For 2014, I decided to adopt a word for the year – THRIVE!

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I didn’t really have the intention of choosing a word for the year.  But, one day thrive just popped in my head and I knew it should become my word for the year.  In the past I have focused on balance without adopting it as my word for the year….in reality it was my focus for about a year and a half.  I think I’m finally achieving and maintaining some balance.   So, it makes sense to now try to thrive within that balance.

The dictionary says that thrive means: to grow or develop successfully: to flourish or succeed.  I think this is just perfect for many aspects of my life for this year.  In my professional life as a Human Resources Manager, I’ve been a “one-woman show” for many years, but recently was able to hire another staff member for my department.  It brings a new level of excitement to my job, because not only do I get to see someone else develop professionally, but it will also provide me with the time and opportunity to do so as well, and therefore thrive professionally.

I also wish to thrive with Puddy’s House.  I’ve been blogging for a year and a half now and I really want to see Puddy’s House flourish and succeed.  I have some plans for the year, but you’ll have to wait for more details until I get more wheels in motion and not just be thoughts in my head.  Nonetheless, it should mean more content for the blog and hopefully that will keep you coming back for more.  But, if there are things you’d like to see more of, please let me know.  I do know that I plan to go to two blog conferences this year, which should also help with my intentions and goals.  I’ve registered for Blog U and plan to again register for Haven once tickets are on sale.  Hopefully, I’ll learn more at the conferences to help me be a better blogger and show you more of what I can do and more about me.

I also plan to thrive personally.  In order to maintain balance, I need to also focus on flourishing personally.  I can’t let one area of my life takeover the next.  It seems time goes by so quickly, and seems to go faster all the time, so I really need to be purposeful and choose to thrive in life.  I plan to apply this to my mind and body.  Sometimes I forget about taking care of all aspects, but I hope to not do that any  longer.  In order to thrive, not only will I need to manage my stress, but I will need to minimize it as much as possible.  This will take much focus for me, but I’m confident that I can do it.  Minimizing stress is also going to help me to take care of my body.  But, for my body it will also involve exercise and eating healthy.  I know when I wrote about balance that I wrote about my exercise, and I have kept that up.  Right now, it is more about eating healthy.  Fortunately, we have continued a CSA almost year-round so that will help.   There’s nothing like fresh produce to spur some good healthy meals.  And, hopefully by me writing this if I do get off track, I can just pull up this post and remind myself of the promise I made to myself to get me right back on track.

Lastly, thrive applies to my relationships too.  Most importantly, my spouse and family, but also friends.  I’m going to continue to grow and develop my relationships so that they thrive too.  Because, without thriving relationships, nothing else will really matter to me.

So, how about you….do you choose a word for the year?  Or maybe you stick with the traditional resolutions?  Feel free to share in the comments so that we can all help each other achieve our goals.

Happy 2014!!