My Word of the Year is . . mindful.
I have heard that word more and more in recent years and honestly wasn’t even sure exactly what it meant. Here’s the definition from Merriam-Webster:
I’m so NOT mindful in some ways. I need to do better. We’ll be in the restaurant and when we leave, Vince will say “Did you notice the lady in the red dress at the table next to us?” No. He’ll say “She had on big, black glasses.” Nope, never noticed her. Or, I’ll cook something off the top of my head and Vince will say “What spices did you put in this?” Of course I used salt, black pepper, maybe garlic powder but I’m just going through the spice cabinet and not always paying attention to what I use. He’ll say “You don’t remember what you just used?” No! It isn’t that I forgot . . I just didn’t pay attention.
I can see out the front windows and I may be sitting, facing the window and Vince will say “Was that the mail man that just passed?” I don’t know. I wasn’t looking. He’ll say “You’re looking out the window!” I may have been looking at the sky or at a bird and was oblivious to everything else.
I know I can do better because sometimes I notice every detail about everything but I just need to be more mindful not only of my circumstances but of lots of things including my thoughts and where I let those thoughts go.
Not that it matters but the other day we were coming back from taking Addie to her mom. We passed a house right on the side of the road that had a new fence. The speed limit is 45 on that road. I was driving so we were going 45 or less. I said “Look . . they got a new fence. I like it!” Vince was looking straight ahead. All he had to do was turn his head a smidgen to the left and he would have seen it.
Me: You didn’t even look! I like that fence. I’m turning around and going back so you can see it.
Vince: I saw it!
Me: I don’t think you looked at it.
Vince: I did. What do you want me to say?
Me: What color was it?
Vince Brown!
Me: IT WAS WHITE!
Vince was not being very mindful, nor was he paying attention to his wife’s requests. 🙂 He honestly didn’t care – he isn’t ready to put up a fence but when he is . . that’s the fence I want and I know exactly where I saw it! 🙂
Cindy F says
I like that as a word of the year. I had never heard about having a word of the year until a few years back. I started with a word and then about March it would fall by the wayside and I’d forget. So, not sure I will have a word but it would be nice to have a thought to focus on when life gets in the way. I may still come up with one.
April Reeves says
I have one even if I didn’t realize it – productive! I want to spend more of my spare time making progress on things I want and need to do and less time on activities that add little to no value – tv, surfing my phone, games on my phone. Mostly cleaning, cooking more, exercise, kids, working on the house and spending time on a hobby. Less passive and more active activities.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I tell myself we all need down time. I’m not one to “waste” time playing games or watching TV but oh, the time I spend on the computer! 🙁