Let me tell you something. I thought I was pretty clever in the beginning of January when I decided that I was going to pick out three words to live by in the coming year. Turns out this idea has been around for awhile. How I managed to not see it until I thought of it is beyond me, because now I see this idea popping up everywhere on blogs. (Though, that seems likely since now that it's in my head, I'm more aware of it.)
It took me awhile to figure out what words I really wanted to concentrate on this year, as well as to not add anymore than three. Otherwise, it would just become another long list of resolutions that would be hard to accomplish. ( I did still create a personal list of about twenty goals/resolutions...you know, just in case I nail these three words right off the bat in the coming months.)
Here's what I'm going to strive for in twenty-twelve:
Kindness: Being genuinely and thoughtfully kind to others in big or small ways everyday. Taking time out of my day for others, and not just when it's convenient for me. Stopping to open a door for someone, giving someone a hearty, full smile and hi instead of a hurried, half-nod, refraining from becoming frustrated at the hubs because he didn't put his shoes or socks away. I want to allow myself to take a step back and tell myself that for the all the times I feel like getting annoyed or impatient with people that not only am I just as imperfect, but that, this doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things, and for all the gestures of kindness that I can do and I think might go unnoticed, this does really matter in the grand scheme of things.
Perseverance: To keep at things and do so with intent and confidence (key word: confidence). To start what I finish (and in a timely manner) and keep going on projects or goals when my attention wavers or my uncertainties get the best of me. I need to remind myself that if it's a goal worth achieving, getting through the boring parts and the times when I feel insecure are necessary for success.
Attentiveness: This is probably the one that will be the most difficult on the list. I know I can be a better listener when I talk to people. Sometimes I don't listen because I'm terrible at voice-to-voice small talk with people I don't know very well. (Put me on google chat or email and I'll "talk" your ear off. Put me on an elevator?...Oh no.) Verbal small talk makes me nervous and I wish it didn't, because most often when I'm talking to someone I don't know very well, I'm thinking about the next question I can ask them so that there's absolutely no silence in the conversation. It's not that I don't hear a word of what that acquaintance says to me, but it certainly hinders my ability to truly listen to what they're saying. With the people I am most comfortable with, I want to concentrate on listening with as much love as I can give to those that are closest to me. This means, in most cases, consciously setting down or stepping away from whatever else it is that I'm probably trying to multi-task and concentrating on the loved one I'm talking to. They deserve my full attention after all.
So those are my three words for 2012. Has anyone else tried this method of resolutions? I'm curious to see if it's any easier or harder to stick to three words of improvement that encompass a lot of unspoken goals. I guess I'll just have to wait twelve months and see.
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