A focus for 2011

So another year is here... wow! I cannot believe it is 2011! 2010 was a great year for me. Although I didn't write any official New Years Resolutions, last January I took a big step toward a healthier life and decided to set my mind toward losing weight. It's a journey I've started many times before and I know I've talked about it way too much on here... I don't know why I stuck to it this time and not others, but I am glad I did.

Yesterday my sweet friend Nicki posted a blog asking how do you measure a year? (from the song in Rent which I now have stuck in my head)... my measure for 2010 is -40 pounds. I am exactly 40 pounds lighter than I was on January 1, 2010!

I've been thinking a lot about this upcoming year. I really like the idea of picking a word for the year instead of writing out specific resolutions. I read this blog entry about a word to focus on for the year. I took the list she gave to start from and whittled away at it until I had about 5 words to focus on to find my one.

I definitely want to focus on delighting in the Lord, my circumstances, my job, my life this year. I added the word intentionality to my list because I want to be present in every situation and be more intentional with my time, my resources, and my relationships. I also loved the idea of focusing on laughter for the year... because I have seen the Lord turn my sorrow into joy and I want to laugh as much as possible and enjoy as much as possible the new things He is doing. Prayerfulness is something that I always want to focus on and strive to do more of throughout the days. And I know how much I need to savor each and every moment of this year.

But despite all of these feelings I felt like the best word for my 2011 is

Openness

2011 will hold a lot of (very exciting) changes... and that is just what I already know will happen. So I want to be open to all of the changes this year will bring.

I want to be open to the direction the Lord is taking me even if it doesn't look exactly like I think it will.

I want to be open to new relationships and friendships and not be so guarded as I meet new people.

I want to be open to taking steps wherever I am being led.

I want to be open to direction and guidance from the people placed in my life as God continues to conform me into His image.

I want to be open to accepting who I am. Although I've made a lot of changes in 2010 I still have some pounds I would like to lose and some changes that I would like to make to my eating and workout habits... but I want to be open to being exactly who I am without any qualifications for who I need to be.

I want to be open to all of the changes I know are coming and the ones that God will bring into my life.

I want to embrace change with an open heart.

"Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?" -Isaiah 43:18-19

I am so blessed to serve a God who makes all things new and leads me through all of the changes in my life. I want to draw closer to Him as I embrace all He has planned for me.