Give me strength

Last year was the first time I'd tried having a word - or two - to keep in my mind through the year. My words were 'simple' and 'focus', because I wanted to scale back to doing only the things I really loved or wanted/needed to do.

It worked. (Mostly.)

I've not been in any rush to think of a word for this year. I wanted it to come to me as I dipped my toes into 2013. Which it has.

As I look at my year ahead, I see lots of opportunity, work, and a stack of parenting. I see precious moments I want to capture and remember forever - this is the only year my baby will be a baby, and the final year Abbey will be with me before she starts school.

And so the word that keeps coming to me is - STRENGTH.

I need the strength to maintain that focus and simplicity of last year.

The strength to do my work around my family, not in the middle of them. And yet, the strength to put myself first sometimes too.

The strength to be the best parent I can be.

The strength to take on these opportunities and believe in myself.

Staying on top of my emotional strength, and yet allowing myself to have the occasional bad day without reading more into it.

Physical strength - I want to push myself and be the fittest I've ever been. Try new types of exercise, get better at the things I suck at.

Strength, without pressure. That's the aim.

2013? I'm ready for you.