2013 Recap--Part 2

Each year I choose a theme to live by. I carefully choose a phrase I know will change my life if I truly implement it in my life. Some years I'm successful and some years I'm not. My 2013 motto was "Love for the Sake of Love." It was a concept I was taught by Mara and Danny Kofoed of "A Blog About Love" when they came to our Relief Society Retreat in 2012.

My hope was to honor the Christ-like attribute of Love by just loving and not expecting anything in return. In terms of changing my behaviors and expectations, I don't think I was very successful. I did succeed, however, in keeping this theme on the forefront of my mind all year (changing your passwords to reflect your goals is helpful!).

There were a few small successes that I know would have turned out differently if this concept hadn't been on my mind. There were times when I wanted to be "done" with someone or a situation, instead of cutting them out I tried to give it time, have a conversation, and frankly forgive (still working on the asking for forgiveness part). In a few of those cases, I feel closer to that person now. I shudder to think that I could be harboring hate and cutting off relationships instead. Is it just me or when I am focusing on a goal it becomes all the more difficult? There were times this year that I felt I was getting (or causing) blow after blow in my relationships. It was still is hard. There is always so much more that I could be doing, but I am satisfied with those few successes. In this case, I suppose small successes ARE successes.

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My motto for 2014, not surprisingly, also stems from our last Relief Society Retreat. Our theme was "Hearts that Know and Feel." I led a creative workshop and asked sisters to share in a creative way the things that make their hearts burst. Girls created collages, read poems, read hymns, or shared songs on their iphones. It was supremely inspiring.

My friend Brynn shared a song called, "Nothing Ever Happens" by Rachel Platten. You probably didn't notice but it was on my November playlist and is also on my January 2014 playlist, because well, it is the theme for my year. When I heard the song, I just knew. It would help change my life.

The take-away message for me is the chorus: "Nothing ever happens if you stay in your room. Nothing ever happens if you leave the party too soon. Never be a winner if you're not in the game. Nothing ever happens if you always play it safe. Make a little space and get out of your own way."

Sometimes you just need a kick in the pants right? I'm hoping the theme of "Nothing ever happens if you stay in your room" will inspire me to get out of my own way and out of my own head. Stop wasting time and being lazy. Use my time more effectively like exercising, cooking nutritious meals, and building relationships.

Oh and another 2014 goal of mine is to be boy crazy :)

See 2013 Recap--Part 1