If you've been following along, you might remember that my Word for the year is Simplify. As the word says, I've devoted my year to letting go and releasing what no longer serves me well.

If the discoveries I had this year only involved the things packed away in boxes, this chosen word would have been so much more, well, Simple. But alas, Simplifying one's life also involves digging into your beliefs, your relationships, your goals.

And so it is with anything new that we choose to take on, we will be "forced" to discover things that we were not anticipating.

Adopting Courtney Carver's Project 333 helped me clear out my closet of clothing items that weren't really my favourites. Perhaps, a little more difficult when you live in the northern hemisphere where there are definitely four seasons. And for you fellow Calgarians reading this, sometimes four seasons in one day!

Cleaning out my closet, re-defining what I truly need, and giving thought to why I bought that particular item (yes, sometimes I was sad, bored or admittedly looking for the high of finding a prize.) Now, I have less morning choices of what to wear and more mental (time and) ability for more important decisions.

I spent time this year listening to more podcasts including those from the always informative and certainly entertaining the Minimalists, they helped me re'assess the use of my time. Funny how fifteen minutes listening in the staffroom, can have the ability to set the tone for the day.

Once again as we've often heard, surround yourself with like-minded people. You will learn and grow together, there will always be folks who disagree with you. It. Doesn't. Matter. Love these guys!

Treasure and appreciate those you love. I have aimed to keep in better contact with my most favourite people. They are my heroes.

Almost all of them have been through some profound change this year. They have continued to live with integrity, with gusto, with appreciation and with humour. They have chosen to not let life get them down. How fortunate am I to have been reminded of that this year. This lovely, worthwhile article on relationships is a gentle reminder to all of us. We are the summation of the five people we spend our time with. We need to choose wisely.

As I stop to think about how quickly this past year seems to have gone by, I realize how much more I have learned. I hope that some of this personal growth has in some way been passed on to you through my words. Thank you for giving me the privilege of being a part of your life.

Now, my next goal is to identify what my next Word of the Year will be. Yes I am leaning to one in particular and you will see it announced here in time for the new year.


What choices did you make this year that set the tone for your year? (Tweet This)


If you had to identify one Word for your 2017, what would it be? (Tweet This)