WORD OF THE YEAR
January was a month of reflection. Looking over all that happened in 2022 and making goals for 2023. New years resolutions seem to have given way to the trendy “word of the year”. I kind of like the concept of a word to remind me of all that I am working toward instead of a looming resolution that makes me feel like I’m failing as soon as I begin. I chose the word NURTURE.
By definition, Nurture is to care for and encourage the growth or development of someone or something.
As a mom, it’s easy to get caught up in the list of things to do to care for our children. Wash their clothes, make them dinner, and make sure that they have everything that they need. But if we don’t slow down- if we don’t take the time to nurture the relationship itself, then what’s left once that child becomes more independent? Once they can wash their own clothes and they start growing up and needing you less, then all you have to fall back on is the relationship that you built. And that takes time to build. You have to put in the work. There’s no quick shortcut, just time put into caring about their thoughts, their interests and ideas. When you have a plant, you have to take time every day to be sure it gets sunshine and water and nutrients in the soil. You can’t just neglect those needs and then just give it a large portion of water at one time and expect it to flourish, right? It’s the day in, day out that pays off – and relationships are no different.
My goals are bigger than just 2023. I want to have a lasting relationship with each of my kids. I want to my relationship with my husband to continue to grow and become even stronger. I want to be the kind of friend that I know that my dearest friends deserve. And I know that to have that, nurturing these relationships will have to carry over into each new year. But setting new habits is step one. The hardest part for me is slowing down to just sit and be with the people that I love. How does that make any sense? I stay so BUSY that it’s hard for me to just stop. Just don’t finish that laundry. It’s ok to walk away from something that “needs to be done”.
It’s about priorities.
So relationships are my focus this year and NURTURE is my little nudge to keep it up.
