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My mom has told me that when I was a toddler I would take my wooden blocks and walk each one individually from one side of the room to the other carefully stacking them. Then when I had used all the blocks, I would unstack them, one by one, and walk them back to the other side of the room to build them up once again. Apparently, I would let this activity occupy a significant (for a 3 year old) amount of my time.
I can see how the skills that I was developing back then have transferred themselves into my habits and tendencies as an adult. I tend to be precise. I tend to have concentration and determination with projects when I find them engaging. I prefer working alone than with others.
As I reflect on My One Word for 2019 - ATTEND - this activity of stacking blocks is what has come to mind.
In my original blog post about my word for the year, I described my mental state as walking into a room and not quite remembering what I went in there for. So I chose the word ATTEND to help me be more aware of my time, activities, and relationships. And I would say that in a small way, I have accomplished this. For example, I have managed to keep a journal the entire year - a first for me I think. The contents vary, but what has come out of the journaling is a compilation of what I am grateful for on a daily basis. My journal also has my BIG prayer requests and it's awesome to see how those have been answered throughout the course of the last 12 months.
The journal also includes some goals that I wanted to work on this year. And I wish that I could say that I had achieved more of them, but it's all a work in progress. And I this is why the childhood activity of stacking blocks is a visual that describes the end of 2019.
I now know why I have walked into the room. I have the purpose. I also know which tools to use to accomplish that purpose. Now I just have to build on what I've started.
I'm thankful for my 2019 word ATTEND. It's given me a way to keep track of my priorities. I'll be able to look back years from now and see how far I've come. I've started habits that are sustainable for the foreseeable future.
So in 2020 it's time for me to take the blocks I've stacked and move them to the other side of the room. Maybe my new structure will look similar or maybe it'll be radically different. Maybe I'll pick up a couple of new blocks in the process. Maybe I'll have to discard a block or two.
But for now, I will appreciate what I have constructed.
