"My One Word"

As 2011 began I had a whole list of changes I wanted to make but as usual, the list was long and overwhelming. I was listening to K-Love one day and I heard about "My One Word" and thought, what an amazing concept!


"My One Word" is an experiment designed to move you beyond the past and look ahead. The Challenge is simple: lose the long list of changes you want to make and instead pick ONE WORD. This process provides clarity by taking all of your big plans for life change and narrowing them down into a single thing. One word focuses on your character and creates a vision for your future.

I spent the month of January trying to choose my word. I had lots of goals and resolutions but it was so difficult to choose just one word that wrapped it all up. I continued to listen to K-Love and every few days I thought, I've got it! This is the perfect word for me, only to wake up the next morning and realize it didn't feel right at all. Toward the end of January I decided to go visit my mom at her new house and help her get settled. (She of course had nearly everything done and her house looked amazing!) This weekend getaway proved to be the perfect outlet for me to find my word. I was truly able to relax for the first time in a long time. The fall had passed in one busy blur which led us into the holidays with the kids home for a month and a new puppy. I felt pulled in so many directions that I had lost my focus. I still had Christmas decorations all over the house and didn't know where to begin to pull it all together. Here I sat in my mom's living room just 3 short weeks after her move and her house looked like an ad for Pottery Barn.

As she and I sat one morning looking over paint colors my word came to me.

ORDER: purify your thinking to cut through the clutter and discover what is most important in your life.

My word allowed me to take all of my goals for 2011 and finally tie them together nicely. What is most important to me? Family, of course. Yet I didn't feel like I was quite the mother or the wife I wanted to me because I couldn't let go of the clutter (whether it be in my house or in my mind). I loved my job but felt distracted because I had too many things going on at one time. In many ways I was overcommitted and I wasn't really doing anything as well as I would like. I felt like cutting through the clutter would allow me to find what was truly most important to me and actually enjoy life rather than feeling like I was always treading water just to stay one step ahead of my very busy life.

So, what came next. Ragnar of course! Just 2 short weeks after I chose my word my sister invited me to join her on this crazy adventure. I had no idea at the time that running would actually help me to live my word. While training for this race with a busy family, job, 2 graduations, a packed season of rugby and my duties as a room parent I had no room for clutter. Running was my out. I sat down with my planner and made a training schedule. It wasn't set in stone but it was a start. I highlighted the days I wanted to train and the distance I wanted to run. I modified the schedule as life got in the way. And now, at the halfway point of 2011, I am FINDING ORDER.