Acts of Stillness - STILL - My One Little Word for 2014

These past few years for us have been non-stop and overflowing with constant motion. New home projects, (soon to be) blog re-design, friendships, continued personal improvements etc... While progression in life is a must, the pace at which you choose to take it can either help you grow, or quickly have you putting into perspective what and who, matters the most.

2013 was a whirlwind of awesomer moments and a LOT of inner self-discovery, and for that I'm grateful. But this next year will be very different for our little family, the blog and me especially. I'm not sure if it's the fact that I'm getting older, or that I just feel like time is moving MUCH too fast, but I've decided that I'm consciously making the effort, for at least the next 12 months, to just be... Still.

Only in our stillness, can we truly comprehend all the awesomeness God has granted us.

photos from our recent family trip to Cancun, that we FINALLY took!

My one little word (OLW) for 2014, is STILL.

For the past little while I've chosen a single word at the beginning of each new year that helps me to stay tuned in to what thing(s) I want to work the most on.
This time around, as I sat quietly on a beautiful beach in Cancun, unplugged, watching my most favorite people in the whole world wander up and down the shore without a care in the world, I determined that it's easy for me to be the girl with lots on my plate, mind and to-do list; but not-so-easy to be the one who says "no" to people or "thanks, but no thanks" when opportunities arise.

It seemed sort of cliche to me when I stopped to think about it, because I'm typically quite the stubborn person, and tend to do what a want, when I want (within reason)... but I strangely realized that while awesomer was awesome, without knowing it, I had thrown myself into a sort of tailspin where I was living a fast-life that had more control over ME, than I did of IT! I was slowly letting situations and people shape the way I felt about things, instead of the other way around.
So, I started exercising my right to just simply, be still. Whether that was keeping my mind and mouth still and walking away from toxic people and situations, or just silently boycotting things like events, blogging, Instagramming or even my inbox, for a few precious hours on the couch with my kids, hubby or a night out with a genuine, close friend.

This year I'm allowing myself the time to practice #actsofstillness- (so you may see this hashtag within my social media outlets often) to focus on enjoying my beautiful home, family, new body and life, without letting the negative noise or pressure from others and the world, to keep moving at a ridiculous pace, distract me.

"Happiness is not a matter of intensity, but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony. There are seasons when to be Still demands immeasurably higher strength than to act."

What's your "goal" for 2014? Do you have a quote, phrase, picture or simple word that has been tapping at your heartstrings lately that you want to try and implement this upcoming year?