word of 2013

Years ago, I hopped on the Ali Edwards train and started choosing a word to represent what I hoped the new year would hold or what I wanted to focus on.  As awful as it sounds, I can't remember all of the words I've chosen, but I know that "courage" and "push" were two of the last four.  Some years, it obviously sticks more than others.  

For reasons that I'm not going to delve into, this year is different.  I'm in a different place than I have been for the past 4 or 5 years come January 1st, and this is truly a good thing.  It might not always feel like a good thing, but really, it is.  

I've been thinking about what my word for the year should be for about a week now and was having a tough time coming up with anything that actually felt right or that felt like it mattered.  A coworker of mine has dubbed 2012 the year of change, and 2013 the year of magic.  While I agree with 2012 being a year of change, and I hope that 2013 holds nothing but magic, the word just didn't seem to fit with my plans or my hopes.  

I woke up like a shot quite early this morning.  I wasn't very happy about not being able to fall back asleep, but literally within five minutes of realizing that yes, I was in fact up for the day, my word for 2013 popped into my head - pretty much out of nowhere - and I was instantly attached to it.  That's how I know a word is good...I get attached.  

There are lots of things going on for me in 2013.  I'm on track to finish up the additional certification at university that I've been working on for the past couple of years now.  I'm taking on something at work that I know will challenge me, but it's something that I want and need to do.  I'll be moving into my first home that will truly be my own.  I have some tentative travel plans and I've gotten into some good habits over the last four months that I hope will continue on.  There are people who are no longer in my life (which is a good thing) and I've started to form some new friendships with good people who I really enjoy spending time with.  Everything isn't perfect - far from it - but I'm starting to see past those imperfect parts, which is something that I couldn't seem to do before.  

I got out of bed and made this with some stencils and a cereal box this morning.  Not sure where exactly it will go yet.

It's going to be that kind of year.