Happy 2014, friends! I hope your new year is off to a very happy start!
Every year, instead of giving myself a list of resolutions I most likely won’t keep, I choose one focus word. My word for 2011 was Happiness (hence starting my Happiness Reports), 2012 I chose Connect (which launched my Connect through Reading posts) and 2013 my word was Simplify (Simplify Saturday was a result).
My focus word for 2014 is…
So what does it mean to INVEST in 2014? Well, much to my husbands dismay I’m not referring to stocks and savings accounts, necessarily. Instead I’m talking about plans to:
- Invest time in relationships. Go on regular date nights with my husband, outings with my girlfriends, time with my kids and family.
- Invest in resources. I can’t do it all. This past year I worked really hard on saying no more often, and that felt great. Even with saying no, I understand I can’t be all things to every person. A true sign of strength is asking for help, so I’ll be investing in resources to help me out with things that I don’t understand or don’t want to invest the time in right now.
- Invest in quality. Instead of spending money on bargain clothes that won’t last, I’m going to invest in quality pieces for my wardrobe that make me feel really good. I recently invested in some skin care products that have totally improved my skin… it was and continues to be an investment, but I am so glad I made the decision to do so as it has improved my self esteem greatly. Investing in products (and ingredients even) that make me feel good, or that improve the outcome of something will be a focus this year.
- Invest in my community. I recently read the book Three Little Words, and it has really inspired me to do more…maybe with foster kids or the elderly, I’m not sure which. But either way I know that in 2014 I want to invest more time in doing good for others.
- Invest in experiences. I’m a homebody, I’ll admit it…but I love to get out and experience things too. This year I’d like to invest in more experiences that get me out of my comfort zone.
- Invest in myself. I want to take some classes and spend more time doing things that make me really happy. I want to invest in my health and well being…carving out time to exercise and do things that will keep me alive longer. Investing time in myself should probably be top on the list as I know that when I feel fulfilled, it is easier for me to fill the cups of others!
Each year I choose a token as a reminder of my focus word. This year I’ve chosen the Word of the Year Necklace from Lisa Leonard Designs. I’d love to give one Dine & Dish reader the opportunity to win one of these necklaces to commemorate a 2014 Focus Word.
Entering the giveaway is simple… just let me know in the comments section what your Focus Word for 2014 is going to be! I’d love to hear why you chose that word and what the word means to you as well! Comments will be accepted through midnight, CST on Wednesday, January 8th. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will be notified via valid email address. Thanks and good luck!
This is not a sponsored post. I am providing the giveaway as a thanks to you all for being here!
Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
My focus word is “peace” for 2014!
Best New Year giveaway ever, Kristen. I love your focus word and the necklace. I might need to buy one for myself! Thanks once again for the inspiration. Have a wonderfully blessed New Year!
Flourishing
My one little word this year is badass….b’c I want to be one, in all good ways of course!
I love everything about your site, Kristen, but this is by and far your best post of the year <3 <3
I think my focus word for 2014 will be "filled"
I want my life to be filled with the Holy Spirit, filled with compassion for others, filled with love and friendships, filled with knowledge, filled with humility, filled with good health, and filled with good food.
This is awesome! Love the idea of “invest” and I love how successful you’ve been with your words in the past. I’m having a hard time thinking of one on the spot, but I keep coming back to FOCUS. Can my focus word be focus? lol! Or maybe “present,” as in being present in each situation. See….I already can’t focus. Maybe I should stick with focus. 😉
Happy New Year! xo
mine is “hope”
Kristin, this is just wonderful! I don’t wander by your place often–just try to keep up on fb and twitter–but Becca’s post on G+ brought me here. Admittedly, I wanted to see what you were giving away, but I am in love with the focus word idea. Last year, I changed the tag line on the site to “Fearless in the Kitchen.” For 2014, I will make Fearless my Focus Word of the year. Fearless not only in the kitchen but in helping others, in promoting myself, in being honest about my worth, in trying new things and putting myself out there in new ways. So thank you for the inspiration, and a happy Invested 2014 to you and yours, in all ways!
Welcome.
Persevere! 2014 will be a year of moving past the difficulties of 2013. It’s more about leaping over the hurdles! I love your word and it’s meaning as well!!
It might seem silly but our word for the year is Positive. By we I mean my husband and I. Sometimes we get down in the dumps over certain situations and we need to start focusing on the good. So if one of us says something negative, the other says Poooooositive. So yeah, that’s our word. Happiness and health are our goals!
Wow so many changes happened last year this year MY word is “Simply” to live, give and love simply.
My word for 2014 is DETERMINATION. I’m determined this year to not give up on my goals for myself.
I’m trying to decide between quiet and calm. I’m going to go with calm. I want to become a more calm individual. This year I want to read more, write more, be still more, and practice a little yoga.
I’m trying to decide between quiet and calm. I’m going to go with calm. I want to become a more calm individual. This year I want to read more, write more, be still more, and practice a little yoga.
Since reading your post several hours ago, I’ve been making a list of words…and playing in the thesaurus. Evolve is one good candidate. The process of exploring words is so much fun that I will keep my options open for today. Or maybe a month.
I’m sorry I didn’t mean to post that twice!
what a beautiful idea.and lovely necklace.id give this to my mum as she inspires my focus word which would be “try”
mum is what keeps me trying.try new things.try to carry on through a really hard illness.try to trust,try everything.
Mine would be “dream”. 🙂
I am with you! I like the work “invest” for 2014. I am going to “invest” in all the things that I’ve been wanting to do and just haven’t like learning modern calligraphy, buying a new home, throwing epic parties, investing in my kids, time with friends. What a great word!!
xo
I thought about this one for a good while this afternoon, and I think my word for 2014 is going to be “embrace”. I want to embrace my life and the people in it. I want to embrace every opportunity and every chance I get to learn something new. I want to embrace the unknown and push myself to make myself more familiar with it. I want to embrace myself, flaws and all, and to have more confidence in my abilities.
Embrace is my word for 2014.
My word is appreciate.
My word is love – I need to love God and those in my life more and more every day.
Happy new year!
My word this year is Present. Not the gift kind. Be present in my children’s lives, Be Present in conversations, Be Present in work, Be Present in Relationships.
Happy 2014
I love this, Kristen. I don’t know if you have ever considered it, but I go and read with kids that are struggling to read in our school system. You are so passionate about reading that you would be such an enormous blessing to a kid that hates to read or is struggling to figure out words. I have three little girls this year and I look forward to that more than anything during the week because they get excited about reading. You could do the same with adult literacy or reading to the elderly at the nursing home.
I love your word. My word would be joy this year. I need more of it and I need to honor the things that bring it to me and let go of the things that stifle it.
Love you!
Hi Amy it’s me Shannons Bookworms from facebook and your blog. I love that idea and I’m getting my college degree right now in early childhood development, I love this volunteer idea!!!! Yes late in life college student at 44, but this would be perfect and right up my alley! thank you for the idea, I know it was for Kristen hope you don’t mind if I jump on the bandwagon also. 🙂
Listen is my word for 2014. Listen to God, to people, to nature, to my heart.
My word is mindful. I want to be mindful of how I treat myself, of the power of my words, of the moment I’m in. It’s something I already try to do, and I’m still striving for mindfulness in each day.
My word is FOCUS. FOCUS on family, health, future and what matters most!
My word of the year is STRONG. I have so many reasons/applications that I need to remind myself that I can be and am. I’m going to focus on this.
I really think my word would be endure. I have been ill and feeling down. I have taken up running and am almost done with the C25k program. I am trying to learn to endure with grace alongside endurance with my quest of running.
My focus word is STILL. God wants me to be still before Him and focus on His voice.
My word for 2014 is DEVOTED. My goal is to be devoted to my God, my family, and my school . My priorities are to serve my God with full devotion, and to care for my disabled husband with devotion. And lastly , to lead my school, where I am a Principal with devotion to my students and the staff. I serve in a military community school and I am devoted to providing the best education possible to the children of our military children.
I’ve been picking a word (or a theme) for the year for the past five or so years. This year, my word just popped into my head…ELEVATE. This isn’t where my focus tends to go, so I’m really excited over the potential here. Could be some very cool stuff!
I love this idea. My word for 2013 was Joy. I was diagnosed with cancer in December, 2012. No matter what, I knew that God had this. So, I decided to choose Joy, instead of: worry, be depressed, self pity, etc. This mindset spread to every area in my life. This year, I chose Purpose. To live each day with Purpose, not just get through the day; live it and work it with Purpose.
A word phrase we used often with our children as they were growing up was, “Memory Making Moments”. We encouraged then to look at every life event with the plan of committing it to their memory. As we all know not every event in our life is necessarily good or fun to experience and many times we would just rather forget it, unless it reminds us of doing or being better in the future. As an example: On a family trip to San Diego, Ca most of our family members managed to catch the flu. Since we were staying in a motel, we had only one bathroom. It got very interesting and creative on everyone’s part when the need arose for them to use the toliet for diarrhea or vomiting episodes. I won’t go into the details but just to say that a time which was most uncomfortable has turned into times of laughter as they recall how each family member adapted to the situation. I’m happy to report that we have had more “fun” things we have committed to memory than the not so fun stuff. And as we gather together now having added 12 grandchildren to the mix, “Memory Making Moments” happen almost daily.
My word for this next year is “Memory”. I never want to forget any and all life events that God has allowed us to experience for our growing into the people he desires us to be.
So many good words and comments to think about. In reviewing and pondering a word of my own, I agree with Tori W, about the word Present. I get involved in many things and often find that I am not Present but directed in so many other ways. So this year I choose Present as my word.
My word would be blessed. I need to appreciate the things and experiences and family that I have and quiet the “I wants”.
Oh how I love this post and I love your word!!! Lately my word has been “SURVIVAL” because with a newborn and a 2 year old home with me all day the house is always a mess, sleep is elusive and I can barely eat a bite of food without my toddler grabbing my fork away from me. But in 2014, my goal word is going to be ENERGY. I want to exercise for energy – physical and mental. I want to eat whole foods that fuel my body for energy. And of course my new baby fills my heart with bursting energy as well. Thank you for this thought provoking post!
My word for 2014 is LISTEN. It has a multitude of meanings for me. I looked up synonyms for this word and found a few. Perceive is one of them. To perceive a situation is to listen to how it has evolved and how it might affect your own life. Comprehend is another. I feel that if I continue to listen to my husband, children and my own parents and validate their feelings, worries and successes – it will make me a better person, wife, mom and daughter. Making a point to take pause and truly listen. 🙂
I loved Three Little Words! I even ended up talking to Ashley on Twitter (she’s about an hour north of me). AND I started volunteering with our local foster care teen mentoring program. Amazing doesn’t even begin to cut it. My word last year was Intentional (do things with intent, not just wandering into decisions) and my word this year is BOLD. I turn 40 this year and it’s my year to step outside the lines some – take some risks.
hustle!
Thank you for the inspiration to chose a focus word for 2014
I’ve chosen CHERISH. I am a stay at home mom to two beautiful children, ages 3 & 1. I need to stay out of the negative this year and focus on cherishing my time with my amazing little ones. I also need to spend way more time cherishing my husband. He’s my rock and my #1 priority. I need to truly cherish our marriage as it is the foundation of our family. Best wishes & much love in 2014!!
My word is fit,because I plan on being in the best of health this year.I have lost 52lbs. so far and I feel so much more energetic.
my word is: Moments: Take the time and savior each and every moment. Some this year will be big moments like my youngest taking her first communion! Some not so big like helping one of the students at my kids school library finding the right book or just being there to help the librarian out. I’ve always wanted to do Project 365, and now thanks to instagram, my samsung wifi camera and the walgreens easy print app I’m going to capture 2014’s Moments!!! 🙂
Reading the comments prior to mine are so inspiring and heartwarming, truly. My word is “re-invent.” I have raised three people and have realized there is a new chapter waiting for me to write. I am reinventing myself and it will be a daily walk. Some days I imagine a moment to moment journey. I am lining up my tools and ducks. “quack quack” Any advice or words are always welcome. he he
AmyRuth
Reading the comments prior to mine are so inspiring and heartwarming, truly. My word is “re-invent.” I have raised three people and have realized there is a new chapter waiting for me to write. I am reinventing myself and it will be a daily walk. Some days I imagine a moment to moment journey. I am lining up my tools and ducks. “quack quack” Any advice or words are always welcome. he he
AmyRuth
My word for 2014 is Seek. I chose this word for a number of reasons, the biggest being based on Matthew 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” I have given all my focus to teaching Sunday school and serving on committees that I have lost the true reason I do these things. Am beginning the new year close to burn out and need to seek out the connection with God that has been lost.
Another reason is to seek my purpose. I have been working as a temp for over a year and my goal this year is to find a regular position I can thrive in. Neither of the companies I have been placed in have felt right. I love my hours, but the instability of temp work is dampening our dream of getting a house.
Which bring me to the last reason, I want to seek to provide. First for my children, with a living arrangement they can be safe outside and run with our dog. For my husband, to be the wife who makes time for him and is active in chores. I am blessed that he does the laundry and dishes, but I see he needs my help. I seek to so that. And for myself, I need a time for me. Perhaps not every day to start, but I need to exercise and fill my mind in God’s Word.
My word is courage. I had a very difficult year and have to struggle now to recover as well as move out of state for the 2nd time in a year. I do everything on my own as I am single without any family and no support system. My challenges in 2014 will take a tremendous amount of courage as I struggle alone to overcome each and every difficult and frightening ordeal. So much that is terrifying awaits me that I know this necklace will help. I would wear it proudly to remind me to have courage.
Perspective is my 2014 word. It’s actually connected to my 2013 word which was Gratitude.
This year’s word is one to keep me focused on continued growth, a gentle reminder of my blessings, and how even in the tough moments there is someone dealing with more.
Retire is my word. I plan to retire at the end of February. I am both anxious and excited. It will be interesting to see what we do in retirement.
Breathe is my word. I often tell others who seem anxious to just calm down and don’t forget to breathe. I need to take this advice myself and just “breathe”.
Oh, Kristen. You make my heart full. Love your blog, love you. So much. You don’t need to enter me, but my word this year would be PRESENT. Not the kind in a box, wrapped with a pretty bow. No. Present, as in “to be present” – I’m always thinking ahead, planning ahead. I want to really try to be present in the moment. For me. For my kids. (And I just signed up for Instagram. What was I thinking?!!) Happy New Year!
Acceptance— Accept what I can change and what I can’t, Accept who I am and who I am not meant to be.
What a neat idea! My word for this year is Strength. It applies to many things. The strength of my muscles as I lift weights. The strength to carry on after a rough day/week. The strength to keep moving, two steps ahead of the game as my mother slowly declines due to dementia.
This year, the Chinese New Year falls on Jan. 31st and it will be the year of the Horse. This is the sign I was born under. According to the wiki, there are four types of horses and 2014 will be a Wood Horse: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_(zodiac) Attributes of the wood horse are strength and flexibility. Which I take to mean both physically and spiritually. I hope I succeed in maintaining this not just this year but for the future.
Thank you so much for this giveaway! I love Lisa Leonard and own several of her necklaces – all with a special meaning. My focus word of the year is SURVIVOR. I was diagnosed with colon cancer recently and my focus is on surviving and thriving!
My word for this year is JOY. The past few years have been hard. I’ve come to understand that joy is a choice, and I’m choosing it daily in 2014.
My one word is “Free”. I spent time in Cambodia this past summer learning about justice; specifically related to poverty, slavery, and sex trafficking. While I was there I also saw countless examples of individuals freed from injustices – resulting in hope, restoratation, and joy. I choose my word as a reminder that 1) I have been been set free by Christ , and 2) to live/act purposefully so that others will experience freedom.
I love all that you are investing in! My word for 2014 is strength. I will need it while my wife is away on military duty for more than half the year. I will need it when I’m basically a single parent for those months. I will need it when my april due date comes and goes and I’m reminded again of what I lost.
I think my word for this year is love. Since I will really be diving into planning my wedding, I want to stay focused on what it is all about – celebrating the love between me and my fiance, Tommy, with all our friends and family (not about perfect centerpieces and uplighting!).
My word is trust. I made powerful progress in 2013, and in order to continue and reside in joy and really receive all that is to come, I need to trust myself, my faith, others, the process, and that all really will be well. It’s pretty awesome.
Open. Open heart, open mind, open to new ideas, open to others, and open to accepting whatever and wherever God wants to lead me his year.
I’m choosing Believe as my focus word. I Believe that I can move through my fears and accomplish goals that I never thought possible. I Believe that through hard work and perseverance, anything is possible. I Believe that I can replace that negative little voice in my head with a strong, powerful voice of encouragement and love. I Believe in myself and I Believe in the good in others.
Thanks for the opportunity to win this necklace. It’s beautiful!
Grace is my word; I am a perfectionist and have decided to strive for grace in every situation instead of the imposible hope of perfection.
My word is Love. Every year God gives me a verse for the year and this year it is 1 John 4:19 We love each other as a result of His loving us first. NLT translation. That means loving myself as well. I can be my own worst critic. I have started a food blog http://www.tidbitsofjoy.com
and the negative thoughts with that can be overwhelming. But through love and acceptance I can enjoy my blog and sharing with others.
So my focus this year is going to be loving others. I love your word invest – part of loving others is investing in their lives and that takes intentionally planning. What a great to start the year focusing on one word. Thanks for the idea.
My word is focus.
focus on family
focus on my daughters physical therapy
focus on getting my house DE cluttered
focus on getting to the gym 3 time a week.
My word is “learn.” There are a lot of things I’m set on learning this year.
What a wonderful post and I loved hearing about your past words MANIFESTING! 🙂 My word is Roots – I have spent several years creating, building with mad and wild energy whipping. 2014 is the year that I am rooting that energy into clear action and continued manifestation. And I commit to eating lots of root veggies. LOTS. Happy New Year!
My word is BUILD. My goal is to work hard at building others up, not tearing them down with gossip or critical words.
Love this post. The word for this upcoming year for me is PUSH. I want to PUSH beyond all the boundaries I’ve set up in my mind, body and spirit.
My word this year is TRUST. For the last two years I’ve kept BELIEVE as my word – found some lovely items that said Believe and had them around the house. This year I am going with Trust as last year was one of my worse in a long time. I turned 60 and with that I feel that I’ve lost all my dreams and all the things I wanted to do. I don’t feel 60 but I have fibro (for so many years I didn’t believe fibro was real-I thought it was kinda made up so I was shown that it is all to real) and can’t do the things I used to or want to. My husband has just about pushed me aside for his computer game of killing zombies. I’ve told him I just want to be first in his life but I’m not. I’ve been living and sleeping in my office for over 1 1/2 yrs and I hate it. I thought at this point in my life I would have love and happiness. Many times during this past year I wanted to leave, for a six week period I made myself physically sick trying to figure out where I could go and how I would have money. Thus, my new word for this year had to be Trust. I have to Trust that God has His plan for me and I need to wait and see what it is. Thank you 🙂
my goodness! there are so many great words in the comments above. I have several words swirling around my head…balance, intentional, grace. I need to pray about it and see which word God directs me to. There are so many things I want to work on this year.
Confidence! Especially when it comes to my career.
Intent. // I want to be much more intentional – make plans to do special, fun things and then actually do them and not feel guilty about it.
My word is “Be.” I’m always on the go and I have to remind myself to be still and soak in all the moments that are so easily missed in this fast-paced, tech-focused world.
My word for the year is commit. I think this will be a good reminder to really go for the things I think are worth investing in!
Accept
My word last year was “forward” and I made a lot of progress on moving ahead with my plans and getting ready for things. This year my word is ACTION! And I almost think it needs the ! every time after it. All my carefully laid plans and preparation from last year have laid an amazing framework and I am now ready to spring into ACTION! and do things! All the things!
Mine is change because I really need to make something happen in 2014. Love how you focus on one word per year. Invest is a great one too.
Intention – I hope to use intention in the coming year to direct my actions towards renewal. I am an ER nurse in an inner city ER where it is very easy to become cynical with the population wee serve, I must use intent to think about my patients in the caring way I want to as a nurse and intent to renew my pledge to provide best care for everyone no matter how abusive they may be, I chose this profession late in life to serve.
2014 is going to me be my Year of Purpose. I have been feeling like I’m not living out my life purpose and this year I want to seek that out more and live my life with PURPOSE. My word is Purpose.
My word for 2014 is BELIEVE. As a running coach, I often find myself as a motivator for others…letting them know that I believe in them, that their goals are within reach. I need to remember to believe in myself and so I chose that word as my mantra for the new year. 🙂
I have two words..
First word is fear.. I want to be reminded to not be fearful about things in life.. To take each challenge with the faith to over come them..
Second word is love.. To remember to love everyone, family, friends strangers as I would like to be loved.. After all who doesn’t want to feel loved in life??
Thanks for this opportunity 🙂
Working with our mutual friend, Naomi H., I’ve committed that my word for 2014 is Badass. For me this combines a sense of feeling strong, lean and empowered, combined with a sense of confidence and calm, all rolled into one word.
Appreciate
Hmm, can’t decide. Be, Relax, Calm would all work for me!
My word for 2014 is Create. I want to get back to creating things. Being creative is part of who I am, and I have neglected it too long. I also want to create relationships. I need friends. 🙂
I need a focus word….I love yours!
My word for the year is “Gratitude.” I want to spend the year realizing and appreciating the many, many blessings in my life — big AND small — instead of always looking at what I don’t have.
My word is Positive. I am going to carry with me a more positive attitude, thinking, and lifestyle.
Hope, for a better world, for better days, for a world with more kidness, love, care.
My word this year is Appreciate !
I’ve never done a word instead of resolutions, but I love this idea. I never stick to resolutions anyway. I’m thinking this year will be the year of Inspiration. So Inspire will be my word. I want to inspire my children to be better stewards of their money, time and material possessions, as I inspire myself to do the same. I want to inspire other mothers to follow their dreams. I want to be inspiration in my photography business for a newcomer to the industry and to brides a like. I want to seek inspiration from those older and wiser and find myself and my focus again. I want to find inspiration in God’s word and simply our life and lifestyle.
My word is action. It is two-fold in that I want to be more active this year in terms of exercise, health, and fitness. I also want to stop procrastinating and take ACTION to get more things done.
Intention. Not just intent, but with follow through. I’m a very easy going person that gets distracted fairly easily. I’m interested in working on several areas in my life that matter to me and I’m interested in seeing how far I can go in them by becoming more disciplined. Intention. The time is now!
My word of the year is RENEW!! Last year brought many hard times in my life. I will focus on renewing my faith, my happiness, my love, and my strength!! I also want to do things for others to renew their faith in humanity!!
Appreciate! I seem to forget and appreciate the small things in life
I still haven’t decided but I like Believe or Faith or Compassion.
Grace. My word for this year is Grace.
I think that simplify would be my word.
My word is “Think” to remind myself to be more thoughtful in many ways. Thoughtful of myself, others, and the world.
I love this! My focus word is “grow”.
My word is “possibilities.” I know amazing things will happen when I open myself up to all life’s possibilities by listening to the universe, living with intent, and focusing on loving myself and the people around me. I love this idea–thanks for inspiring me!
I haven’t done this before, but have been thinking about it for a few weeks and I think it’s an awesome idea. My focus word for 2014 is going to be ‘FOCUS’. It may sound simple or silly, but I really think that’s where I need to start. I am great st getting things accomplished IF I stay focused; unfortunately I often fail in that department. So that’s where I’ll start.
P.S. HAPPY NEW YEAR, Kristen and family!
My word for 2014 is BEYOND. This year I want to get beyond surviving, beyond existing, beyond dealing with all the crap that seems to just happen. The past few years have been really hard. Hopefully I can reinvent myself in 2014. There’s got to be something better and beyond is the word I’m striving for.
Yes! Great word! I’m keeping that one just so you know. BEYOND intensifies all the other words I was thinking about for this exercise as well as the resolutions I’ve already written down. Ooohhh…I hope you win so you can keep that word close to your heart throughout the year! You got this, chick. 🙂
My word for 2014 is ‘flourish’.
My focus word of the year is BELIEVE….believe in myself, believe in others, and believe in the love that exists among all people.
I think my word of the year is intentional. I need to make sure the things I’m doing have a purpose and an end goal. I often just feel like I’m going through the motions rather than driving forward. I like your word. I’m not good at investing in those things. I often have the right heart, but my follow-through is lacking.
My word for 2014 is RECEIVE. So much goodness and so much opportunity out there, I need to make myself available to receive it. Yay for 2014!
My word is INTENTIONAL. I want to be intentional about living my life…not just existing!!
my word is CREATE
Great idea for a giveaway! It really made me think. I am going with the word “Hope”. I chose this word because sometimes I forget that things that seem to be so wrong could just as possibly change and go very right. I need to remember that even when things seem impossible to endure, there is always hope! Hope for things to improve, hope for a better tomorrow and hopefulness in every situation. Oh yes and I Hope I win, too! LOL
My word is “love”.
I chose the word love because I forget how important it is.
I am going to take more time showing the people I love how important they are to me.
I am going to take more time to love the planet.
I am going to take more time recognizing all the love that is out there.
love cec~<3
SERVE – because it’s something I always need to focus on, serving others starting with my husband and son.
ENJOY – I need to learn to slow down & just enjoy life
My word is Family! I’ve been richly blessed with a wonderful family so I’m going to invest in showing how grateful I am for them!
You’ve actually encouraged me to select and truly focus on one word. My word for 2014 is GIVE! I am confident that if I give more of myself, I will gain so very much!
My word this year will be ‘HEAL’. I am starting a year-long treatment this week for cancer. I am focusing on healing and refreshing!
My focus word is going to be patience. I need to learn more patience with myself and those around me.
I think this is a great idea. My word would be serenity. I chose this word because I need to strive to be calmer, slower and more focused on the important things in life. As the year begins, I am about to start a new job and life without my dear father who recently passed away, I want to be more focused on these things but not forgetting myself along the way.
My word for 2014 is “content” with Psalm 131 as my scripture. Thanks!
My word for 2014 is “FAITH” for without it I would not be able to handle the things that have happened in my life the past few years. Plus, a week ago my husband could have been killed in a motorcycle accident. Yes, he was severely injured but he came away from it. Our faith in God and knowing He is the One that controls everything in our lives has caused me to choose this word.
My word for this year is growth
Growth as a family unit
Growth as a person
Growth as a company
My focus word is BREATHE. Breathe every is going to be okay. Breathe things happen, breathe thinga break, and The list goes on. No amout of worrying changes the outcome. breathe and leave it in God’s hands.
My word for 2014 is a reminder to myself —– COURAGE
My word for the year is JOY. 🙂
DETERMINATION! I am an overweight Mom of 2 precious children. I have a very long journey ahead of me. It will take a lot of FAITH an. Sheer DETERMINATION to finish the battle!
breathe
Balance. Keeping balance in my life-family,friends, work, travel. Love your word invest. So meaningful! Thanks for everything you taught me in 2013! Happy New Year.
Gratitude is my word. Grateful for every single day with all that comes with it, the good and the bad.
My focus word is Strength because being weak is so last year 😉
My word would be Patience as I need to develop some
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My word is Present- to be in the moment with whomever you are with. All too often I find myself thinking of what I need to do next or say next.
great idea–my word for 2014 is family. Time to let go of things and make decisions based on what’s best for my famliy.
love this! saw this post on Foodie Crush. . . i’m going to think about mine but I have been thinking about “family”, “prioritizing” and “love.” With each passing year and learning that life is short and my girls are growing so fast, I feel the need to focus more on them this year. I love what you’ve written for Invest. so much to think about. . hoping and praying that 2014 is a great year for us all. 🙂
I have a few. I always love ” Live Aloha” or just ” Aloha” since I love that Aloha spirit and way of living and that is how we try to live. Last year I was battling my thyroid disease bad. As in it really took over a lot of my days. The fatigue is insane. Now I am working hard to fight back. New treatments etc. So while last year I was alive – I didn’t really LIVE. I was just making it through each day as best as I could. So this year I want to THRIVE. Not just live. So my word is Thrive!!
Thankful & Awesome
Reason: It is tend to get frozen in the what ifs and oh nos! So by being thankful I thaw through the what ifs. Awesome, because it I can’t be awesome and negative at the same time… I choose awesome!
My word is “Choices” because I am going to get through 2014 by not letting other peoples choices change my attitude. I will try to stay positive in spite of the negative choices others make around me. This will be difficult but through God, prayer and friends & family it will be easier.
Blessing. With a focus on both being a blessing to others and intentionally recognizing blessings in my life.
My word for 2014 is “remember.” I want to remember those loved and lost with fondness. To remember harder times that came before so that I can appreciate anew what I have. Remember that my time on this planet is not infinite, and make the most of each day. Remember to stop and breathe, listen, feel. Remember that my words and deeds matter. And when times are hardest, remember that I am not alone, and I am loved.
I will focus on the words “live loved” from which His blessings flow!
My work is GRATITUDE because I spent the last year obsessing over small things in the long run that upset me rather than being grateful for what I could do and what I did have. I plan to spend the next year being more grateful for things in the present.
Oh, I REALLY like your word!
Mine for 2014 is Courage. I’m having my first child this year (a little boy) and I felt like courage could come in handy. Courage to give birth, courage to trust myself to be a mom and my husband to be a dad, courage to adjust my schedule over and over again as he grows and changes.
My word is Cherish….Being a wife, mom and daughter of older parents, I need to slow down and cherish every moment and every experience, good and bad. Time flies by so fast and I realized I am buzzing around instead of paying attention and cherishing every moment and memory.
Yep, that’s it….CHERISH
Kristen, I love the word you chose, Invest…investing in time for yourself is so important. After much thought, my word is Grow. I’ve spent the last year learning and now I’m ready to put what I’ve learned and what I am continuing to learn to grow my business and grow as a better person.
My word would be Honesty this year as I strive to be more upfront with people.
My word for 2014 is CREATE.
Glorify….to glorify God in all that I do and all He has in store for 2014.
My word is happy. I need to stop relying on others for my happiness and create my own.
My word is going to be confidence, and thank you so much for making me choose a word. There is so much changing in my life, I need to know I have the confidence to make the right decisions and the confidence that the decisions I’m making are the right ones. I know a little redundant, but what’s the saying about repetition? If I remind myself often enough, that I’m a strong woman, an intelligent woman, and even occasionally a beautiful woman, then when I need to pull on that strength, I’ll be able to.
My word for 2013 was Balance (you know instead of Busy). My family as a whole did really well with this.
My word for 2014 is: Perspective- don’t know if that would fit, but it’s my word.
I am taking a Fresh Perspective that stems from a sermon my Pastor recently did about “All I need to know I learned from the Wise Men.”
My focus word is appreciate. This year I would like to slow down and appreciate the things and people around me in my life because all too often I take it for granted.
I love this idea and I think my word would actually be similar: invest. I plan to spend more intentional time with my family, complete a triathlon, and commit fully to blogging in 2014 so I think invest is actually a great way to focus! I just linked to this awesome post at GourmetMommy.com. Thanks!
Mine is Grateful. To make sure I remember to stay grateful for everything that I do have. Thanks!
I’ve been thinking long and hard about what I would want my focus word to be this year. I moved to LA last February to pursue my acting career, and I think my word for this year would be Create. That, or I also agree with your word Invest. Invest in my career, my relationships, and myself.
“Blessed” is my focus word. Each year I focus on what is negative and what has gone wrong, this year I want to focus on what I have and feel blessed for the children I have not for the one I can’t conceive. Blessed for what I am privileged to have.
My word is ‘adventure’ – stepping out of the ordinary into the extraordinary!
greatfulness
Crafty– I want to be more creative and learn how to make fun crafts
My word for this year is Trust – thanks so much for the chance and your generosity! Great post!
Love Invest! My one word is Savor. I want to savor life more in 2014! Happy New Year
This is WONDERFUL, Kristen! Although I’m not commenting to enter the giveaway (I want one of your other readers to win), I did want to share my word right now. It is JOY. I’ll spare the long story, but I realized recently I need to be more joyful, along with helping others experience joy in their lives. 🙂 Having a reminder token is a super idea!!
My focus word this year.. Determined. I am determined to continue to grow to the person I am meant to be.
my word for this year is Purposeful
What a beautiful post, it really inspired me! I would say my focus word this year is confidence. I’m in the moment right now where I need to choose in which programm I want to subscribe in university, but I’m a very hesitating person in life. This year, I need to learn to be more confident in myself and in my decisions, and also in life in general. Everything happens for a reason, ans whatever my decision is, I need to remember that it’s because it was meant to be!
My word for 2014 came to me on my birthday! RADIANT! what a great word! I might use it again next year!
Believe- I need to believe in myself and believe that things will work out as God intends. There have lots of family changes in the last month, but I believe that God knows the best possible outcome and is in control.
My word is “HAPPINESS” since I want to really work on more ways to make others happy! I need to remind myself from time to time that I need to work on my own happiness, too.
“WONDER” and “STARS” are close runners-up!
“HAPPINESS” will be my word this year. I want to work more on making others happy, and I need to be more aware of my own happiness.
Close runners-up are “STARS” and “BELIEVE”.
Sorry…I changed my mind…then did not realize the other post had gone through!
Believe
My focus word for 2014 is going to be strength. I am going to need a lot of strength and tenacity to get through working full time nights, attending grad school full time days, and being a decent wife and mother!
My word of the year Nurture. A reminder to care for growth & development of the many areas in my life, family, blog and work.
I started to use the word Survive and then I began to think that sounded a bit negative. So I settled on Kindness. I hope people can think of that word when they think of me.
Thanks my baking heart for sending me here. My word is Hope 🙂
Nurture Im planning on nurturing friendships, and myself this year
My focus is to start college this year
I have thought long and hard over this one, and I think my word for the year will be “trust”. My husband is undergoing cancer treatments and it has been a tough time for our family, but we have trust in God that He has everything under control. I don’t have to try to fix everything, I just have to trust.
Healthy is my focus word for this year. I had a heart attack last year caused by not exercising or eating right. Healthy can also refer to relationships that I need to work on.
Successful- in all I do
Oh Kristen Happy New Year! I think Invest is such a powerful word and relates to all aspects of life. My one word for 2014 I think will have to be Gracious, Having and giving grace. 🙂
my word is dream
I have chosen CHOOSE. Thanks for the kick in the pants to move ahead with intention. Love the necklace and the bracelet too!