STRONG

STRONG – Make It Public, Make It Happen

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One thing about the One Little Word is that it’s sort of hard to keep it in the front of my mind for an entire year.  With GRATITUDE in 2014, I was able to do this by making it a habit.  Everyday, I wrote down my gratitude, then on (most) Fridays, I posted those words on the blog.  At the end of the year, I posted all of them.  That made it stay in my mind.  For STRONG in 2015, I’ve been thinking of ways to keep it going.  Following Elise’s list making strategy, I’m decided to make it public, and make it happen.

And Then They - STRONG Elise JoyThe first strategy for this also has a lot to do with Elise.  For her 30th year, Elise made something each month, then sold it in batches of 29 or 290.  For December, she made a goal sheet and sold it as a letterpress, and a digital file.  I was quick, and snatched one of the letterpresses up – they sold out in minutes!  I was really happy to finally get one of her Make29 offerings!

And Then They - STRONG Elise Joy3I also printed out a few others.  I wanted to put them somewhere in the house that was very visible and public, so I figured the best place was right behind our front door.  They are hard to miss.  My goals are all things that I will do each day that will make me stronger.  I will kiss my family, thus making our relationships stronger.  I probably already do this, but actually paying attention will make it stronger.  I will do a sun salutation each morning.  I will floss every day (this will be hard, I’ve already missed a day!).  I will take my vitamins.  I will get my wrist party.  These will make my body stronger.  I also decided to use it for a weekly goal of writing a letter, and a monthly goal of going on a hike.

And Then They - STRONG Elise Joy2Hopefully, at the end of the year, most of the circles will be filled in.  If I miss a few days, no big deal, that’s not the point.  The point is creating habits, making myself stronger.  And letting it go if I miss a few.  I think it will really be impressive to see a visual representation of how I’m doing.  I know that if I see patterns (like I never floss on Tuesdays, or never get my wrist party on Sundays), I’ll be able to figure out a way to work on it.

And Then They - STRONG Elise Joy4

Raising STRONG Girls – One Little Word 2015

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20140821_123845[1]“You’re so cute!”  “Aren’t you adorable?”  “Look at your dress!”  “Hi, princess!”

It’s constant.  It’s true.  My girls are cute, adorable, well-dressed princesses.  It’s true.  I do my best to make all of those things true.  I’m okay with that.

20140723_121149I also do my best to make sure that my girls are smart, brave, funny, clever, curious, caring, and strong.aIMG_3036  I have told Alma that whenever anyone tells her she’s cute, she should say, “Thanks!  I’m strong (or brave, or smart, or adventurous), too!”

I’ve taught her that princesses are brave.  I’ll tell her, “Be brave, like a princess!”  I know that people will call her a princess, I’m just trying to change what that means to her.  (isn’t it odd that we call little girls princesses their whole childhoods, and it seems like a good thing, but then they grow up, and become women, and suddenly being called a princess isn’t a good thing, it means that she’s spoiled or self-centered, or high maintenance…?)

20140730_100450[1]Think about the words that we use to describe little boys and girls.  Girls get passive words like cute, sweet, silly, princess.  Girls get complemented on their clothes, their hair, their appearance.  Now boys.  Boys get active words like fast, cool, strong, brave, funny, super-hero.  Boys get complimented on their actions, their achievements.  I do this, you do this.  It’s just the way it is.

wpid-picshop-c4685b3f97e5fa4b4c1ca5f5329b16c2.pngMy nephew once told my mom that girls are cute, and boys are cool.  I decided then, and there, that I would compliment his cute clothes next time I saw him.  He was wearing swim shorts, and I said, “Cute shorts!”  He looked so confused.  He really had no idea what I mean, or how to take what I had said.

20140702_180341(0)I want my girls to be girls, but to not have the feeling that being a girl is somehow less than being a boy.  I want their words, their self-image, their opinions to be active, not passive.  I want them to be strong.

wpid-img_20140922_102525.jpgI want them to be STRONG.

So, that’s my word for 2015.  I want them to be strong.  I want to be strong.

I want to get in shape, physically.  I will focus (ahhhh… focus) on that quite a bit this year.  I want to be STRONG.  I want to be active, flexible, strong.

wpid-picshop-3bb0bd13469606a13e3140dbd9500880.pngBut, I also want to have strength other places in my life.  I want to have strong relationships – with Jesse, the girls, my friends, my family, God.  I want to be strong in my choices, opinions, convictions.  I want to be resilient, curious, strong.

I want to be a good role model for my girls.  I want them to know that their mommy was a strong woman, inside and out.  I want to show them how I can be a princess – a princess who is brave, strong, cute, and their mother.

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