I’ve always liked the idea of choosing one word to galvanize one’s focus for the year. But I’ve never done it until now. It was always difficult for me to choose just ONE word to sum up everything. What if I want to hustle in one area, but rest in another? What if I want less of one thing, and more of another? What if I want courage when it comes to business, but comfort at home? Thus my problem.

But recently, a word kept coming to me, and I decided to run with it. And better yet, make an acronym out of it! (That way I get one word, but several, at the same time. Is that against the rules? Ha!)

2017 Review

But first, a quick year in review.

I (mostly) quit blogging. 

This year, the biggest change in my life was that I basically quit blogging after I started my LipSense business (which continues to rock ‘n roll). I no longer had time or much desire for writing.

And, I found that my business scratched the itch I didn’t know I had. My blog had been an outlet for my creativity and need to share ideas, but what I wanted to do most of all was inspire people. My business does that in a more direct way. Instead of writing about ways for women to start a business from home, I’m actually helping them DO it.

Plus, I’m making a lot more money than I was blogging. Which is the bottom line when you have a family of 9, no?

I (mostly) gave up coffee.

Ahhh… I love the stuff, but it doesn’t love me. Oddly, if I take a sip now, it tastes disgusting. I do enjoy the occasional latte. That one espresso shot doesn’t seem to bother me like coffee does.

I got a diagnosis of Silent Reflux.

It explains symptoms I’ve been having for YEARS. I wish I hadn’t procrastinated about seeing a doctor. One quick look down my throat (endoscopy) and I had a diagnosis. I’m not on meds, but I am making changes to my diet to identify triggers. More on this in a later post.

I kept up my news fast. 

Taking a news fast did wonders for my anxiety. I never seek out news. Sometimes it finds me via Facebook, but interestingly as I utilize the “see fewer posts like this” feature, I see even less.

I quit Bullet Journaling.

I enjoyed using my BuJo, but the recovering perfectionist in me got tired of not having pre-formatted calendars. I’m not neat enough to draw my own. I found that I didn’t use “collections” much. And once I started my business, a traditional calendar/planner was more practical. I bought an Erin Condren for 2018 and LOVE it.

And finally…

My word for 2018: Focus

One thing I want to work on this year is being more focused on what I’m doing, when I’m doing it.

Next up: What Focus means to me, and what’s the deal with those other words!?