Alphabet Mission!
Blog Post #23
So how are those New Year’s resolutions going? You know, those things you vowed to start and/or stop doing? I’m sure you noticed, not only did we start a new YEAR in 2020, we also started a new DECADE! If ever there was a time to make some resolutions, it’s now!
I’ve always been the kind of person who likes to set goals, so I actually prepped myself a week or two before the big moment (12:00 AM on 1.1.20) by choosing something out of the ordinary. Instead of the proverbial goal of losing ten pounds or dedicating myself to decluttering my space (which, I am, in fact, trying to do), I decided to create an alphabet mission using words that stimulate my thinking and ignite new energy for the things that are important to me. For starters, I’ve been focusing on just the first five letters of the alphabet and just two words for each letter. I also told myself that it would be all about enhancement, not perfection.
I began by asking some key questions: “What do I want more of in my life?” and “How can I make that happen to a greater degree?” I also chose words that, just the mere mention of, make me feel energized and excited. I then created some S.M.A.R.T. goals around each word. In case you’re not familiar with the S.M.A.R.T. acronym, it stands for: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timely. You can google the topic for more details.
Are you curious about my words? Although they’re very personal to me, I’m happy to share:
Adventure and Abandonment (to God)
Beauty and Breath
Calm and Creativity
Divinity and Dance
Encouragement and Energy
Those are MY words. YOUR words might look very different. It’s all about what revitalizes YOUR soul and rejuvenates YOUR spirit so you can play YOUR role in salvation history!
I can report that just starring at my words on my phone’s notebook several times each day and reviewing my progress at the end of the day invigorates me. And that’s because my resolutions are forcing me to navigate my way through a new rhythm of life and living. If you see me, feel free to ask me about the specifics. But generally speaking, while I’ve been far from perfect, I feel like I’m at least heading in the right direction (most days) and I’m good with that.
What about you? If you were to choose some of your own words, what would they be? And how would you go about playing them out? What kinds of changes would your words create? And how does that make you feel?
I’ve already shared that one of my words is breath. And I’ll be honest, sometimes it’s difficult for me to keep breathing during the month of January. My dad died on January 11 of 1963 and my sister, Mary, died on January 28 of 2014. January is rough. But I have vowed to keep breathing my way though with a spirit of celebration for their beautiful lives.
So, one of my S.M.A.R.T. goals is to breathe renewed energy into this difficult season by co-hosting, along with Kristen, a home retreat entitled “Moments and Memories: Remembering Our Beloved Deceased” on Wednesday, January 29 at our home in Bryan. Everyone is welcome and we’ll be hosting the same retreat on the same day at two different times (9-noon and 7-9 PM). Check it out on our website by going to www.luminousministries/register or call one of us at 419.630.6410 (Carol) or 419.553.9207 (Kristen). We’d be happy to fill you in on the details.
Whose life are you grieving? Please join us on January 29 and give yourself the gift of fellowship as we all do the hard work of allowing our faith to sustain us through our sadness. Perhaps you will find an extra dose of love, light, and truth to help you to keep breathing. And in the meantime, try spending some time thinking about your own alphabet mission. Who knows where your words might take you!