I am glad to get the chance to link up with Melanie at Only A Breath blog to talk about my one word.  This year I chose “Courage” to be my one word.  When I was thinking about my one word, I was thinking a word that would help me to be the best I could be.  I made a list & thought about what I should work on.  It came to mind that everything in my life, that was holding me back, had to do with action.  It was being afraid to step out & act on something.  It was being too lazy to act on something.  It was getting my thoughts together.  It was communicating & trusting. It was wallowing in situations, that I just did not have the will to overcome.   All of it was entwined in the word “Courage”.  Since I picked my word, I have never looked back.

Just this past week, I made a commitment to myself that I would have the courage to make some of my relationships better.  I started by talking to my Daddy for about 30 minutes on the phone.  For he & I that is like 3 hours to someone else!  He is retired & doing his own thing.  My mother passed away in 2002.  Since then, he has enjoyed being able to be on his own, without responsibilities.  Sometimes I resent that just a teeny bit.  Probably because I think he should be over at my house, seeing what I need, doing things with my family, hanging around, seeing what I need, telling me everywhere he is going & what he is doing, seeing what I need, etc.,.(Do you see a pattern here?)  He is more of the “if you need me call me” type.  When I need him, I call him & he comes.  HOWEVER,  I thought, you know, I should be less selfish about this.  Not having my feelings hurt because I don’t know what he’s doing every day.   So, I am planning to call him more, visit him more, & then just leave him alone (like he likes  )  Then, I talked to my brother & emailed him & text him multiple times.  He is another that I want to make more time with. He & his family live 4 hours away.  So, that does not always give the best circumstances.  We did say we were visiting each other VERY SOON.  I love him so much.  It’s just when you have your own family & live 200 miles apart, you kinda get in your own routine & forget to call & email & text- not to mention visit.  It takes courage to keep relationships going.  I can’t get my feelings hurt about the relationships with them not being all that I want them to be, when I am not making an effort.  I am using my courage to help be more involved in my Daddy & brother’s lives.  Hopefully, next month I can tell you about some great memories we’ve made !

Thank you, Melanie for having this wonderful link up to tell about our one word.  I have been so inspired by Courage this year.  It has helped me make some really simple decisions .  I already feel better about where this year has been taking me.  I appreciate you stopping by my blog.  It’s always great to have company!  I have to be going now, because I should be washing clothes.