My One Word - A Review of ATTEND

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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. 

My One Word for 2019

Ever have the experience of walking into a room knowing that you're supposed to remember something, but have no idea what it is? Of course you have, we all have at one point or another. What strategies do you use to recall the thing that you've forgotten? Sometimes I just stand still and mentally retrace my steps. Other times, I will physically go back to the space I was previously in and re-walk my path. I tend to be in a continuous state of conversation with myself and so I will also rehash my self talk to try to bring to mind the thing I thought about as I was in a deep dialog with myself. And then there are times when I just have to stop trying to remember and just move on hoping that sometime in the not too distant future, I'll think of it again. 

The last few months I have had the feeling of being somewhere and not quite sure what I'm supposed to do next, just like walking in a room with a purpose and totally forgetting what that purpose is.  

And so, I'm using the My One Word to try to figure out what my next steps should be. I have gone through the brainstorming and selection process and determined that my word for 2019 is ATTEND. 

I want to ATTEND with more purpose to God's Word. I want to ATTEND with more of my heart to His desires for my current circumstances. I want to ATTEND with more intention to my relationships, personal goals, and use of my time. 

The Bible verse that I landed on is Isaiah 30:21 - Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

So here are some action steps that I've taken since the beginning of January.

1 - Last year I hand copied larger passages of Scripture during my morning quiet time. It's not a bad thing to do, but really, the practice didn't leave a lasting impression on my day. So this year, I have decided to just take a single verse and copy it and write a brief reflection. I like this much better. Now I just have to figure out a way to keep this daily verse in front of me so that it has a chance to make a dent of difference in my day. 

2 - I'm not consistent at it, but I've been trying to get in my bed about 45 minutes early so that I can do some reading that will support my word ATTEND.

3 - Reading non-fiction tends to lull me to sleep easily, so I have a notebook where I can write some reflections of what I'm reading. Journaling is something that I enjoy doing, but just haven't been disciplined enough to do it regularly. (Obviously, otherwise it wouldn't be over a year since I've written a blog post.) My intention is that by recording my thoughts, I'll be more ATTENtive to what I'm reading and consider how it can be used to develop my character or purpose or thinking or whatever. 

4 - I know how powerful goal setting can be. But again, I just haven't been disciplined to sit down and write out a list of goals and action steps. But this year, I'm determined to make 2019 different than 2018, 2017, 2016 - you get the idea...and I know that being purposeful and ATTEND to my goals is the only way that measurable change will take place. 

It's been a month since I selected my word and while I haven't had any epiphanies - there is still time for that - I am still excited about my word and the potential that it has.