Last year I chose one little word to be my mantra for the year, and I think it was a pretty successful choice. I chose BUILD because I had hoped that we would be able to build the foundation of the life that we wanted and I think we did a pretty good job with it. In 2014 I spent a lot of time figuring out what I wanted for myself, and 2015 was about figuring it out in terms of the family that Chuck and I were building together.

In 2015 we bought a house, got married and made a number of other small life changes, and now looking back it all I’m in awe of how much we were able to accomplish together. We truly did begin to build the life that we both want. There is still a lot to figure out obviously, but we are taking this all one day at a time. I get the feeling that this coming year is going to be no different in terms of the challenges that we are going to face. There are a lot of things that we both want to accomplish, a few more big decisions that we have weighing on us, but I think we can do this. We can live the dream life that we want, on our terms.

Isn’t that what everyone is looking for any way?

I really, really want to get there. I know it’s going to take time, and be a little hard, but it’s doable, luckily we are simple people so we aren’t looking for much. After a year of hard work I think we are ready to take some chances, and that’s why this year’s one little word is BRAVE.

I don’t want to hold back because I’m scared, or because society says I shouldn’t do something. I don’t want to fall in line with everyone else’s just ok. I want to chase my dreams and that is exactly what I plan to do this year.

There are of course the smaller goals that I think we each have every year that will also be a part of this larger goal. I’d like to get a little healthier (you know actually work out, drink more water type of thing), finish a number of projects around the house, spend more down time away from electronics, and hike a lot more. I’d also like to be brave enough to let certain relationships that are not serving me well go, and build stronger bonds with the ones that are. I think letting go is the hardest part, but sometimes it’s for the best. The small thing that I want to do most this year is actually take some time and check back in with these goals. I kind of fell off the wagon with that last year, as I seem to do every year. I want to change that for 2016 and remember everything that I want to do. I would love to accomplish everything on my list.

What are some of your goals? Do you subscribe to the one little word idea?