I’m jumping on the bandwagon again, except this year I’m following the rules; I chose one word this year! Last year, I chose seven words. I did pretty good with those words, I wrote the recap here.  As I stated in my previous post, I’m indecisive. It’s true, I hate to admit it, but it’s true, I can be the worst when it comes to making decisions. Is that some sort of lack of confidence? Perhaps. I think that’s why the word that I chose for this year is perfect!

To be honest it took me a while to settle on flourish, I kept thinking there were so many other words, many that I love, but flourish kept popping back in my head. So, like a coach who has an eager player who just wants a chance, I’m letting Flourish suit up for the big game- 2016. 🙂  (If you read suit up and thought of Barney Stinson ->?)

I’m ready to flourish. I need to flourish. I know I’m 35, but I have so much more to do, give, grow– I will flourish.

What the hell does flourish mean?

Well... per Merriam Dictionary:

 

What does that mean for me?

This year, I want to grow, thrive, and do things successfully. I want to sincerely, wholeheartedly, and courageously (Don’t hate me Mr. Stephen King. #AdverbQueen) do all the things with zero fear! I want to embrace the hashtag #ByeFearlicia (Okay, it’s not a real hashtag, yet.) Mr. King would argue that I’m still rooted in fear because of my redundant use of adverbs.  I agree, there is still a touch of fear when it comes to my writing. However, I’m well aware that there is magic within me, just like Dumbo. 😉

I want my writing to unfold, I want to release, and share. I’m not holding back. I’ve already begun. 🙂

It’s not all about my writing though, there are many areas where I would like to flourish this year.

*Writing- you’ve got that.

*Creativity– I want to create more this year. I want to come alive forgetting rules, lines, and chores, and just go for it!

*Photography- I know photography is a form of creativity, but I want to make it well aware that I will flourish in this area. I want to capture beautiful memories through a lens.

* Teaching- I have knowledge to share, thoughts, recipes, and life lessons that I need to giveaway. Sean McCabe, said it best:

 

If you want to become good at something, teach others how to do it. The former doesn’t have to precede the latter. Teaching is learning.

— Sean McCabe (@seanwes) April 17, 2014

*Me- Over the last few years I have slowly unraveled the tight ball of yarn I have become. I’m giving away pieces of me slowly, with love from me to you. I want to keep doing that. I want to love, give, learn, share, repeat. I did things last year that made me happy… PROUD, and I want to do those things multiplied by 100 or a realistic 25. 🙂

Can I be frank with you? As I’m writing this out I’m thinking WTF, why does it take a new year or why does it take being 35, to realize these types of things. I wish I would have been this person at 25.  At 25 I was pregnant, learning the ropes of being married to a war returned veteran, and I was setting off from my home in Texas to Illinois, so yeah, I guess my mind wasn’t right then. My 30’s have been all about growth and progress, and I’m happy to share these years with you!

Cheers to evolving… flourishing. 🙂

Happy New Year!!!

XOXO