Mental Post-Its

Thoughts, Notes, and General Mental Mayhem

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My Theme for 2013

2013It’s interesting. I’ve been mulling over my 2013 theme for over a month now, but from the moment I started thinking about it, one word instantly came to mind. I wanted to continue thinking about it more to make sure I was certain I wanted to use it, but still, the same word came to mind. It’s kind of been stuck there. So, I guess maybe my word found me and I just had to settle into it.

SIMPLIFY.

That’s what I’ll be working on and toward for 2013. I like using verbs because I feel the implied action gives me momentum. It keeps me moving forward.

Last year, it was PRIORITIZE. This year, I wanted to continue the same thread while also getting a bit of a fresh start. I definitely needed a break from the craziness that was 2012. I feel SIMPLIFY does that. It just so happens that it also goes nicely with our 2013 theme for The Orange Conference, Focus. 😉

This tradition of a theme/word for the year is loosely based on the Jewish Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur. My friend, Daron, came up with the idea, and he as well as several of our friends have continued it. The basic idea is that instead of merely looking back at the year to see what happened at the end, you start the year by looking ahead to see what you think the year might be about. Then you use the theme as a lens in which to view things throughout the year. At it’s basis, it’s a way to be proactive/responsive to the year, and not let the year just happen to you. It’s an intentional way to live rather than reactive—which is how I prefer to live.

I’ve decided I that I also want to live more simply, which was an underlying inspiration for my theme. Some days, this seems incredible difficult. “Stuff” just seems to find it’s way home with me. A new kitchen appliance. A piece of furniture. Picture frames. Gadgets. Books. Clothes. The list goes on and on. I somehow keep adding to my Amazon Wish List. But in the end, I usually end up with some form of buyer’s remorse. Not only are 99% of these things not needed, but many days I just get sick of having too much. I hate looking around at all my junk. I realize more and more the excess and accumulation of the society to which I belong. Realistically, if you came by, you probably wouldn’t say that if you saw my apartment. I don’t have piles of things around. I don’t like clutter. I periodically give items to Goodwill and clean out my closet. But much of what I have, I just don’t need. And as my heart becomes more attuned to global issues, I think I begin to understand that I can do so much more if I have less. Those are things would never cause me remorse.

I feel like SIMPLIFY will be a sort of cleansing for me—on physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels. I’ve already started incorporating it into many areas of my life, down to small things like unsubscribing from some email lists. There are numerous ways to SIMPLIFY and I hope to tackle many of them over the next 12 months.

Here are just a few of the ones that have already crossed my mind, with more to come, I’m sure:

  • Getting rid of more stuff. A couple of items include my coffee table and dining room table, because really, I don’t use either for anything other than setting decorations on.
  • As noted, unsubscribing from email lists.
  • Paying down more debt. I started off pretty good last year, but medical expenses and a couple other extraneous items did more damage.
  • Going through my budget, yet again, to see what I can cut back on.

I’ve even done a couple of things that may seem counter-intuitive to SIMPLIFY. I printed a reading list to read through the Bible chronologically, since I’ve never read it that way, and started using the service eMeals.com. These two things were done more as a way to automate habits that I was already in or wanted to be better at, without really taxing me mentally. I’m not one that loves and craves routines, but I think incorporating these two processes into my life will be really good. They will allow me to refine past routines, which I think fits nicely with SIMPLIFY.

My song and verse for 2013 came to me during the church service last week. I love it when that happens because it feels natural and promised. The song I’m using is “Be My Everything” because of it’s repetitive nature and message. It is what SIMPLIFY sounds like to me based on those two words. My verse, on the other hand, doesn’t necessarily go with the theme. Frankly, I just really liked it and kept repeating it in my mind:

Matthew 16:18, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” ESV

Quite honestly, I think I just sat at home sick so much in 2012 that the action in this verse makes me want to get up and get out there. I’m ready for a little hell-gate prevailing.

So, that’s it. There you have it. That’s what I’m looking forward to in 2013. Realistically, I know curve balls will come and life will happen, and I’ll just be along for the ride most of the time.

But I’m hoping I can keep SIMPLIFY in mind along the way.

I’m hoping this theme will give me the ability to channel my thoughts and actions.

And I’m hoping I can come to you in 11 months or so saying that I have have less, and have lived and given more.

 

Okay, and if I get to do a little hell-gate prevailing in the meantime, so be it. 😉

 


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My 2011 Theme

Coming up with a theme for the year is a tradition my friends and I have done for the last few years. I really look forward to it, the process, and then looking back to see how it unfolded.

So, drum roll, please….

Word:
“Prioritize”

Now, let me explain….
I chose “prioritize” because I tend to get sidetracked pretty easily. Thanks, ADD. I am good at chasing rabbits down holes. So, I want to weed those other things out a bit better and focus. And I wanted a word to reflect both my personal and spiritual needs and goals for the year. The last couple years have been about being obedient and enlightened to this thing I now know as missional community. Everything else was in the background. While this is essentially not a bad thing, you all know I can be a bit of a workaholic, and that usually relates more to ministry than my actual full-time jobs. So, with priorities, I want it to pertain to the missional community but also my overall well-being. I need to be better at Sabbath. And my chiro, counselor and regular doctor have all told me over the course of the last year that I need to treat myself better and make me a priority. So, this is my attempt at that goal. And I chose “prioritize” over “priorities” because I wanted an action word.

Verse:
Proverbs 16:3, “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”

Song:
“I Will Follow” by Chris Tomlin

Now, again, let me explain…
Funny enough, as the D’s know, this song was sung at Shannon Oaks on Sunday. It immediately struck me and I was pretty sure this would be it. I asked Chad after the service what the song was and he told me. So, I downloaded it and have been listening to it repeatedly. I feel like it encompasses the “head, heart, hand” aspect of spiritual living which I believe to be so important. And I think it still goes very well with “prioritize” on both levels. I’m really happy with it. After the church service, a woman came up and spoke to the D’s. She, like everyone else, tried to get me to move to SS. Uh, no. After she realized it was a futile attempt, she asked if she could say a blessing over me. Why, of course! Turns out she is the head of their prayer ministry, D told me later. Anyway, after meditating on what she said and the words of the song, they are very similar which I thought was another good sign. Margi and D, please thank Chad and the woman for me.

Give it a listen – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zx_04LdPV_Q