I’m not a big fan of New Year’s resolutions – I mean, I make them; I’m just not a fan of keeping them.
I know this and yet I can’t stop myself from making a list of resolutions every year. I always believe that I will make some changes but I, like most people, usually make it to January 2 before throwing in the towel.
This year, however, I am jumping on the “One Word” bandwagon.
A one-word resolution is the new thing. Instead of a weighty list of shoulds and should nots you are supposed to pick one word that will guide your life in the New Year: a touchstone for you to return to as you make your way through the year.
I thought it would be easy but it wasn’t, at least not at first. I tossed around words like gratitude and peace and love but nothing felt right. All the words felt forced and not really me.
That’s when I came up with my new two-pronged approach to help determine my New Year’s word.
It goes like this:
Step 1: Think of one word that summed up everything you did wrong in 2014.
Were you ungrateful or impatient or unsupportive?
The words that came to mind for me were grumpy, tense and unreasonable but what I really meant was bitchy. Yes, the word that sums up how I feel that I acted this year was “bitchy.”
Step 2: Add the prefix “non” before your word to come up with your guiding principle for 2015.
So, in this case my word for 2015 is “non-bitchy.”
Simple.
This works for all sorts of words: non-impatient; non-tense; non-workaholic…
Not always grammatically correct but you get the gist.
Now it’s your turn – what’s your word going to be?
i suck as a parent 
Posted by Cara Carpenter on December 31, 2014 at 3:39 am
I have read through almost 6 of your posts and I have to say, I enjoy it immensely. 🙂 Following!
LikeLike
Posted by I suck as a parent on December 31, 2014 at 3:51 am
Thanks, Cara! Welcome!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Posted by Dale on December 31, 2014 at 4:28 am
Hmmm… Now I’ve got to think… I’ll base my word on the whole year besides December because this particular month is way not normal and must be excluded. Was I bitchy? complainy? (Yeah, I’m making it up); uncompromising? Gonna have to sleep on it…. Thanks a lot, Connie, for forcing me to think! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Posted by I suck as a parent on December 31, 2014 at 4:35 am
Dale, I like complainy! I think non-complainy should be my kids’ words.
LikeLike
Posted by tcmc7 on December 31, 2014 at 5:32 am
Non-bitchy!! I LOVE it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Posted by I suck as a parent on January 4, 2015 at 12:16 am
I’m thinking of putting it on a necklace…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Posted by gracefullkari on January 2, 2015 at 1:57 pm
The one regret I had in 2014 is that you and I never got around to going to lunch.
Lets make that happen in 2015.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Posted by I suck as a parent on January 4, 2015 at 12:14 am
So that would be non- non-lunch?? Totally agree, Kari. lunch soon – two weeks?
LikeLike
Posted by mary on January 4, 2015 at 12:09 am
great writing
LikeLiked by 1 person
Posted by I suck as a parent on January 4, 2015 at 12:14 am
Thanks!
LikeLike
Posted by tcmc7 on January 4, 2015 at 2:57 am
I would so buy a necklace!!
LikeLike