I don’t typically make New Year’s Resolutions. I find by calling them that, I usually break them with about two weeks. It’s daunting, coming up with resolutions you’re supposed to follow the entire year. Instead, I generally pick a word for the year.
For me, one word is a heck of a lot easier to remember than a list of resolutions. In the past, I’ve picked things like change, simplify, prioritize – words of action that I thought I could apply to various things in my life – things I thought needed improvement.
This past week, a group of us were talking about what our words were going to be for this year. As I was reading through everyone’s comments on my phone and thinking about what mine would be, Abbie brought my word to me without even knowing it. She walked up to me, grabbed my hand, and said:
“Mommy, dance with me.”
And I thought, dance.
Abbie LOVES to dance. She dances to TV shows, dances in the car, and we have a dance party nearly every night before bed (if you follow me on snapchat @beingmrsbeer, you’ll see them). She dances EVERY day, and it really got me thinking – could my word be dance?
I looked up the definition, and one really stuck out to me: “to leap, skip, etc., as from excitement or emotion.” It just struck me as joyful, happy. Excitement and emotion, joy – all things I want to apply to my life. Could I apply that to work? Sure – I can find joy and the fun in my position and look for ways to add that joy to others, helping out where I can. Could I apply that to my family? Of course! The dance parties of course, but also finding the excitement and emotion in the everyday – our family, Abbie learning and growing faster than ever before, my marriage. Could I apply that to relationships? Yes – finding the time and excitement to reconnect with all my friends, both near and far.
It’s the perfect word for everything I want out of this year. A little unconventional, yes, but perfect. Once again, my daughter knows best. It’s a year to dance.
Did you pick a word for 2016? I’d love to read about yours – leave it or your posts about yours below!
22 Responses
Love it! My word is joy for similar reasons! Hopefully 2016 will bring both of us lots of joy and excitement 🙂
Yes! Here’s hoping we both have a happy year!
This totally made me cry. I love it. It’s amazing how little kids have so much energy, and how much they truly love to dance. My little 10 month old is even starting to bob her head and bounce when we dance or when she hears a fun song. Great word!
Aw, I didn’t mean to make you cry! And yes, I LOVE how they have so much energy – I wish Abbie could give me some of it!
I love this one-so creative! Cheers to a 2016 full of dancing!
Thank you – to yours as well!
Love this! I think if all of us danced a little more each day the world would be a happier place. I’ll make sure to remember to dance more. Hehe – see what I did there?!
Hahaha, yes! We should definitely remember… 😉
I love this!! And I love how joyful children are 🙂 how they will dance no matter who is watching?! At what point do we lose that sense of innocence? 🙁 hope 2016 is your best year yet! Xo
I know, I love that too – I get SO self conscious about it but with her I can let it go. She just wants mommy to have fun with her. Hope yours is amazing too!
What a fun word, I love it!
Thank you!
Oh my gosh….all the feels! This is so so sweet.
Thanks girl! I loved your two phrases too!
This is so incredibly beautiful! I’m so excited to see the joy and happiness this word brings you this year! Let’s all dance!!
Yes! Especially a dance party in SEPTEMBER! So. Excited.
I love all your dance videos on SnapChat! I hope Miss H gets smooth moves like that this year!
I have no doubt she will. I know she loves some hot dog dance from Mickey….
That is definitely a joyful word! I love that you chose this. May we all dance through 2016. Happy New Year!
I think it’s my favorite word of the year I’ve ever picked! Happy 2016 to you too!
Oh I love this so very much! Luke and I had a dance party tonight, mind you he was dancing on his train table, but I loved every minute! Dancing brings so many smiles, love it!
Oh fun! It really does and I hope using dance as my word makes us do more of it!