I can make anything complicated.
Anything I tell ya.
Can I give you an example? If The Husband calls and asks me to meet him for dinner, a simple question requiring a simple answer, right? Not for this old girl…he asks and immediately three thousand words leap from my pie hole.
the pups…, the calories…, the time…, it’s really cold…,eating dinner so late…,(and of course now there’s always:) the GLUTEN…!
What I really want to say is simply: yes!
Now that’s a small example, but friends, if you lived a day in my head some of you would go stark raving mad. There are sooooo many thoughts. So many words. So many complications.
Maybe it’s all those words in my head, maybe it’s because I’m 50 and have the urge to pare down, maybe it’s a result of getting overwhelmed as I’ve learned to eat gluten free…or perhaps it was the influence of my favorite book, One Thousand Gifts. After spending all of 2011 counting gifts, beautiful, simple gifts from God, I’m learning to value all things simple.
Whatever it is, I deeply desire simplicity in my life.
“Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious
and adding the meaningful”
~John Maeda
I love this quote, it captures my initial attraction to simplicity.
My initial desire to have simplicity…
~in my spirit…
~in my home…
~in my day to day routine…
So that’s mine…have you chosen your one word for 2012? (Or as my friend Tom does, your two words for 2012? 🙂 )
~Wishing you a day full of simple joys my friends~
(And please be safe this weekend)
May I please use your word, “Simplicity” as my word for 2012 too?
Best,
Susan
Yes yes yes Susan!!!! Lets move to simplicity together! xoxo
Oh, yes, yes, yes! I SIMPLY love it~~
You are wise. 2011 was my year of no so that I could make room for better yeses. In the end, it was about returning to simplicity and the basics. It made our days smoother and sweeter. I wish the same for you in your year of simplicity.
I’m feeling that 2012 is going to be a year of GROWTH (but hopefully not in the size of my britches).
Happy New Year, Robin!
Great word for any year! Currently reading,
Freedom of Simplicity, Richard J. Foster.
I may just join you and choose this word as
my 2012 Tresure Chest.
Jesus spoke to the heart of the matter when he
taught us that if the eye were single, the whole
body would be full of light (Matthew 6:22).
Robin, your spirit is so gentle, and I appreciate your transparency so MUCH. I can completely relate to stressing out over every decision…I couldn’t even get my theme down to a word, so I was sort of toying with “less is more,” but that sounds corny, and maybe simplicity is what I really mean.
I love it! I have been praying this week what my word would be. Having a word of the year was new to me in 2011 and it didn’t last very long. I’m hoping to be better this year. Now I think I will have to have to words. “Simplify and Serve” I need to Serve to share our Father’s love but need to Simplify so I can Serve without spreading myself to thin. I love your posts Robin! Thank you!
to, two and too Oh My!
I can totally relate to the scenario you shared! lol That is SO me…
I hadn’t thought about my new word for this coming new year, and I do love yours. I just may have to use it as well!
Jeannette
Oh I love your word, perfect. I think mine will be Peace. Hope you have a very Blessed New Year. Hugs, Marty
Your word is almost exactly the same as mine: SIMPLIFY. Like you, I need to work at making things in my life less complicated.
Have a safe and marvelous New Year!
love you so much…..
love how you shared this… you make me giggle…..
such a light you are…
my word is inspire….
not really original….but it is my goal for 2012 for sure. 🙂
sending lots of love to you and yours…xo
Simplicity …..wonderful!!!! ………an environment, a state of mind, a state of being. Looking forward to seeing what God does with you through this in 2012. My word for 2012 – peace 😉
Leisha…peace. I simply love that word my friend~ xo
You always pick the word my soul needs. I may have to borrow yours!
Have a simply beautiful New Years!
Ann
2011 my word was trust. I have learned so much. For 2012 my word is Joy. I understand how you feel. I am trying to make things simple in our lives and home for my family I understand how you feel.
I love your word! And I love simplicity!!!! 🙂 Can’t wait to read all about it this year. 😉 I was reading in Luke a few weeks ago and the verse “but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” really stood out. It’s not that what Martha was doing was wrong, it was just that what Mary chose was better!! I want to choose what is better! So………my word for 2012 is “choose.” Here is to a year (and a life) of choosing what is better, whether it is sitting at Jesus’ feet or healthier habits or my time spent better. 🙂
Love that word as well — have it as a reminder in 2 places in my home with wall words. I have to have simplicity & calm moments in my life or my spirit feels unbalanced and in a place of unrest. I was just speaking with the Lord this morning about this upcoming year. I am looking so forward to getting out into the garden this spring. Having been so tired before my diagnosis of celiac disease this August, my yard has suffered these last few years and needs MUCH work. The Lord has used the garden to speak to me for many years in the past… so many good lessons from the Master Gardener about weeds (sin), preparing the soil (of my heart), planting, watering, having deep roots, reaping a harvest, etc. He is going to speak to me again in the garden this year, and this excites me ! Today He used the garden again to speak to me. He told me this morning to “embrace the process” … basically not to focus on just what I see right now in my life — the hard/difficult parts going on (like in a garden… the weeding, preparing the soil, etc) but to have faith and know there is a larger picture, a process going on where He is at work in ways I can’t see… to believe there WILL come a harvest someday and have faith. He will bring beauty and a harvest. This verse gives me comfort and hope: “Jesus said to them, ‘My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.’ ” (John 5:17) I am confident and comforted in that my Father loves me, my husband, my family, and is at work in ways I cannot see. I am learning to embrace this and believe what I cannot yet see. So my word for 2012 is EMBRACE. Much love to you !
Love your word and actually how many of the words that we are picking somehow tie into one another; my word is freedom. Freedom from all the complications (hence, simplicity) that are tying me down and keeping me from moving on and really living. Hopefully we can all encourage each other in keeping our word active in our lives 😉
I just got my word this a.m. It’s TRANSFORM. (Rom. 12:2). I’m asking God to transform me into a new person by changing the way I think. Then I will learn to know His will for me, which is good & pleasing & perfect.
Also, I’ve been working on “simplicity” for a while now. Am donating or throwing out “stuff” & sorting other “stuff” into plastic bins.
Barbara I love your word! It’s bold and I imagine God will answer your prayer in a big way…throwing out and donating is in my future too my friend~
Love your word! Maybe I’ll take on two. I was just praying last night over what next year’s theme word will be…I’m thinking it needs to be “thankful”. I just read Ann Voskamp’s book-WOW! But your word has already inspired me. As I was reading your blog this morning I saw the tutorial for the coffee cup cozies and have decided to make them for some friends. I was very sick before Christmas and my family came first so the friends got a little neglected. Anyway, this would be a SIMPLE way to show them that I am THANKFUL for them. Thanks!
Kristen, I can not think of a better way to spend a year…learning more about giving thanks~ Let me know how the coffee cozies turn out! I also have a post on no-sew cozies that are even simpler~
i love how the Lord answers before we really even ask (isaiah somewhere is the complete verse to back me up!). when you shared your year in review of your word for this year, i casually thought, “wonder what my word for 2012 will be?” BOOM! the word PEACE entered my mind. since then, His choice has been confirmed in several specific ways, and so i am walking forward into next year knowing what He wants me to center my thoughts on. i have a feeling there will be some SQUIRMING before i experience this PEACE, but i’m game. bring on 2012!
Simplicity is so very good! I chose “release” because “letting go.” is two words! I have a friend who lost a baby shortly after childbirth. She handled this loss with such and dignity and grace, I was in awe. When I asked her how she did it, she replied, “I’ve learned to hold my children with an open hand.” Wow. That’s how I want to be–not holding anything tightly, but to be able to say with my lips, heart and mind, “Lord, not my will, but Thy will be done.”
K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple Silly!!!!!
Janay…AMEN sister! xo
I think my word will be “learn”. I so want to learn more….yes even at this ripe old age! My son gave me a book for Christmas called Conversations With God, and I am going to dive into it and hopefully LEARN more about Him. I also want to learn more about how to improve my blog. I want to learn so much!!! I will HAVE to learn patience and tolerance and quickly: our daughter and SI are moving in with us on 2/1 while their new house is being built!!!! Along with their 2 dogs! Oh this quiet, peaceful house is about to change and change bigtime! I will take you and all my readers along for the ride:):):) Happy New Year my dear, sweet friend!!!! I hope you find SIMPLICITY in this new year as you wish. XOXO
Pinky…I just LOVE it! To “learn” we have to continually pay attention, be on alert to the little things going on around us…what a great way to grow in the new year! And I’ll pray for this once in a lifetime opportunity to serve your adult daughter and SIL! I bet you look back on this as such a precious time. (And I’m betting also that you’ll learn a whole lot!)
xo
My word for 2012 is TIME. I realized that I need to slow things down a bit, stop being involved in more things that I can handle and take TIME to be with those I love and do the things that I love. So I will be looking for different ways to spend my Time more wisely and to save TIME to spend enjoying myself.
If you have a chance, please come visit and read about my journey this year to be HAPPY.
Hugs,
Debbie
Debbie that’s a wonderful word! The idea of slowing down and using our time more wisely appeals to me so much! I visited your Christmas blog 🙂 the other day, I’ll drop in again this week …sending you love and prayers for a year of time well spent my friend~
I simply love it 🙂
Carol~xo 🙂
Just as you struggle with simplicity Robin, I struggle with keeping life in balance. So my word for 2012 is — BALANCE.
Rogene…balance…doesn’t it sound secure? Looking forward to hearing what God does in you this year …xo
I love the possibility the word simplicity brings. You’re so thoughtful in your process of picking your words! I chose the word “light,” this year. It has an abundance of meanings and I am looking forward to seeing how they transpire in my daily life.
Happy New Year 2012 sweet friend!
Vicky, just reading the word ‘light’ evokes emotion in me…love it
I love your word for this year, Robin! That is something I have been striving for also and I have to keep reminding myself. I am 50 also so maybe that does have something to do with it! Thanks for the inspiring post!!
“Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious
and adding the meaningful” what a great quote. And a great word for the year!
OK, for some reason God has me fixated on Simeon. I know little about him but know the Word says he was righteous and devout. I want to be that too so I too will have the Holy Spirit reveal what He desires to me. On the surface these words sound churchy and legalistic but I want to BE the true meaning of what God calls me to be RIGHTEOUS and DEVOUT about. Thanks Robin for this exercise. I believe this will be the third year you have encouraged me to do this and I thank you. I “simply” want to be righteous and devout to God and His ways…Blessings to your simplicity in 2012!
I hear a…it’s my word for the year too.
Great minds think alike…
x Marnie
My word is focus. I have several hats flying through the air, and each time one lands on my head the others need to fall to the side so they don’t become a distraction. I couldn’t help but notice the clean, simple lines and patterns of your blog. Nicely done.
Patti, thank you for noticing! And focus…yes, that word is so full of potential! Blessings on your journey~ xo