one little word 2013

well, hello there.
i've missed this space.
let's jump right back in, shall we?

with the exploding popularity of it, i'm sure you have heard of the ali edwards one little word challenge.
i'm in love with this fresh take on new year's resolutions and how focusing on a single tiny word can take you to the most beautiful of places throughout this next year.

my word for 2013?
my one little word that i want to hold close this year and aim for in every moment?
connect.

{via}

most of all, i want to connect with each moment i am given, to the point every inch of myself is absorbed in what is happening right in front of me. if the minute is good or bad, to be in it  and learn from it. whether i am playing roaring dinosaurs with a redheaded spitfire, doing laundry of pinks and purples and sparkles, or at the hospital on the way to yet another doctor appointment, modeling choosing to find fun by jumping in the elevator with my hand strongly clasped to my girl's.

to connect with my wondrous body who has been through so much in its existence of 29 years. to be at peace with the deterioration of it, but to celebrate everything it can still do and embrace the fact many things could be a lot worse at this point in my cystinosis journey. to feel that magic of connection with nature every chance i get, to be one with the lady bugs and blades of grass and the mountains and the sky. (hello hippie moment, yay for connecting with my crunch side!) connect with music in a way that refreshes my soul and sparks me into brand new places. go beyond my comfort zone to find common ground with strangers and click on a piece of the puzzle as small as a shared smile in the midst of this chaotic life or on the other end of the spectrum, something as grand as a new lifelong friendship because i chose to be open to it.

to connect with my little family within meaningful moments, there was definitely a lot of that in 2012 and i do pride myself in making a conscious effort of that. i'll be greedy this year and strive toward more of that. you can bet i want to make the most of what we have, while we have it. connection can be scary; when you put yourself out there and share little bits of your life, whether it be in in person in real time with new friends, or over social media through your words that can easily be misinterpreted as a result of many factors. truly connecting requires vulnerability and an authentic, naked heart is a huge risk. one that you have to own, in all of it's messy beauty.

to ask myself every day, how can i seek out connection today? spark that desire to motivate and fuel the fire of discovering, learning, and at the utmost, growing.

do you have one little word for 2013? i would love to hear about it, what it means to you, your goals, your choices and your life!