One Little Word 2013 – REACH

I’ve always said that my life would be so much easier if I was just a few inches taller.

Standing at a lofty 5’2”, I’ve always been the shortest one in my family. And even amongst my closest friends. But seeing as how there’s not a whole I can do about it, I’ve gotten pretty used to it. The only problem is that I am fiercely independent {dear mom, I’m sorry…times infinity} and sometimes those two characteristics don’t play nicely with each other.

For instance…like most people I suppose, I put the kitchen items I use least in the hardest to get to places. Case in point – the bread basket. I’ll spare you the minutiae and the myriad of reasons why I put it at the very top of the cupboard, but suffice it say we don’t use it all that often. Anyway, a while back I needed to get it down and on any given day, there are a number of options that I might employ to retrieve said bread basket.

• Jump up and down
• Get the yard stick to try to fish it from the top shelf
• Climb up on the countertop and try not fall backwards
• Go around and get the barstool to climb up on

This last time however, my dear husband happened to be in the kitchen and seeing my futile attempts at getting the basket, he comes over and says, “Here babe…let me help you.” To which I replied – say it with me now! – “I can do it myself.” Let’s just say that Tripp is quite used to my independent side, so he walks over and says something along the lines of “Babe, it’s fine. I’ll get it for you.” and then reaches down the basket for me.

After a spouting off an apathetic, “Thank you dear,” I felt the need to also add, “You know, I didn’t need your help. I could have got it myself.”

I’m a real joy to live with by the way.

Anyway, this little anecdote is my longwinded way of sharing with you my word for this year. It’s sort of a complement to my word from last year, TRY, but also taking it to the next level. According to Mr. Webster, here are some of the meanings:

1. to stretch out
2. to touch or grasp by extending a part of the body (as a hand)
3. to extend to, to get as far as
4. to make a stretch with, to strain after something
5. to arrive at

Obviously my word has to do with setting and reaching goals. But because I’m also a total word nerd, one of the things I really love about having a word is that it’s never flat – there are all kinds of subtle nuances that a word can take on. So for instance, here are some of the things that really spoke to me:

• Stretch – out of my reach; perhaps being uncomfortable
• Extend –reach out; *gulp* ask for help
• Grasp – understand; awareness
• Connect – become part of
• Expanse – what is in my way?
• Strain – requires effort on my part
• Arrive – part of the journey

One of the other things I discovered last year about choosing a word is that it doesn’t have to be a static thing. I really love this idea that my word is dynamic and can sort of ebb and flow along with the currents of my life. It’s not a fixed resolution per se…but rather a mindfulness. I liken it to music in the background – louder or softer depending on where I’m at on any given day.

So here we go into 2013 friends.  I’d love to know if you have a word for the year – feel free to share it in the comments below.

Peace, Kelly