Do you write out goals for your year? The older I get, the more value I see in writing out specific goals and steps to achieve them. There are a lot of approaches, and many people write on the topic, so I won’t go into detail about the process here. What I wanted to share with you today is my theme for the year. Before I ever sat down to write out my goals, I picked a theme. My theme for 2017 is to live generously.
Live Generously
I think of myself as a patient person. Most of the people who know me well would tell you that I have a very long fuse. What that often translates to is I let people take advantage of me (or at least it feels like they are) until I completely lose it over something ridiculously small. I used to be an over volunteer-er, definitely an over achiever, and I got burnt out. I quit volunteering for things, I quit looking for ways to get involved in different groups, and I had the attitude that all I can do right now is take care of my family. Honestly, it still feels that way most days.
But I know in my heart that life is most rewarding when connections are made with people, instead of just check marks made on to do lists. So to live generously this year means far more than giving money, although that could be part of it. It means being more aware of the needs of people around me and making an effort to meet them. I don’t want to go back to being an overachiever or run myself ragged this year, but I know that I have more to give than I have been.
Here’s how I envision living this theme:
- walking away from an unfinished project to play hide and seek with my daughters
- putting my phone down and scratching my husband’s back.
- giving something away that I was planning on selling, because I know someone who really needs or wants it.
- making dinner for someone in my mom’s group, because I know how helpful it is when you have a new baby.
- invite people over for dinner, and maybe worry less about the state my house is in.
- say yes to outings when I used to stay home to work.
None of these things are really that hard, I know. But I’ve realized that I’ve started hoarding my time. I’ve discovered so many things I want to do, projects I want to work on, skills I want to learn, and I’m passionate about all of them. My time is limited, and I have to say no to some of them. I just want to make sure that I’m saying yes to the right things, and that I am choosing to live generously this year.
Free Printable
I’m teaching myself how to hand letter (one of the things!), and I lettered “live generously” so that I could have a visual reminder for my theme for the year. If you would like to have a free copy, just put your email in the box below and I will send it to you.
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What do you want your 2017 to look like?
