One word

Last year as an addition to my New Years resolutions, I tried out Ali Edwards, "one little word" project. The word I chose was, "focus." Looking back on the past year, there were numerous times when this word helped me slow down and concentrate on doing only one thing at a time, but unlike a more clear resolution, it was a little harder to pin down. I decided to try again this year. I've decided my word for 2016 will be: Intentional

Focusing my attention on being more intentional in my decision making I am hoping will help simplify certain areas of my life. I often struggle with being decisive in my purchases (leading to far too much time spent returning things), too decisive in my planning (leading to an inability to be flexible with my time), and with my children, I would like to focus on the experiences we are intending to create for them without defining how it "has to" look. I am hoping to learn how to respond to situations that arise with my children, instead of just react. 

So far, this word has already altered some decision making. My last trip to Target, my intention was to return a shirt Grace got for Christmas that was too big and replace it with one her size. However, my cart ended up with a shirt for her, and numerous other things that were "good deals." This was not my intention for the trip. I emptied out my cart, put things back and in the end realized that they were unnecessary purchases that would have probably resulted in an additional trip back to the store to return something that I had buyers remorse for. 

Additionally, I have been more intentional with my time. Many of my moments are multi-tasked. When we get home from school I have tried to really be present to answer the girls questions on homework and hear about their days. Dinner can wait. Organizing the pile of papers that comes home each day can wait. If I can be more verbal with them on my intentions hopefully they will see me taking the time to think and respond to their needs, instead of losing my patience with them because I am trying to do too many things at once.