Hi everyone! I hope the beginning of 2020 has been good to you. This is my first post of the new decade! It’s been awhile, with a busy and eventful 2019, and problems with the blog that I hope to have corrected soon. I’ll catch you up on a year in review post a bit later, I just wanted to pop in and see if I could get a post up and remind y’all …. I’M STILL HERE!!! A bit battered and worn, but still here.

The Word of the Year.… A lot of the people I know choose a word as a guide for each new year, it’s so much easier than making resolutions, which most of us kick to the curb before the ink is dry. A word allows you to bring about change, but in an unstructured way. Last year my Word was Appreciate. I put it on my letter board that’s hanging by the door in my laundry/utility room so that I see it each time I walk in. It was a good word. It reminded me to be grateful for the small things in my life, to take time to think about the things I have now…. not the things I want in the future. It was a daily reminder that I have enough, more than enough actually and that I am fortunate.

Geez, I had a tough time choosing this year’s Word,  (capitalizing it makes it seem important!)  I stumbled a bit at first, wanting to choose something BIG for the start of a new decade, it had to be epic, right? Nothing had the impact I was searching for …. and for a bit I thought this would be the year without a Word. Eek. I’d be without a guide, rudderless, no resolutions and no Word!!!

I gave myself a head slap and once I cleared the cobwebs, I realized that 2020 may indeed be the beginning of a new decade, but it’s also another year and not to get ahead of myself.  I went online and searched for Word of the Year lists and ideas…. still nothing, so I just put all thoughts of choosing one word aside. I knew it would come to me in its own time and while out running errands last week the word, MINDFUL popped into my head and I had my Word.

Mindful…. Adjective … Conscious, or aware of something. Focusing one’s awareness on the present moment.  Attentive, observant, thoughtful, to do things with intention.  I can be scatterbrained, and do things without thinking…. jumping into projects without a plan, or deciding I want something without paying attention. It can lead to buyer’s remorse, projects half finished, or a monumental list of wants. So being mindful will help me in the same way Intentional did in 2018. That word changed me in a big way, so I think Mindful will keep me on the path I began with Intentional.

So, Happy 2020! I hope it will be your best year ever! Have you chosen your Word yet?  Send me a message and let me know. You can leave it on my Facebook page, My Suburban Sanctuary or DM me on Instagram. Or leave a message here on the blog, I read  and answer each comment. I’m so grateful for you and happy you’ve stuck with me. And if you follow me on Instagram, you know my favorite way to end my posts is to remind everyone, whatever day of the week it is, that it’s the only one you get in the week, be it Monday, Thursday, Saturday… whatever day it is, there is only ONE in a week. It’s your day to make a difference. Spread kindness. The world really doesn’t need more cowbell, but is surely does need kindness. So be kind. And thank you for being patient while this blog thing gets sorted out. I’ve been working to fix the issues. We’ll see. In the meantime, if you see weird stuff (I mean besides my usual weird stuff) on my page, just disregard. I’m determined to fix the issues. I’m mindful of the problems. Holy cow!  My word is working already!

In the meantime, create your sanctuary wherever you live. Don’t wait for someday. Love the home you’re in.