My Word, Blog Challenge
January 7, 2017
I was challenged to choose a word that reflects me for 2017. This is something that I will draw on when I am stressed or just need a break. I had to do a lot of soul searching on this one. The 1st thing that came to mind was Family. Honestly, I knew it went deeper than that, so I took a little while longer and realized my true word is FOCUS.
Let me explain a little bit why I chose Focus as my word and not Family. I think that in 2016 I was just surviving the year. We had so many issues hit our family, that I felt most of the time as if I was just making it through, “getting by”. My family really is my life, and Focus plays into my love and care of my Family. This past year, my Focus has been on raising my 2 granddaughters, making sure that they are healthy both physically and emotionally. 
My focus this next year will also be on my children, which is nothing new, as that is how I have lived my life since the 1st day I became a mom. I have always said I am a mom before I am anything else in life. I love my children with all of my heart and I focus on them completely.
I say all of that to state that while my Focus is still and will always be my Family, I plan on putting more Focus on my marriage this next year. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with my marriage, I just want to be sure that it gets as much love and attention as it deserves. You see I have been married to my best friend for 20 years and I am so blessed to get to be his wife!! I think I am like a lot of woman and I put more Focus on the kids, than the marriage. That really tends to happen after so many years of marriage, but in the end I want my husband to know how important he is to me!! I know a lot of woman feel that way, and yet they won’t ever admit it themselves, not to mention to anybody else. In the end, your children are a bi product of your marriage, so the emphasis or focus should be on your marriage first.
My Focus this year will be on praying more and growing in a deeper relationship with my Savior. I think I have become a little lax in spending time in this area, so I will be intentionally changing some things on a daily basis.
My focus this year will also be on my granddaughters and being the best Nana that I can be. The 2 that live in my home, to give them unconditional love and help to raise them to be strong young woman. My youngest granddaughter, to spoil her as much as her mommy and daddy will allow. I have a new grandchild on the way, and I am sure that one will be just as spoiled. I see lots of Focus on all the grand babies this next year!!
A huge focus this year will be going into this blog and reaching a larger audience and following. I plan on growing in my skills as an influencer and blogger both this next year. I have not paid much attention to this blog prior to the past 6 months or so. My goal is to Focus on monetizing my blog, and finding new and exciting subjects to write about. I am excited about the Focus that I will be putting into my blog this year!!
My goal in general is to just stay Focused, and in the moment this year. I am so blessed and thankful to have all my children doing well right now. My husband is amazing and we are doing great. I just want to stay Focused on all of them and on life in general, and not let it just pass me by!!
Now that you have heard my word of the year, I am curious…..has this inspired you to come up with your own “word” for 2017? What would it be? Let me know in comments below as I love hearing from my followers!!
All of your areas of focus are inspiring and, in truth, I feel the same way with some areas in which I know I need to work on. I use “focus” on my kids a lot; they need to work on focusing in a big way and that is actually 2 out of the 3’s goals this year (I just hope they stick to it). My word for this year is “create” ~ I want and, in all honesty, need to create memories with my kids this year; the last few years we have not had very good memories created. Cheers to a New Year!
Such a beautiful post Sandy. Focus is an important word for a lot of the reason’s you touched on. We all need to readjust our focus from time to time. It is easy to take people and life for granted, but if we try and focus on what is important, those things come back into view as they are meant to be.
I know what you are talking about trying to stay focused on everything that goes on in our everyday lives. It can be very hard at times.
I think we could all use more focus in our lives.
I need to stay focused too. It’s a great goal for this year
Focus would be a great one for me too. I often feel scatter brained being pulled in many different directions at once.
Staying focused on the important things in our lives is very important. I work on staying focused on my family more then anything else
What a really good word, and I have been really focusing more and it takes time and awareness to focus and be there for my kids and husband and family. With so many things going on, I am making myself focus and I am going to make focus my word for 2017, too!!
I like your word “focus” and I would pick “improve” as well. I felt like 2016 was just “surviving” as you stated, and I was on autopilot. I want my attitude, my life, my health, and my relationships to improve this year. That will be my focus!
I guess that would be true if you do focus on just a few things you truly really want most.
Inspired…But I need more focus.?
I love the word Focus. That is what 2017 is for me. Focus on myself in 2017!
My word would be “work”.
I like this word. I do need to focus more
Focus is a great choice! It is so easy to loose focus with the all the hustle and bustle in our culture.
I try to focus on tomuch at times and well some times it just get’s to me sp I try not to do as much as I should so that way I just don’t get like that.
My word for 2017 is Unclutter! I want to declutter my house and all the garbage I carry around, weight and mental barriers, that prevents me from being the best person I can be!
I actually haven’t ever picked out a word for each year. Not sure what I would pick but know I need to work on trusting God and stop trying to drive the bus when He’s ultimately in charge. 🙂
Focus is an excellent word for the year! I have to think more on mine, so I can use it religiously!
Organized is my word. I’m going to get a better handle on organizing my house.
Focused sounds like a good goal for anyone, especially me! I am the worlds biggest procrastinator, I can always find something better to do and it can always be done tomorrow.
I think this is a wonderful idea. Focus is a great idea for the year.
We could all use more focus in our lives. I know I certainly could!
“Understanding” is my word for this year, and I mean understanding others and their reasons for saying or doing what they do.
What a lovely post! Staying focussed in life is so very important to all our senses & our well being.
Family is definitely important, but focusing on what is acutely important at the moment is definitely more helpful.
Being focused and being there for our loved ones is so important and really makes things so much better being in the moment!
I need to focus on a lot of things
My word is learn.
Focus is a good one. I haven’t thought about coming up with a word for myself for the new year.
It is really hard to pick just one word. I guess for me it is Health. I need to get healthier so I can be there for my family.
Focus is a wonderful word. My word is finances. I want to stop living paycheck to paycheck for once.
Such a great post with an even greater message! 🙂
I need to focus on my health this year
I think a good word for me would be “positive”. It is to easy to not see the positive, and thinking negatively can be quite harmful.
Focus is for sure the word for me, I need to stay focused more;
Focus is mine, too! I hope you have a better year coming up for you. I’m also calling this my Year of Unshakeable Happiness!
Fabulous post. I think Focus is a great word and based on your goals it sounds perfect. For me I think my word would be “self sufficiency”. My goal this year is to grow in the ability to have a large productive garden that can produce a harvest that will give my family year round food. This is a really big process for me. From ordering seeds, to planting, to give it care, to harvest to preservation. Seems silly, but my family does not have a lot and a successful garden would be a huge blessing.
Such a great post! I need to figure out a good way for myself to stay focused. Goodness, life can be hectic!
I like that focus. Focus on my life and the clutter.
I know for me its been a new beginning, A fresh start in my life, my biggest is with Jesus, he has been working in me so much, sometimes it drives me crazy , well ‘ sort of lol, I love him and thank him so much, I know also I am just working on inner peace, letting go of the past and staying on with smiling more and laughing more..
@tisonlyme143
My word for 2017 is future…I want to make sure that what I’m doing this year contributes towards the best possible future I can have.
Staying Focused this year is going to really help me with my kids and family!
This is a good idea
Focus was a huge part of my new years resolution. It was to stop worrying so much about the future and instead focus on enjoying the present. Being more “present” was a big goal of mine. I feel like you miss so much in life when you’re focusing on the wrong things.
Staying focused is always challenging. Putting together attainable smaller goals toward a larger one always helps. It breaks it down so it doesn’t feel so overwhelming.
I have been focusing daily to be in the moment and give my undivided attention to my loved ones this year. Focus is my 2017 word too!
I feel the need to share this because we could all use some focus in our lives.
This is a great word.
I don’t have a word, but I’m thinking ‘focus’ is a good one for me. I have so many irons in the fire, and many of the ‘irons’ are not easy to accomplish, so most go unfinished. I need to pare down and focus! Excellent choice I want to think about this! Thanks!
i think mine would be compassion because at times i need to back off of situations and have more compassion. While i feel i am a loving and caring person I tend to be short tempered at times and need to reflect on having more compassion.
lovely post its so important to focus on family and marriage especially even when it seems fine,it will help through the tough times if you keep your focus
I bought some accessories for my planner yesterday to help me focus more!
Keep God in focus and all of the other things will fall into place.
I love your word FOCUSED. That is the word I need to stick with this year!
I love the word Focused to be the word for me also in 2017! I am trying to be more focused on those around me and make sure to be in the moment and take time to really listen!
Focus is a good word!! Everyone at certain times need to re-focus on something.
Focus is a good word .I guess my word of the year would be confidence.
My word for this year is encouragement.
I love this word for 2017! It is the perfect word for helping me this year become closer to my family! Focus is the word!
My word would be kind. I need to do kind things for strangers. Smiles are contagious!
Focus is a great word. It’s something we all need to do in our lives.
I like that you chose focus. It really is deep. We really don’t notice when we’re not focusing on things that are precious in our lives. This was a wonderful post! Thanks for the insight!
I love the word focus as it reminds me to keep my focus on God- all other things will fall into place according to His will.
My word for this year is KIND. Remembering to always be kind.
I struggle with maintaining focus on what’s important. Thanks for the reminder!
Staying focused in 2017 is such a good word and thing to do. I am working hard on staying focused this year!
I found this to be true….if you focus, things tend to go much smoother.
Being focused narrows down the challenges to one, so you can concentrate better. My Focus word this year is Calm, since it’s soothing and makes me think of being centered.
Focus and organized are my words for this year! Thanks for the post! 🙂
Focus is a great word to well…focus on. I need to learn to focus better on things.
Love this article! I guess my word would be “organize”. I need to get all the paperwork organized, the kitchen storage containers need to be organized, the linen closet needs organizing. And so much more. Thank you for an inspiring article!
Great message and to stay focused this year is such a good thing!
What a great idea, 2016 was a horrible year for us as well. 2017 I’d like my word to be GRATITUDE. No matter what happens we have something to be grateful for that we are dealing with it together!
I am doing very good at being focused this month! I feel so much closer to my family from staying in the moment and really listening.
Focus is my word for the year too! I have been focusing on so many things and it is great to be in the moment with my family!
Patience would be my word. I need to start being more accepting of things and not jump to the worst case scenerio. More stop and breathe moments to be able to think things through 🙂
Being focused is very important
I love your chosen word of “focus”. My word I would choose is “dedicate”. I will be dedicating my focus on my family and my daily life to better myself and to live my life for my Lord and my family. Dedication to anything is of upmost importance and one of my top priorities.
Great word Sandy and very true. Those are all great things to focus on. I think my word for this year is going to be courage. I need to have courage to change things I don’t like in my life. I need to have to courage to get my eating under control and change my lifestyle. Which, let’s admit, is scary as heck. I need courage to move more and working through my pain to reach these short goals I have set for myself. I need to have courage to learn how to be an empty nester as I know this will be the year my only child makes his way into the world. I need courage to stay focused on my goals and the courage to not be afraid to fail. And the courage to pick myself up if I do fail.
Love the word focus. Great motivator and something we all need for a successful 2017.
We all need to focus on the positive things.
I know I need more focus in my life
My word this year if I had to have one would be “self” I have spent the last 30 years being a wife and mother and putting all that first and now I need to put me first to find out who I am and to get my health back. I love my family and would not trade that for the world but I think I lost me somewhere in there!
I love your word Focus! My word for this year is calm.
My word for 2017 is JOY. I am “focused” on finding the JOY in everyday.
I will have to find the word for me but I did enjoy this thank you!
This is a great article. My focus is my family and my health. With diabetes my concern is always living healthier.
“In the zone” It was incredible when it happened once to me. Everything else did fall away. Never forget.
Focus is a great word! I have also always heard to focus on God and everything else will fall into place! So true!
i like this idea and love your word. I would choose the same
Staying focused is an area in which I struggle. I am easily distracted and lose sight of what is important. My word for 2017 should probably be Prioritize.
So very nice. It’s so hard to stay focused and keep your eyes on the prize everyrime. My word would be education.