2019 is Here!

Posted January 1, 2019 by Prairie Wife - 11 comments

2019 is here!

I for one, cannot wait to see what it brings.

I’m all about New Year’s Resolutions, they are TOTALLY my jam!

I love lists, I love setting goals, and I love the positivity that a fresh year brings. This doesn’t mean I don’t set goals all year long…but each New Year’s Day I take some time to focus on how the last year went, and think about where I want to be in the future.

You can listen to an audio recording of yesterdays K2 Radio Prairie Wife segment on the topic (it’s a lively one folks) by clicking below.

New Year’s Resolutions (Do You or Don’t You) Part 1

New Year’s Resolutions (Do You or Don’t You) Part 2

The last few years I’ve picked an overall theme for the year.

For 2017 it was “ENOUGH” and last year was “Let all that you do be done in love.”

This year I decided to go with a singe word again.

PAUSE

Pause before I respond with actions or words.

Pause and take the time to pray.

Pause and play.

Pause before I buy.

I’ve been working on the practice of pausing as I’ve progressed on my journey to soften. The positive impact it has had on my life led me to try and consciously focus on it more for 2019. Learning to pause before I respond to someone (or react to a situation) is going to help me continue to learn to say “NO” rather than answer with my automatic people pleasing “YES”. Hopefully, it will result in more authentic relationships and patient parenting.

I pray all day long, all the time. From Little shout outs of “thank you” and “help me” to intercessory prayers for friends or family members, God and I converse often. I even pray the Novena of Surrender nightly. Yet, if I’m honest most of my prayers are rushed and stuffed in between the moments of my life. I hope that if I pause and pray, if I am truly focused, still and calm with my prayer…it will help me to grow spiritually.

The pause and play came from Brene Brown’s book The Gifts of Imperfection and is pretty self-explanatory. I’m making a conscious effort to pause and enjoy the fun of being a mom of five wonderfully active Cowkids that still want to spend time with me! And, make the time to play outside (hike, snowshoe, run and ski) in all the beauty that Wyoming has to offer.

Last but not least, pause before I buy. This one is highly encouraged by The Cowboy and the result of our year-end “family goals and budget meeting”(blech). I haven’t driven us to poverty with my shopping habits, but I can always be better about only buying items I need, rather than want!

And there you have it.

My New Year’s Resolution for 2019…pause.

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Do you think a resolution like this, a word or theme for the year, is more attainable than “lose 13 pounds”?

What are your New Year’s Resolutions?

11 thoughts on "2019 is Here!"

Bennie says:

January 1, 2019 at 2:51 pm

I like this idea of a one word goal. I’m really not much of a goal setter. In the past I’ve tried to make them but then life gets in the way and I kind of forget about those goals or to do list and they just go by the wayside.

Yes, every year it’s the back on the diet and exercise routine which I do for the most part but going through menopause the weight-loss has not been happening very well. But I like the idea of the one word goal, that might be a little more attainable then as you say lose 13 pounds.

Let me give this some thought and see if a one word goal comes to me. Pause is a good starting point.

Reply
1. Prairie Wife says:
  
  January 1, 2019 at 3:09 pm
  
  I think my favorite thing about a theme or word is there is no feeling of defeat. It’s just a constant effort to keep more focused on a certain intention…can’t wait to hear what you decide!
  
  Reply
  1. Bennie says:
    
    January 1, 2019 at 6:37 pm
    
    Can I use pause and breathe? I probably need to do both, mostly at work but this can help in other areas of life too. Thanks for this idea.
    
    Reply
    1. Prairie Wife says:
      
      January 2, 2019 at 7:19 am
      
      Heck yes you can!
      
      Reply
Anonymous says:

January 1, 2019 at 4:05 pm

Mine is very similar! Love the approach.

Mine is Breathe.

Breathe before I lose my temper in writing, action and word.
Breathe before planning. Take the appropriate time to plan. It deserves our attention.
Breathe to alleviate life’s stress.
Breathe to appreciate life’s beauty, my children, my family, my service.

Breathe.

Reply
1. Prairie Wife says:
  
  January 2, 2019 at 7:21 am
  
  Yes!!!! This is a wonderful one.
  
  Reply
Sharon Chapman says:

January 1, 2019 at 4:10 pm

The Breathe is mine.

Reply
1. Prairie Wife says:
  
  January 2, 2019 at 7:20 am
  
  Love this one Sharon (and I agree ours ARE similar)!
  
  Reply
Valerie Dusing says:

January 3, 2019 at 9:35 pm

You’ve knocked another post out of the park! I have been praying and speaking with God to help me find a word or phrase for this year, but not yet. In past years, I’ve used confidence, then courage (my life mantra) and this year ????
Pause is a perfect word to cover all aspects of life. Sometimes taking a moment to pause allows us to breathe. Breathing is not overrated.

Reply
1. Prairie Wife says:
  
  January 4, 2019 at 6:44 am
  
  Thanks Valerie xoxo I’m finding that pause works in EVERY area of my life! Love courage as a word (and mantra) can’t wait to hear what you pick.
  
  Reply