My Word for 2019

I was at a writing conference once where they asked us to write our "One Little Word". This one word was supposed to encompass our personal focus for our year, a word that would remind us of our self-declared purpose and refocus us if ever we felt we were being bogged down by all the little voices telling us of the million things we need to accomplish.

I've seen a few friends report on their "One Little Word" in their personal lives, too, and I have been anxious to figure out a word for myself. Well, it took me a while, but after weeks of thinking it over I now feel that I have found my word for this year:

Mindful

mind·ful·ness- NOUN

1. the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something.

A few things have prompted me in this desire to be more mindful, but basically all of them revolve around one little thing: my cellphone

Last October I watched a church conference where we were challenged to go on a 10-day social media fast. I quickly accepted the challenge and deleted my Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Marco Polo apps from off my phone. The first few days were definitely tough and I was very much aware that I was missing something to fill my time. But after a little while, my body and mind stopped automatically searching for my social media and instead filled my days with other worthy activities.

I found more quality time with my daughter, outdoor play sessions with my puppy, and insightful conversations with my husband More productivity cleaning the house or tackling piles of laundry. More book reading and blogging. Basically, I realized the importance of not just filling my time so that I'm not bored, but filling my time with meaningful things that enhance my life socially, spiritually, mentally, or physically.

And then....the social media fast ended. I told myself I would remember the lessons. I told myself that I would not let myself get mindlessly addicted to my phone again. I told myself that I could hold strong to my priorities. And yet, I found myself slipping back into those habits where I mindlessly scroll through friend posts and always keep my phone by my side.

An old friend posted this video on his Facebook (yes, I do see the irony in finding inspiration to be more mindful from my mindless Facebook scrolling). The end of the video really struck me. The speaker jokes about how we feel uncomfortable without our phones; we flip through who-knows-what while we wait for a meeting to start or for our friend to return from using the restroom or to get to the front of a line. But he then said, "When are relationships made? It is in those in between moments."

How many relationships have I missed out on because I was more interested on the not-so-interesting posts on my phone? How many important conversations have gone unspoken because I was so transfixed on the color-matching game on my smart device? I am not going to try to guess; instead, I'm making a change.

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Mindful

I feel really good about this one little word for 2019. I am going to work on being mindful. And just because I know that my one little word is still broad, I want to write down some specifics: ​

• I will strive to be mindful in my family relationships, putting away my phone when I am spending time with Grace or Andrew so that my focus can be on them.
• I will strive to be mindful in making daily spiritual choices such as personal prayer and scriptures study to improve my relationship with my Heavenly Father and bring the Spirit into my home.
• I will strive to be mindful in my relationships with friends, contacting them on a more regular basis so that we can make time to get together.
• I will strive to be mindful in what I choose to eat and noticing how my body feels. I will try to listen to my body more and treat it like the gift that it is.
• I will strive to be mindful in celebrating my successes and recognizing the good I bring to my family and friends. 

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What is your one little word for 2019?