My 2015 “One Word” is…

A couple of years ago, I adopted the trend of forgoing the long list of New Year’s Resolutions (lose 15 pounds, save for family beach vacation, pay off car loan, etc.), which are often dismissed two weeks into the year because tracking them and motivating yourself is often overwhelming, and instead using the Ali Edwards model of “One Little Word.”  It involves choosing a word and imbedding it into your lifestyle, bettering your life in the new year in whatever way you choose.

In 2013, I chose SOAR as my One Little Word.  It was fitting because that year, Greg and I earned the Scentsy Incentive Trip for two to Costa Rica, and FLEW all-expenses paid to a fabulous resort vacation, where we hiked a rainforest with SOARING trees and got to ZIPLINE across a mountain.  My business was booming, but I was burning the candle at both ends, and my family life and health was suffering.

In 2014, I chose NURTURE.  I knew I needed to nurture the relationships with my children, my siblings, and my husband, as my workaholic, perfectionist personality had us constantly bickering and me constantly pressuring.  I needed to be more nurturing to my business, helping the leaders on my team achieve the things I had already accomplished.  I needed to nurture my home and take care of much needed repairs.  Most of all I needed to nurture myself and reduce my stress level to combat the anxiety disorder and depression I had fought so hard in 2013 (you can read that journey here).  My blood pressure was at an all time high and my weight had really taken “soar” literally!

At the end of 2014, Greg and I decided that change was in order.   As an Uber driver, I had fallen in love with the area just north of downtown.  It was always so vibrant and ever changing (watching the NEW San Antonio Children’s Museum go up daily has been amazing!), and the evolution of the sharing economy here in San Antonio gave us hope that using technology from AirBnB, we could have a smaller version of the Bed and Breakfast I had always dreamed of owning.  Greg already worked downtown, right on the river, so we spent most of our free time down there anyway.

But, that would involve a MOVE.  Selling our 1997 cookie-cutter 3-living-area gated subdivision home and all that lifestyle entailed, finding and purchasing an affordable home that would lend itself to styling and renting to overnight guests, downsizing from 3000 sq. feet to probably about 1000 of our own.  It seemed so POSSIBLE.  The kids are mostly out of the house, we have half of zoo of pets, but they are mostly geriatric and sedentary, my teaching degree was pretty much portable, and Uber is providing good money in the meantime.

Living downtown also means MOVING as there is always something new to try– sharing with my Uber riders all the fabulous restaurants, weekly events, cultural festivals, and historic buildings always excites me and I know we will have to force ourselves to keep trying new things so we can try them ALL!!

Living downtown also means more opportunities to get physically active– both the neighborhoods we are looking at have fabulous walkable parks, restaurants everywhere down there are pet friendly, and there are miles and miles of beautiful San Antonio Riverwalk to explore.  MOVING is the first step to getting my weight and blood pressure under control.

So In 2015, my One Little Word, the word that I will embrace with all my being and embed fully into my new lifestyle is MOVE.  I am excited to see where it takes me.

What is YOUR 2015 One Little Word?  I’d love to hear why you chose it!  May your 2015 be full of blessings and promise and joy– HAPPY NEW YEAR from Greg and I!!