The evolution of one word

I have seen on a few different blogs that people choose one word for the coming year.  They choose something they want to aspire to or have a part of their everyday life.  In January, I thought a lot about this.  I tried to pick a word.  I couldn't.  I couldn't narrow it down to just one thing. Some words I thought about included patience, relax, enjoy.  But none seemed to be my mantra for 2009.  I have it now.

And here is how I discovered it.  I know I am a high stress type of girl.  Have been for a long time.  Don't necessarily like that about myself but it is me.  And I am not the most patient person either.  (But really after 8 years of teaching junior high and high school kids, who is?)  In fact, at my past school, we had to pick a value to be hung outside our classroom, I chose patience.  Unfortunately I moved from that classroom at the end of the year and never totally gained that attribute.  I am working on these though.  In the past week, it has really been brought home.

1.  I read this BYU devotional by Jeffrey R. Holland entitled Remember Lot's Wife.  And it made me realize that I need to better enjoy the day.  I shouldn't long for the past or the future but enjoy what I have today.  Nobody, including myself, has a perfect life.  But I have 2 great kids, a loving husband, fun friends and family.  I have lots to enjoy.  I have lots that make me happy.

2.  In Relief Society on Sunday, we had the Joseph Smith lesson entitled Valiant in the Cause of Christ.  My friend Dusty taught the lesson and had two points that really hit me hard.  The first was to do things cheerfully.  I know I am guilty of often times doing things not so cheerfully.  And then we talked about different Christlike attributes and working on attaining those attributes.  She encouraged us to write down one we could work on.  And thought I didn't write one down there (Allie was coloring on my paper), I thought about it.  (And now I've written it down and am hanging it up so I will see it many times a day.)

3.  My sweet Laney must have known what I really needed all along.  For the past few weeks when I am growing impatient with my strong-willed almost 3 year old, she can tell.  And when I am about to lose it with her, she points to my forehead and says, "Be happy, mommy!"  And I can't help but laugh.  (Strangely enough, when she wakes up grumpy and I try this strategy on her, she just snaps back, "No.")

So that's it.  My word is Be happy.  That is my mantra for this year.  I am going to try to stress less about things beyond my control.  And be a little more patient with my girls and Erich and everyone else who has to come in contact with.  And I am going to just try to enjoy 2009.  I am just going to be happy. 

 I am way too lucky to not be.