Word of the Year 2020

Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.  Doctrine and Covenants 6:36

Each year I try to pick a word or phrase that I can use to guide me through the coming year.  This activity helps me focus my thoughts and feelings on what I have done and what I wish to accomplish.  It is a process of evaluation that is more general than a resolution, but it helps guide me and direct me as I set goals throughout the whole year.

2019 was a pretty amazing year.  While there were so many ups; two new grand-babies, a family trip to Orlando Florida, and Lela graduating high school and going to college are just a few, there were also some pretty big lows.  The most serious of these was a mysterious illness that Rick contracted the first of October.  I have never seen my giant of a husband laid so low.  One doctor referred to him as conundrum, because so many of his symptoms were contradictory.  These symptoms were determined to most closely resemble Leukemia or a form of lymphoma.  How that opinion knocked the wind right out of us.  How grateful I was for family and friends who offered us support.  How the decision that no, it wasn't cancer, but a virus he would eventually recover from, left us feeling overjoyed and humbled at the same time.

There was one day when I had things I NEEDED to do, but Rick could not be left alone because his heart rate was so high.  Also because of his heart rate, he could not do more than ride in the car, no wandering the aisles of the grocery store.  I felt I was at my end.  I told Heavenly Father I couldn't do it anymore; it felt like it was more than I could bear.  Heavenly Father heard my prayer.  NO, Rick was not miraculously healed, but Emily came home and sat with her dad.  While at the grocery store, every person that I needed to talk to just happened to have stopped by the store to pick something up, so I was able to cross my phone calls off my list.  Then the store didn't have something I needed and I didn't know how I was going to find the time the next day to get it.  Who should cross my path, but the exact person who was able to go to the back and find what I needed.  I left the store that night knowing that the I was a beloved daughter of Heavenly Father and that my elder brother, Jesus Christ, knew my heart and was ready to help my through this trial.  How grateful I was for that reminder.

We've now had three weeks of Rick appearing to improve.  His heart rate has returned to normal.  He put some weight back on and is able to eat.  He is driving again and back to work full-time.  He even went for a walk on the treadmill.  New Year's Eve happened.  Rick came home from work and said he felt stuffy.  Understandable, all the family time we've had this year has allowed us to pass a cold around and back again.  We decided while the kids partied, we would have a cozy, quiet night at home.  Rick went to pick up burritos from our local Costa Vida for dinner.  When he got home, he was gasping for breath.  Sure enough, his heart rate had spiked again.  Hours later, it was still higher than it should be.  This morning when he woke up, it was back to normal, until he walked to the kitchen and then it went right back up. 

I am sure that this is just a blip in the overall recovery from the previous illness, aggravated by this cold.  The doctor (specialist) told us to expect six to eight weeks to recover completely and Rick has a follow-up appointment in a couple of weeks.  But thoughts of "what if" entered my thoughts this morning as I sat in my living room looking at the beauty out my window and pondering the new year. 

In the Book of Mormon, Nephi tells his father that he would go and do what had been asked of him.(1 Nephi 3:7).  He didn't say this because he knew everything was going to perfectly work out or even how he was going to accomplish what had been asked of him.  What Nephi did know was that the Lord was aware of him.  Nephi knew that nothing would be asked of him that he could not accomplish.  So Nephi did not doubt, took the leap and acted in faith.

As these thoughts and memories circulated in my mind, an idea coalesced and I knew that my Word (Phrase) of the Year for 2020 will be: 

ACT IN FAITH!!!!  

Life has no guarantees.  A friend shared this quote by William Arthur Ward, "This bright new year is given to me to live each day with zest, to daily grow and try to be my highest and my best."  As I look to each new day in 2020, I will try to remember the lesson from the grocery store.  As I look to each new day in 2020, I will remember to look to my Savior in my every thought and fear not.  As I look to each new day in 2020, I will remember Nephi's example to ACT IN FAITH.  Through this year, I hope to strengthen my relationships with my family, develop stronger friendships, increase my testimony of the love my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for me and more fully understand the Atonement of the Savior and how it applies to me.

May all of you find in 2020 those things that are most important and that will bring you the greatest joy is my humble pray.

Word of the Year 2015

We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.   -Jawaharlal Nehru

What is the word of the year, you ask.  The word of the year is better than a New Year's Resolution.  Today the morning talk shows were full of discussion that now is the time that most people falter and fail at keeping their resolutions and so give in to discouragement and say wait until next year.  The word of the year does not have the pressure of a resolution.  It is not a finite idea with limitations and criteria to be judged.  It allows for a progression, a gradual change in attitude and behavior as you look to apply the concepts encompassed by your word to your daily life.

For me, past words have included cherish, gratitude and last year I chose optimism.  Each year I have felt a change in myself as I applied the filter of my chosen word to my daily experiences.  Last year, I wrote about my choice for the word of the year and said, "As I look for the best, I will have a life that is fuller, richer, more joyful."  As most years in life are, 2014 was a time filled with ups and downs, one of heartbreak and hope, sadness and hope.  Yet at the start of 2015, I find myself full of a greater sense of peace, more faith in my Savior and a reason to laugh each day.

As I pondered where to place my focus this year, I wanted to choose a word that would build on the momentum of the past years.  I wanted to choose a word that would incorporate the things I have learned about myself as I have learned to cherish, express gratitude and look forward with optimism.  The word I have chosen as the word of the year for 2015, the word that will be my focus is EMBRACE!!

em·brace əmˈbrās/ 
verb
1.hold (someone) closely in one's arms, especially as a sign of affection.   synonyms:hug, take/hold in one's arms, hold, cuddle, clasp to one's bosom, clasp, squeeze, clutch; More
2.accept or support (a belief, theory, or change) willingly and enthusiastically.   synonyms: welcome, welcome with open arms, accept, take up, take to one's heart, adopt; More
3.include or contain (something) as a constituent part.  synonyms: include, take in, comprise, contain, incorporate, encompass, cover, involve, embody, subsume, comprehend
noun
1.an act of holding someone closely in one's arms.  synonyms; hug, cuddle, squeeze, clinch, caress, clasp; bear hug
2.an act of accepting or supporting something willingly or enthusiastically.


Life is an adventure.  It is to be enjoyed.  It is to be experienced.  Looking ahead to the coming year, I already know that we have great things on the horizon.  As since life is life, I am sure there will be many unexpected things as well.  And so I am embracing 2015 with enthusiasm and open eyes and outspread arms.  It is going to be amazing!

And the Word of the Year is .......

Cherish

cher·ish/ˈCHeriSH/

Verb:

Protect and care for (someone) lovingly: "he cherished me in his heart".

Hold (something) dear.

Synonyms:

nurse - nourish - foster

The word of the year is a concept that my friend Cynthia Bee (aka Cindy) introduced to me in her blog Creative Chaos.  The idea is that rather than making resolutions that we know we will never keep past the first weeks of the new year, you choose a word that can help you focus your actions throughout the year.  It seems such a simple concept, but as I have thought about it the last few weeks I have realized that it can become a life-changing exercise.

So why did I choose "Cherish" as my focal point for 2012?  Because life can move fast and at times my life has been trying to set a new land-speed record.  I need to slow down and take time to smell the daisies or the roses or the tulips.  (Maybe I need to tip-toe through the tulips?)  So here are some of the things I plan to cherish during the coming year.  I know this list will be added to as the year progresses and some items will vary in their priority,  but like any goal you need to start.

1. My marriage and my husband - More and more I am reminded how truly blessed I am to have such a wonderful partner in life and for eternity.  There is no one I would rather be with.  He can always bring a smile to my face and his support for me is limitless.  I want to insure that he knows how much I appreciate him and support him.

2. My children - 2011 really brought home the point that times in the Wixom house are changing.  This is good, but I don't want to look back and regret that I just let these days pass me by.

3. My family - Same reasons as above.

4. My friends - Just as I have been blessed with a wonderful family, I have also been blessed with amazing and supportive friends.  Life can so easily take us apart.  Through Facebook I have been able to reconnect with many friends I thought I had lost.  I want to continue to nourish those refound relationships.  And I want to take a time to let be there and not lose those friends I have now.

5. My community - I love where I live.  It is the best place in the world for our family.  It has given us so much and it is now time for me to focus some time and energy on giving back.  Whether it is volunteering in the schools, making myself knowledgeable of issues in the community, serving on activity committees; I know I can contribute to this place.

6. My church service - I have a strong testimony of Jesus Christ as my Savior.  He has sacrificed so much that my life can be better.  In return, He asks for so little in comparison.  Often when we are asked to give service, we refer to it as work.  Yes, it can be hard at times.  Yes, it can take away from other things we would like to be doing.  But right now I have been entrusted to serve a very choice group of young girls and provide them with experiences that will help them grow closer to Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father.  In time this may change and the Lord will find some other way for me to serve, something else he will entrust in to my care,  but now it is twenty-three amazing and bright daughters of God.

7. Myself - I know that I will not have the energy or strength to give to anyone or anything else, if I do not  take care of myself.  Last year, I tried "to get in shape", and it was as you would expect such a goal to be.  I hope that a new perspective will help me gain a greater appreciation for myself.

So here is to 2012! No resolutions to break!  Nothing to feel guilty about not accomplishing!  If you were to pick a Word of the Year, what would it be?  Something to think about.