Word of the Year 2013: Valiant

Well, it took me a month to choose my word of the year. I choose VALIANT. From Merriam Webster: 1.possessing or acting with bravery or boldness : courageous 2.marked by, exhibiting, or carried out with courage or determination : heroic Origin of VALIANT Middle English vailant, valiant, from Anglo-French vaillant worthy, strong, courageous, from present participle of valer to be of worth, That's it- that's what I want to be "Worthy, Strong, Courageous" It is acting boldly when it is easier to do nothing. It is doing things you don't necessarily want to do but doing them anyway because it is the RIGHT thing to do It is overcoming fear It is acting purposefully That's what I want for this year. I have recently come across 3 things the last few days that have impacted me. One of them is the "Pep Talk by Kid President" If you haven't yet seen it, maybe take a minute to do so. Be awesome! What will be your 'Space Jam?' and, talking about the Road Less Traveled, 'Not cool, Robert Frost!' the road less traveled is NOT EASY. The second thing I read is a quote that says "If you do not step forward you will always be in the same place." I've thought a lot about that. I don't think it is true. I think you need to step forward to even remain in the same place. If I am staying in the same place and everyone and everything around me is moving forward, progressing, that means I'm really going backwards! By not moving. Now, I don't think it is important to move QUICKLY or take giant steps. Any steps are useful. So long as they are in the right direction. The third thing I read is called Drops of Awesome (click over and read it if you want but it has a religious bent, be warned) She is talking about how you do something awesome (cooked a healthy dinner for my family! yes! play Candy Land with my kid! yes!) and you give yourself a pat on the back, "Hey, way to go! Good job!" and then the negative self talk starts in "Yes, you did this good thing but what about the fact that your kids had cereal for dinner last night and they have no clean underwear in their drawer so they are wearing their swimsuits under their school clothes?" Why do we do that? Tear ourselves down? We need to recognize that we just need to be a little bit awesome. Do that a lot of times and it starts to add up! So, here is my goal for myself, for the year. It is going on my fridge. Be Valiant! Drops of Awesome! Lots of little steps in the right direction get me where I want to be. Stop the mean self talk. It is hard to be happy when someone is being mean to me all the time. Especially when it is me. Choose the struggle. Choose to do what I need to do. Choose to be a little bit awesome today. hope today is great for you! emily