Today I’m sharing my 2015 Focus Word(s) as well as how I plan on using this phrase to shape my year. Plus, I’m giving one lucky Dine & Dish reader the chance to win an Etsy gift certificate!
Instead of making resolutions each year, I always choose a focus word. This word or phrase is my guiding light throughout the year, so it has a fairly large responsibility. Every decision I make I use my focus word as a barometer… how does this decision impact the way I want my life to go this year?
I’ve gone back and forth over the past month thinking about what I want my focus word to be for 2015. 2012 was all about the word “Connect”. 2013 we went on a quest to “Simplify”. 2014 was the year I chose to “Invest”. Now 2015 is here and I have oscillated back and forth between two words. But, after much consideration I’ve finally decided. My 2015 focus is actually a phrase…and it’s a simple one. “Be Happy”.
I have been living with these words on my wrist thanks to Tattly since October and I will be getting them permanently inked (yes, my first and only tattoo) on me in a few weeks with my friend, Cheryl. I never thought I’d be one to want a tattoo, but this daily reminder on my wrist makes me happy just to look at, and I’m ready for the real thing. These two simple words remind me that I am in charge of my happiness… I can wake up each morning and decide for myself how I want to face the day. I can tell you on those days that I make the conscious choice to “Be Happy”, my day goes infinitely better.
So what does “Be Happy” in 2015 mean to me? Well, here are a few of my thoughts on how I will use this phrase to shape my year.
For Dine & Dish ~
For this space, “Be Happy” is going to mean a few things. 1… fewer sponsored posts. I want more time to write and share the things that are from my heart, not necessarily dictated by a jam packed editorial calendar of sponsored content. Don’t get me wrong… I love and am so grateful for the sponsors of Dine & Dish, however, last year things got a bit out of hand as I said yes to too many things. This year I am going to use my “be happy” barometer to really make sure that the partnerships and the time invested in those partnerships are mutually benefiting and make both parties happy.
I’m also going to be sharing more non-food posts. The #Imperfect365 Photo Project has taken off with huge success (you can still join!), which makes me really happy! I’ll be sharing regular posts about that, starting a traveling book club where I’ll ask you all to be involved, and other exciting things that make me happy (and hopefully you!). Stay tuned!
I’m also going to learn to “be happy” with where I am, and stop stressing about keeping up with the blogging Joneses. I have worked damn hard over the past 8 years to get where I am and I’ve been doing it in ways that work for me… I need to remember that just because other bloggers are having success doing things a certain way, doesn’t mean that I need to jump on board. That’s a hard one… I’ll be totally honest with you!
For my family ~
For my family, this means I’ll say “yes” more. Keeping safety and health in mind, obviously, if there are things that we can do to bring more happiness into our days, we will do it!
Planning and organization also fall into the “be happy” category for my family. We are all much happier with a little bit of structure and a clean and tidy environment. Decluttering and keeping things in some semblance of order will help us to be happy.
“Be Happy” applies to others as well. I often feel like our family is so obsessed with our day to day and our own lives, we don’t do a lot for others. I know first hand how much serving others brings happiness to all involved… my family will get to experience that this year as well. In addition, we’ll be adding a “happy tree” to our house in the coming weeks. I’ll be sure to share what that’s all about in a future post.
For me, myself and I ~
For the past few months I’ve been getting up and going to the gym at 4:40am. Getting up early, although it seemed ridiculous at first, is definitely part of what makes me happy. I love getting a good workout in first thing in the morning, I love going with friends to the gym, and I love being home in time to still have my morning happy hour. Getting up and having me time first thing in the morning makes me happy.
When I am organized and productive, that makes me happy. This all ties in to my morning happy hour… when I’m up early, I tend to organize my day better and therefore get more done. It also means I need to go to bed at a decent time, otherwise not having enough sleep is detrimental to me being happy.
Connecting with friends, spending time with my husband, taking good care of myself… all of these things are influential in the whole “be happy” frame of mind.
All in all, it comes down to mindset.The 2015 mindset is “BE HAPPY”…which is what I will be this year!
$40 Etsy Giveaway to Create Your Own Focus Word Token
This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to Sandy, whose comment was chosen via Random.org. Her word of the year was JOY!
So, now it’s your turn. We’re already a week into the new year so I’m sure some of you have been living your focus word! Take some time to tell me in the comments section what your 2015 Focus Word is and what that means to you. Once you do that, you’ll be entered to win a $40 gift certificate to Etsy for a focus word momento, like a printable or a necklace (you can use the gift certificate however you’d like…a focus word momento is just a suggestion). Leave your comment by midnight CST on January 15th. Winner will be chosen via random.org and contacted via valid email address.
Thanks for entering!
Be happy,
Kristen
Challenge! I had made a career change into something that is independent contractor. It went good for a while, but then I started losing money, and then ended up giving up. I miss very much and have been making steps to regroup and challenge myself to try again, this time a little wiser and more knowledgeable. It still takes a good gulp of courage!
What a great word – I’m confident you can do it!!
My word for 2015 is simplify!
Simplify was one of my favorites…and even though it’s not my “word” I still think about that word whenever I bring something new into my house or add to the chaos. You can’t go wrong with simplifying life!
Present
Time to put my phone down, leave the dishes and bathrooms dirty and be present with my daughter or my husband…most of the time, the other stuff can wait.
That is such a hard one, but so important! I know you and your family will benefit from your focus this year!
I just did my word of the year post yesterday! It’s so similar to yours! It’s “Laugh” – while I’m not getting it tattooed, I did pick up a cute pillow with it on it! We have such a similar mindset on this. I have worked my butt off for years and this year…I am going to laugh and have fun and be happy!
That pillow is fantastic… it makes me smile! What a great find!
ooohhh, present (commenter above), love that one.
I love this post and your phrase Kristen! I learn a lot from you, and relate to so much. And yes, Be Happy is just perfect for so many reasons!
My focus word this year (as you already know) is Learn
I love that one too – it’s a hard one!
I adore your focus word, but you already know that!
This year’s word is reduce. Reduce my time in front of a screen (and be more present with my children), reduce clutter, reduce my waist size (four babies have made it expand), reduce number of times we dine out due to laziness, reduce overall stress level (by letting things go). A week in and I have been doing good. Reducing will help me be happy and I am looking forward to 2015 being the best year yet.
Fantastic choice, Jamie! I can relate and your goals as I have similar ones. We can do it!
My word of the year is “believe” which stems from my quote of the year “She believed she could so she did.” They say you are forever your teenage self and for me, I was an overweight, out of shape kid with zero athletic ability. Every day I have to remind myself that I can do it and believe in myself. It’s the only way I’ll reach my goals – believe.
Ugh – who says that about our teenage self? I certainly hope that’s not true as my teenage self was dreadful. Well I wasn’t a bad person, I just did not love being a teenager and couldn’t wait to grow up! 🙂
You are definitely not your teenage self, Liz. Believe that. I didn’t know you as a teenager, obviously, but you exude confidence like no one else. I believe in you, Mrs future food network star 🙂
I love this so much! I love that you’ll be getting it as a tattoo. I’ve always been afraid to get one but never even thought about getting a word(s) done. Will have to think on it now.
Last year when you choose your word, I took the time to come up with my own. Confidence. Just having that word, written down and pinned to my bulletin board in front of my desk, it made a difference. But I think it was taking the time to come up with the word, thinking about what I wanted my year to mean, for me, not anyone else, not just about work or family but an all inclusive word, goal and affirmation. It works.
I already know that 2015 is going to be the year of travel for me but haven’t thought about what that really means for me. When I figure it out, I promise to let you know.
I had never had the desire whatsoever to get a tattoo but now I can’t wait.
I love where your word took you last year and agree… it’s the thought process that goes into creating the word that really is the benefit. It’s not a decision to be made lightly if it’s a word that you hope to stick!
I have actually created a mantra for 2015. It is:
More of what matters…
Less of what doesn’t.
That would be a pretty long tattoo but I love the idea of a momento all the same.
P.S. LOVE that you are getting inked!
Love you… KB 🙂
msred5 at gmail dot com
Oh I almost did a “more of, less of” type post. I love looking at the new year that way!
Mwah! So happy you shared!
the perfect focus word(s) for 2015!!! We’ll make it official soon as I get back!…..my 50th birthday is March 6, so my ‘be happy’ tattoo is going to mark that milestone and where I am in my life when I hit it!! 😉
oooh, now you got me all excited again!!
Ohhhhhh should we wait until your birthday to make it official?? I didn’t realize it was your 50th. Either way we are getting together to celebrate that for sure!!! (And yes, I’m inviting myself)
I too try to think if words for my year. Last year “grace- undeserved favor” and this year I am going with “renew- to begin again, revive, reestablish, or replenish”. I have let alot of things get in the way lately and I want to begin again. I want replenish my sould. To spend time in God’s word. I want to vegin again to meet the health goals I have accomplished before so I am looking forward to seeing how this word will effect my life and choices this year!
We all could use a year to renew and you could go in so many different directions with that. I love your word choice!
Oh since you are using Be Happy I am stealing your other phrase for me. 🙂
Oh good – I’m glad someone will use that phrase It was a good one!
Kristen,
You are always such an inspiration to me. Becasue of you, I have a focus word.
“Simplify” is it for me this year. Lots of changes in 2014 have led me to this point. Puting our house on the market this coming April, taking a step down and finishing my job next year after Mattie graduates and moving to Nashville, TN. Simplifying my world! I already feel lighter! Ha!
Happy 2015!
Jackie
Jackie –
You are just the sweetest…thank you!
Your word is perfect, especially for the plans you have this year. Simplify was one of my favorite years… nothing bad can come from simplifying life some!
My word of the year is “Love.” I’m doing a “Year of Good Intentions” where I give everything I’ve got to a different resolution each month. There’s no doubt that coming at these from a place of love rather than sheer willpower will make a huge difference in my life.
What a great idea to do monthly resolutions. You’ll have to share with me what some of those are. I bet it’s going to be amazing the change you’ll see in yourself throughout the year thanks to your intense focus.
I saw someone use Dare and decided to use that one, too. 2014 was good, but complacent for me. I’m daring myself to step out of my comfort zone this year in a number of areas. Great post!
I’ve gone back and forth between a few words this year and settled on focus. I feel like I can’t do just one thing at a time, I’m always thinking of what I have to do next, which makes me less productive. So, yeah, I need to focus.
PS: I think you are so courageous getting a tattoo! I would be so scared! Go you!
Great word and cute tattoo. I have a tattoo and never have regretted it. Good luck and they don’t hurt! 🙂
My word is more than 1 but its my word for 2015: In The Moment.
What a great phrase to choose for your “word of the year”, and I love how you are using it to focus on areas of your life. I have chosen the word “intentional”…just haven’t put it all into words for a blog post yet, but it’s coming! I want to make sure that I am intentionally living how God wants me to live and caring for those in my life.
This year, my word will be “Breathe.” I’ve always been an anxious person and worrywart, and I think this word has so much meaning to me. Breathe it all in to mediate/reflect; breathe, let go of anxiety; breathe in and have a kickass workout; breathe, you are alive; etc.
I love your thought about the blogging Jones. I’m just beginning to take seriously my blogging journey, and I’ve been feeling prickles of anxiety that I’m not doing enough or accomplishing enough. I need to breathe and focus on having fun, learning and challenging myself. Thank you for the inspiring post!
Great post Kristen! I’ve never wanted a tattoo either but I love the be happy completely! I also agree that simplify is a great word too! I feel like I’m always battling to de clutter my home and streamline my posessions so that’s a good one for me!
I’ve been doing this for years now. This year, my intention for the year is PASSION with a side of RESPECT (and neither are probably in the way that you’re thinking of them).
Oh now I’m dying to know what your meaning behind these two words is 🙂
I love the phrase you chose for this year! And the meaning behind it! This is the first year I chose a word and it’s FUN. Here is my post about it: http://www.crunchycreamysweet.com/2015/01/03/our-word-for-2015/
I am already planning our first monthly fun event! 🙂
PS: Yay for the tattoo! I love it!
My word is STOP! Stop and think. Stop and enjoy. Stop and breathe. I’m always going and I need to learn to take moments where I just stop!
What a nice post. Mine would be similar… joy.
My word for 2015 is “enjoy.”
You can’t go wrong with enjoying life more, that’s for sure! Love it!
Mine would be… Believe
I believe that you can make this year the best one yet! Have a good one, Suzanne!
Balance is my word for 2015….and I’ve needed daily reminders, but am working to keep balance. 🙂 Happy New Year to you!
That’s a great word, Darcy! A hard one but a great one. Good luck! You can do it!
I love the idea of a focus word or phrase! Be Happy seems to be a great encapsulation of the goals and intentions you have set for yourself and your family this year.
This year my guiding phrase is “Always find time for the things that make you feel happy to be alive”. Last year I let myself get too bogged down in work drama, health problems, and feeling overwhelmed. This year I am making room for the things that make me happy including challenging myself to reach my goals.
Love your words, your intention, and your tattoo. I got my forearm tattoo in December and I looooove it.
Happy 2015 to you!
So funny you posted this! I had just decided on focus words for this year also.
Mine is “Let Go” – just as reminder that even when life doesn’t go as planned to let go of being depressed & focusing on what can’t be controlled & focusing instead of letting go and surrendering to the now & trying to live in the moment.
xo
My word this year is AGENT. Broken down, it means to act, to be a catalyst. I want to be an agent of change…for myself and for others. Here’s to 2015, friend. xo
I love the peace you have conveyed here. I love how you have arrived at “be happy” street.
The balance of life is constantly changing and bringing more opportunity for seeing things differently.
I think your tattoo will be beautiful. Good for you! he he he Are you and Cheryl going together?
I haven’t settled on my word except that I am adopting the practice of being responsible for my own happiness.
Amy
My word is “Believe” because I want to remind myself to believe I can do anything!
andysavi.mom@gmail.com
My word is grace and I want to focus on all the ways that I can bring grace into my life – in relationships with family and coworkers, in my volunteer work, and in my home. I hope it’s okay to say this – I think it’s great that you will be cutting back on some of the sponsored posts. I enjoy your blog so much but what I really enjoy are the personal posts where you share what you’re doing, how you’re handling the demands of family and blogging and cooking, and sometimes the sponsored posts take away from all of that. Of course, I’m a firm believer in “your blog your rules” but I just wanted to affirm that I’m in! And also glad that you started the 365 photo group. I’ve been doing Project 365 for 5 years and I love it and I’m always looking for new ways to share photos – so thank you!
I have 3 focus words (so I’d get them as the teeny names if I win): Align-every action with my beliefs; Connect: share my knowledge and resources; and Love: my neighbor, the planet, and myself.
mine would be strength.
Calm…..stay calm! I need to have way less drama in life in 2015 and I intend to work toward that. Thank you for making me ponder on this.
My word would be grace. I absolutely want to show more grace to those around me instead of either taking their actions personally or allowing their actions to frustrate me. Grace.
Joy!!
I chose present for my word for this year. I hope to use it to be more present in the moment and to find ways to make myself a present to others.
My word would be ” Peace” to remind me to calm my mind , not worry and be grateful that I am not in a war torn country.
We do have a lot to be thankful for that way! Thanks for the reminder!
My husband died in May of 2014, so last year was hard. Then last Sunday I heard my pastor speak about 2015 should be our year of joy and it is a state we choose. So, for this year that is my focus. My word is JOY!
Oh Sandy –
I am so sorry for your loss. I think it would be hard to find that joyous attitude after something like that, but can tell you are going to be successful with making this year one where you find joy. This post I read yesterday is one you really might like… I especially love the quote:
http://stopdropandblog.com/2014/12/28/the-hard-doesnt-mean-that-the-good-didnt-happen/
Kristen: Thank you for the link to that blog. I read it, and connected with it too. It summed up my 2014 pretty well. The great parts were many too. It helped remember my 65 mile bike ride in Ghent, Belgium to celebrate my 60th birthday in August,and so many more good things like ending the year in Paris, France.
THANK YOU!
I write a weekly food column and this year I am focusing on discovering 52 new food products and sharing them with my readers. Already I’ve found Regular Portland Bread, made by Nick Burger in Portland — it’s a nutrient dense sourdough Scandinavian style rye bread, perfect for so many uses. My second discovery is Just for Cheese fruit sauces and preserves made in Spain – delicious paired with cheeses or used in sauces for all sorts of foods. I’ve also re-discovered Chuckie Pies, locally made Neapolitan pizzas made by my friend Lisa Shaw Ryan — it takes Lisa two days to make her very special dough and you can really taste the difference.
I am focused on gaining knowledge on a number of fronts — so my word for 2015 is DISCOVER!
Barb – I LOVE this!! Is your column online? I’d love to follow along!
“Christmas14” is my word for 2015. We had a full two week break from work for Christmas this year and I intentionally focused that entire time on making Christmas happy and stress-free – including giving up on making all of my ideals of perfection happen. It worked! and I hope to keep that Christmas happiness and intention throughout the year. (I have four tats myself; your “be happy” is very pretty.)
Fantastic – Our Christmas was so busy and wish I would have slowed down. I’m going to keep this in mind for next Christmas (and throughout the year as well). Thanks for sharing!
My focus word for 2015 is “Simplicity”. Living simple is something that I’ve needed to do for awhile and it will help me destress and live better!
Girl, you sound like me this year. Less sponsored stuff and clutter, more good stuff and important stuff. I started Essentialism to read and I think it would help you too since our goals look so similar. It is already making it easier to say no and not commit to things that don’t help with the big goals.
And a permanent tattoo- you are crazy and I love it! What a great reminder to ink on yourself. Wish I could sit there with you and Cheryl while you did it, you crazy girls, you!
Love you, my dear!! xo
Honestly, I think my Focus word is going to be focus. So often I end up distracted or running in a million directions that I really need to work on focusing at the task at hand, the person with me or the project I am working on….not allow myself to get distracted. This also applies to focusing on my goals and things I really I want to accomplish. I need to focus in order to achieve these goals! Thanks for this great post…first time I have heard of a focus word and I think it is GREAT!
My word for 2015 is “believe”. When I look at it, it will remind me that I need to believe in myself, in my abilities, in my future, in the unknown and where I am headed. in the love of my family but most importantly the love of my God. My focus word will remind me that people are inherently good, not evil; that peace comes from within; that every day will, I believe, be the best of all my days. With this focus word, I believe that I can make changes to my life. I can reach for the stars and actually touch them. All because I choose to “believe.”
My focus word for 2015 is “trust”. I’ve spent the past couple years not trusting my intuition, not trusting myself or my journey and now I’m finally ready to just release trying to control and trusting that life is putting me in the right spot at the right time and pushing me in the right direction.
My word for 2015 will be “TRUST”. Trusting that God has me where He wants me to be, trusting that whatever in my life happens for a reason 🙂
“Be brave”
I have been dealing with some health challenges, and next week I’m scheduled for surgery. Hopefully this is the beginning of the light at the end of the tunnel!
I hope it all goes well this week! Will be thinking of you.
My focus word this year is Patience. It’s something I struggle with in many aspects of my life and I hope that slowing down and ficusing on patience will improve my overall happiness and mental health!
I think I need to use let it go as my phrase. I have a tough time especially letting go of control in certain situations and I need to learn that I am not always in control.
Such a great tattoo! And I had a dream last night that you and I went to Disneyland together. Really weird, right??
Excellent words. Excellent reasons. Obviously you have given a lot of thought in regard to those words.
Giving you a High Five for support. And a hug. Hugs are always appropriate.
I love everything about this. Don’t worry BE HAPPY! it’s a great intention, who wouldn’t be happy starting your day with a morning happy hour? Best wishes this year and I can’t wait to follow along. xoxo!
I love reading your posts, Kristen. You inspire me to look at the simple things in life, to be happy with what I have, and to be real. This is such a great post. I’m excited to see what you bring to the table this year. Cheers!
Hope. Hope that things can and will change.