My New Year’s Word is …

I’ve already regaled you with why I don’t do New Year’s Resolutions anymore – are you ready for why I didn’t pick “balance” as my word for 2015?

Reason #1: I’m too serious. Seriously!

Reason #2: I spend too much time thinking.

I’m always thinking of what’s coming up: What I’m cooking for dinner, what errands I need to run, what chores are waiting, what I’m going to blog about or what’s the next scene I’m writing in Shimmer 2.

I think of how my children are doing (being a parent to adults is a whole nuther ballgame) and wonder what I can do to help. And wonder if I’m doing too much, poking my nose in where it doesn’t belong anymore.

Image courtesy of LDS Media Library

I study scriptures and try to figure out how to apply them in my life, which leads me to thinking about changes and sorting out what to do: what’s right vs. what’s just in the front of my mind.  I wonder if the Lord is pleased with how I’m living my life, if I’m spending too much time and energy on books and if they’re even the books I should be writing.

And so I’m always thinking about things – things I want to do, things I need to do, things I ought to have done.

And yet . . .

I am blessed in innumerable ways. With family whom I love dearly, with more than basic food and shelter, with time and freedom and health. And especially with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Shouldn’t someone be able to see the joy of my life in my face? Shouldn’t I be more consistently aware of it?

Unfortunately, because I’m focused on what I have to do or what’s coming up, several things happen. First, unless I’m in a relaxed situation not thinking about any of that, nobody meeting me would think I’m particularly happy. The concerns show on my face, not the good things. Second, I don’t feel the joy that I ought to very often.

So while pondering my word for the new year, these thoughts have taken precedence. Instead of “Balance,” I’m choosing Joy.

Joy by itself can have several connotations: happiness, delight, momentary pleasure. If I link Joy with rejoice, it brings a deeper meaning to mind – a deep and abiding feeling that permeates the soul.

More specifically,

I’m choosing to “Take Joy!”

I don’t want to just Have Joy – that sounds like I’m waiting for someone else to drop it in my lap.

I don’t need to Find Joy – Joy is already here.

But “Take Joy” is an active phrase, something that puts the responsibility on me to reach out and grasp it.

Photo by Bruce Robertson

There is much joy in my life. I have a solid, loving marriage and three children who have grown into awesome young adults.   I have a great son-in-law and time to spend with the Cutest Granddaughter in the World. I have a supportive husband who works hard at his job to bless us with the necessities of life – a warm house, a choice of food to eat, reliable cars, and new clothes once in a while. Not only that, but he supports me in my writing instead of expecting me to earn a steady paycheck.  I have enough of a yard to let me grow fresh vegetables, flowers that make me smile, and a huge backyard maple from which I can feed my little bird friends. I have a mother and brother and sister whom I don’t get to see much, but with whom I share loving relationships.

So this year, 2015, I’m going to Take Joy.

• I will make a point of stopping to realize the joy in a particular moment.
• I will not only count my blessings, but dig deeper into them.
• I will try to live a bit more in the moment and realize the joy that moment contains.

And I will share that journey with you. I’m sure I will have ups and downs, joyful moments intermixed with days I forget about it.  I’m also sure I’m not the only one who has many blessings but doesn’t stop to acknowledge the joy.  And I know that since I’m a master at letting good intentions slide, blogging about Taking Joy will keep me from forgetting about it by February!

What about you? Do you already Take Joy? Do you have a different word to guide your life this year? Please share in the comments – enquiring minds want to know!