Truth be told, I wasn’t sure if my word for 2018 would reveal itself to me before the New Year began. As I shared in my previous post, I didn’t want to overthink or force it — rather, I decided to trust that it would come naturally.
And it did! Last night while my husband and I were watching a movie, it popped into my brain as clear as could be. JOY. There it was! The funny thing is that it was SO obvious, and has come up multiple times this month in different ways.
First of all, I was randomly inspired to write a song called “J-O-Y” at the beginning of December, which I used in my early childhood classes and music therapy sessions. I loved singing this song; it encouraged me to find joy in those moments as well as throughout my day.
And second, JOY made an appearance in the bedtime story I told my son two nights ago. It was about a deer, which I named Joy without even thinking about it. Parker remembered the story the next morning, and told me that he dreamt about her which made him feel really happy.
Looking back after my moment of clarity last night, those were clearly signs that I need more joy in my life. I’ve felt genuinely happy most of the time throughout this past year, but I want to take my happiness to the next level.
I’m striving for joyful in 2018. I want to find renewed joy in my work, in the time I spend with my children and family, in my hobbies and self-care practices, and in my friendships. I’ve realized that the happier I am, the better life becomes in ALL aspects, so focusing on JOY seems like the best way to uplevel every part of my life.
I’m hoping to spend some time this week fleshing out my goals and vision for 2018, all of which will be infused with the pursuit of joy. In the meantime, though, I want to wish you a very happy (or should I say joyful!?) New Year. Cheers to an amazing 2018!
