you have a “one word” for 2013?

*Lindsay Harrel can attest to this. She received a leeengthy email last week with my list of resolutions/goals and action steps for getting to each one. Yeah, sometimes my Type A side likes to take over.

**Fun friend and blogger Melanie Moore created my “One Word” button. She rocks! She’s providing free buttons for anyone who requests one. Check out more here.