I’ve always loved new years.  The anticipation of what a sparkly new year can bring is exhilarating. It’s a time when people focus on what the coming year could bring and resolve to make the changes that they’ve been putting off in their life, but, lets be honest folks, how many of those resolutions stick?  Ya you may do great at going to the gym for a month but then the old excuses creep back in and somehow it’s not as important anymore.

Ok, yes, when I say lets be honest, if I’m really honest, I’m talking about myself.  I suck at resolutions, there you have it.  I suck at them, that’s why two years ago, as 2012 transitioned into 2013 I choose to stop making resolutions for the coming year and instead to choose a word I wanted to personify it, to saturate and define the coming 365 days.  Last year I chose the word JOY.  2013 had been rough for me and more than anything I wanted 2014 to be filled with pure happiness, special moments and joy filled memories and it was, it really was.

When it came time to pick a word for 2015 I had trouble and ended up sitting on it for a few weeks.  It’s not that I couldn’t find a word, it’s that there were so many in contention.  In the end I selected a word that I felt like all the others could branch out of, 2015 is the year where I want to SHINE.

Contrary to how the phrase may sound I have no desire to be in the spotlight. Instead I want to radiate light, to bring happiness and joy to those around me and to SHINE the light of Christ. The other side of the coin is that I hope to fill my life with light.  Things that edify, people that bring joy and moments of wonder.  I made the board above to reflect my heart and hopes (photos from Pinterest).  Pure light, sparkle and color make me so happy and I hope that the coming year is filled with it.

At the end of this I want to issue a challenge as well.  If you’re like me and suck at resolutions, it’s not to late!  Pick a word that you want to define your year and do your darndest to live it out!

So here we go 2015, it’s time to SHINE!

“As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”
– Nelson Mandela