So my word for 2015 was “Pray”. There were certainly many opportunities to pray this past year, and many answers to prayer. One of the biggest was that the tumor my mom had been told was cancer was actually a very rare benign one! I did not finish A Praying Life, but have been very blessed by what I have read so far (I posted some quotes here and here). I had thoughts of “cramming” to finish it before the year’s end, but it is not a book to be rushed, so I will continue it in the new year. I didn’t do much else beyond starting a prayer box (and that only recently) with the kids and recording things to pray about periodically in my bullet journal. Making prayer a way of life will be an ongoing goal for me.
In looking over suggested “words of the year” on a couple of blogs, “Write” stood out as a skill I want to grow in that would also benefit other areas of my life. As I have been working through the Simplified Organization and Work the Plan e-courses (affiliate link) and writing out my vocations and goals, a common theme I noticed is the need to be engaged in some sort of writing in order to stay organized, follow through with tasks, and further my own self-education. Here are three areas in which I hope to improve my writing skills:
- Bullet Journal: This organizational tool really fits my personality, but I need to be more consistent and creative with it. I need to refer to it each day, and also use it to record some of the special little moments that otherwise get forgotten. I want to have a dedicated prayer section where I can record prayer requests and answers.
- Blog: I want to blog more regularly, and am contemplating a weekly post in which I can record “written narrations” (a la Charlotte Mason) or just general thoughts about things I am learning, in addition to my Wednesdays with Words, daybook and/or Seven Quick Takes posts. And there are some other post ideas floating around in my brain that I need to write down and flesh out. 🙂 I have also started reading On Becoming a Writer: What Every Blogger Needs to Know.
- Bible: Journaling my thoughts as I study the Bible, either directly in my Bible or in a separate notebook, is something I need to begin doing, as I think it will help what I learn to really sink in and change me. This is something I need to learn more about, but one devotional that might help get me started is The Songs of Jesus: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Psalms by Tim Keller. I’ve got the sample on my iPad and will give that a try before deciding whether or not to purchase a hard copy.
I will try to share how I’m doing in these areas from time to time on the blog. That will give me some accountability and incentive to make progress. 😉
Here are two blogging friends who have chosen great words for 2016 – check them out!
ladydusk: Attend!
Simply Convivial: Consistency
Anna, I love it! Can’t wait to read what you write! I think when I write, or rather, I often write to think. But I love how this medium allows us to get exactly what we need to say said. I think this will be a wonderful focus for your year.
I love how this one verb does capture keeping up with planning, and internalizing Scripture, and writing about what you’re reading.
I am also a write-to-think sort of person. 🙂