My word for 2022 was mindful. I tried! I tried to pay attention to what I was doing, where my thoughts were going, and I’m fairly confident I’m more mindful that I was at the end of 2021 but not nearly as mindful as I need to be so I’ll continue to work on that.
My new word is Discipline!
I am so lacking in self-discipline. In the recent past, I feel like I’ve lost some of the very little self-discipline I had in a few areas.
For so many years . . probably 25 or more, I had a menu for every single week. In the past year or so, we’ve been going out so much that either I ended up not having time to get a meal on the table so we’d get something out, or we would leave the house for a quick trip that turned into a longer trip and we’d be starving and grab something out. That lack of discipline has been costly because eating out costs so much more than eating at home; and we’re eating a lot of junk food. Also, I just do not enjoy eating out.
I need to get to bed at a decent hour. I’m up til 2 or 3 a.m. most nights because there’s no stopping spot with the cross stitching. Then when I go upstairs, I realize there’s laundry to be folded, a few dishes in the sink to be washed, the kitchen needs to be mopped, the trash needs to go out. My goal is to go through the house about 8 p.m., if clothes need to be folded, get it done. If dishes need to be washed, do it. If the floor needs to be mopped, do it. Then I can go downstairs and stitch til bed time, without having the last minute things to do upstairs.
Up until recently, I would never go to the store without a list. I would never look at the items that weren’t on my list. Lately, every time we’re out, Vince wants to go by Aldi and Walmart. We wander the aisles. We buy things we don’t need. The cabinets are bulging. I end up taking a can of weird beans and trying to find a recipe to use them. I want to get back to placing an online order for groceries and picking it up curbside. That way I’m not tempted to pick up something because it looks interesting. I’m not going to buy a bag of lemons because they cost less per lemon, though I only need three lemons. It isn’t a bargain if half the lemons go to waste.
Yesterday I had been watching a video about sugar and (Dr. Berg) and he was talking about the benefits of giving up sugar. I told myself . . I’m giving up sugar for 14 days (he recommended starting with 14 days). This morning I spent about an hour debating with myself about having a Dr. Pepper. You can guess how that ended. Also, almost everything I buy has a price point at which I will not buy it. Dr. Pepper has hit that point. I will not pay $12 for a 24 pack of Dr. Pepper. Yes, it’s 50 cents per can. That’s not a big deal. But it wasn’t that long ago that I paid $4.99 for a 24 pack. I can live, probably much better, without Dr. Pepper in my life so when the ones we have here are gone, I’m not buying more and hopefully, IF the price ever comes down, I will have decided I don’t need or want Dr. Pepper back in my life.
I don’t need to tell you there’s no discipline in buying supplies for my hobbies. Honestly, almost every area of my life needs more discipline so . . my word of the year is discipline.
Susan says
It’s a good choice, and I like the reasons you listed, plus the ideas you have for changing things. I’m not picking one, but if I did, it would be routine, because that’s where I find my discipline! Cancer has helped a lot with sugar. It loves sugar, so I can’t. There are also many sugary things I can’t eat after the surgery I had, like chocolate and soda, so that has helped, too.
Tricia says
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on discipline. It feels shameful to admit that I lack discipline, and this post helped to bring this very real struggle out into the open. Please keep sharing your progress in this area over the year.
Cindy F says
I hate to admit that Discipline should be my word too! I haven’t put too much thought about a word for the year because I’m really bad about keeping it in mind…see how that goes? I think I tried it once or twice and then gave up. If I decide to have a word for the year I will have to write it out or make a wall hanging…something to remind me and keep me focused.
Joyce says
I like your word for the year. I need more discipline in my life too! My word for the year is “Prosper”. Not as in making lots of money and being prosperous that way, but in the biblical sense of God giving me hope and a future. I forgot to choose a word last year, but I was in the middle of chemo and then surgery, so I have a good excuse.
Anne Kirby says
Oh my gosh Judy. I have pondered all of these things. I have no set schedule, my husband works 3rd shift and I keep drifting that way…I get up and it’s dark, and who can do housework in the dark? Plus, every trip to the thrift store means purchases. Not to mention shopping online! My word for the year will be FINISH!! I keep finding half done projects everywhere. I’m starting with the 7 quilts that need quilting. Let’s go!!
Elle says
Giving up soda is challenging. These last few years I might have 2 a year? I don’t miss it at all but on that rare occasion I really want that fizzy cold stuff.
Can’t wait for the “leave the house once a month” to start for you!
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Vince did go to town today (gone for the second time at the moment). Yesterday he was talking about me going with him and where we could eat out. This morning, I think he knew I wasn’t wanting to go so he said “If you want to stay home, that’s ok.” I said “I do want to stay home!”
Lorraine says
My attempt at discipline was to make a list on my phone, screenshot it, share it with my daughter. I would make a check when tasks were completed, send her a new screenshot at the end of the day. It gave me accountability and dear daughter makes a great cheerleader!
Deb E says
My word for 2023 should be “discipline”, but I’ve opted for “serenity”, as I really, really need to start focusing on doing things that make ME feel more serene in my life. I’d be a much happier person, and more able to help others if I work on that this year!
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Good luck. Sounds like a great word for many of us. There are so many good ones.