Finding Beauty in the Overcast

This was originally posted in January 2013:

I spent ten days in Michigan over the holidays.  I only saw the sun once and that was while we were driving. The rays were poking through the clouds and my Dad put his sunglasses on just for a second before he had to take them off.  It didn’t bother me though, the lack of light, being with my family was all I wanted for Christmas.

My Mom and I took walks in the afternoons and each time I gave us the assignment of finding beauty in the overcast, in the flat light, in the leafless branches.  It didn’t take long to find, even when the wind was blowing sideways, pelting our smiling faces with snowflakes.  Beauty was everywhere.

On one of these walks (on New Years Eve to be specific), I decided not to bother with resolutions this year, but instead focus on one word:  Simplify.

I love this idea of one word (It’s so simple!).  This year I am simplifying my photography projects and weeknight meals and how I pack for travel.  I am simplifying my to-do lists (this should be interesting, I love making lists) and will try really hard not to worry about things that are out of my control.

And I will continue to find beauty everywhere.

It’s going to be a great year.  Happy 2013!

Simplify was my word for 2013.  Listen for 2014.  And now it’s time to start pondering what to choose for 2015.  Normally I love to spend time after Christmas thinking about this, you know, when life quiets down. But this year I’m starting early.  I want to choose correctly, because this one word thing, it really works.

Do you make resolutions every year?  Do you stick with them?  Have you tried just choosing one word?  If so, what do you think?