2019: No Resolutions and Just One Goal.

I gave up New Years Resolutions decades ago. Goals however have reappeared with annual frequency. I have been pondering what my goals were for 2019 and I came across a post from fellow blogger Keith Haney of “The Light Breaks Through” that struck a chord with me. He has chosen a word. Just one word. He has set his sights on one word to define the year ahead. “That is what I am going to do.” I said to myself.

What would the word be? My mind pondered several possible words. Then one word came through with absolute clarity. COMMIT. I chose commit, a verb, rather than the noun of commitment. I felt my word needed to be active, imperative !

HOW WILL THIS WORD INFLUENCE ME?

I have chosen the word commit for my riding, training and competition with my horse Biasini. I am certain most of my friends and family would say I was a person who is committed to my horse and my riding. And they would be right. But the word commit  takes me a step farther.

  1. Every day riding and training I will commit  to riding with complete focus and always be asking: is this good enough? am I quick enough? do I need to repeat that and improve it?
  2. Competition. Biasini is always good in the warm up on the first day of a show and I forget how he is as a “show horse” once we get into the ring. Then we get into the ring, after I have been lulled into la la land, and BOOM Biasini the ‘show horse’ turns up. He is not spooky or naughty he is just very, very, strong and I find myself left behind and struggling to catch up and get through the test. The next day I have to pull myself out of a black hole, do it again and this time…. get it right. This year I will commit , on the first day, to riding the “show horse” in the warm up ring . I will commit to letting him know we are going in the ring and we are going in as a partnership.
  3. I will commit to riding with courage and go out to the end of that skinny limb. Take the risks. I’m not talking about doing something stupid or dangerous. I am talking about having the courage to make a mistake and carry on! This word commit will be my intention and influence for the year 2019. 

How about you? What word encapsulates your goal or goals for 2019? Let me know in comments below.

Comments

32 responses to “2019: No Resolutions and Just One Goal.”

  1. Megala Avatar

    One must be really courageous to choose the word “commit”, this shows how much you are devoted to horse riding, thanks so much for the inspiration.
    I always wake up with the word “grow”, I like to see me growing every day, every year in some way or the other, now I feel I have been too lenient on myself, and I should think of a stronger word. 🙂
    Wishing you all the very best for your commits in 2019!

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Grow is a good word. It implies that you are moving forward and improving and strengthening each day. I wish you the best for 2019

  2. LovelyScape Avatar

    Commit is a great word! This year, I will focus a lot more for the word ‘courage’ in my case. Courage to do and try things I’ve never tried before, courage to fight my anxiety and that I will not fail in life, and the courage to realise that every single day is the most precious one and there will never come back, and I should attach the world ‘freedom’ to ‘courage’

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Bravo! Courage is a really inspiring word. I hope it will help you and give you freedom.

  3. N Avatar

    It’s a very inspiring post, Ann. I saved it last night to read this morning and I am glad to be starting my day with it. Wishing you great things this year.

    As for me, I pick “Focus”. Focus on that which is truly important, with my thoughts and my actions. No more waiting, this year is the year of reaching out, acting and getting things done.

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      That sounds like a good word for the coming year. All the best to you for your focus.

  4. Doggedly Yours Avatar

    Your word is a verb to live by.

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Thank you. I appreciate your comment

  5. Emma Cownie Avatar

    I think you will have to develop “show human” to balance the “show horse” and be very strong too!!

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      That it a terrific idea Emma! Yes! Thank you for that suggestion.❤

  6. Wild Atlantic Rider Avatar

    Continue….
    To build on what I started in 2018!

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Yes! That’s the way to do it!

  7. younghipandhorsey Avatar

    That’s such a good analogy! I guess mine would be progress – progress with my riding, progress with my strength and progress with life (moving house!)

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Progress is a good choice. Best of luck with your move.

  8. Laura Avatar

    Intention

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Thank you Laura. I like that one.

    2. anne leueen Avatar

      Intention is a good word for 2019. Thanks for commenting Laura.

  9. dprastka Avatar

    I love this Anne, as I do view resolutions more as goals and they are usually the same every year. I like the idea of using a one word goal and I’ve given this some thought and my word would be CONFIDENCE. I need all the confidence I can muster to see this year through since we are embarking on our move to Arizona. I’m such a worrier, that I need to stop worrying and be confident that everything will go smoothly and we will land on our feet in a new state!

    I also think CONFIDENCE is a good word for my riding, as the more confident you are the better you’ll ride will be. So I can use this word in every area of my life going into this year. Thank you for this idea as this will help me stay focused, strong and confident! ❤️ Diana 😀

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      The concept that you can bring your word into all aspects of your life is what makes the word choice so valuable I think. I wish you all the best for your move. Confidence will help with that too.

  10. thelonelyauthorblog Avatar

    Commit is a great word. You made a good choice.

    I think relentless will be my word. I will be relentless with my goal to have my latest novel completed, edited, and sold.

    Happy 2019. Wishing infinite smiles, sunshine, and love for you and yours.

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Bravo! Relentless is a great one!

  11. doar nicole Avatar

    That is one extraordinary word. Somehow… it says it all, doesn’t it. 🙂 Any other word or idea I could think of, for instance, for myself this year, if I don’t commit to what it says… well. And so, my (other) word this year is “improve”. And it is this, not “develop” or “progress”, because of ‘prove” in it, it makes me feel it is important to better myself, discover new ways, little or big, of doing the things I do, every aspect of my life. Thank you for such an interesting post, and wishing you well with your goal! 🙂

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Thank you Nicole!

  12. Dina Avatar

    “Commit” sounds very good, Anne. I will let your word stay with me. What you write about riding, complete focus, daily exercise and competition works equally well for me and my photography. 🙂

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      I’m glad you can relate to ‘commit’ as well Dina. All the best with it.

  13. Nurul Fitri Lubis Avatar

    I love this post, Anne. As you, I also gave a bunch of resolutions I made every year. This year, I just want to focus and commit for small things only..

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Sounds like a good idea Nurul. All the best to you for 2019.

  14. susiesopinions Avatar

    Volunteering

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Excellent choice Susie!

      1. susiesopinions Avatar

        Thank you 😊

  15. Robyn Avatar

    I really like this, Anne – commit. I am going to be thinking about what I want to commit to this year as I do not do New Year’s resolutions either. Good luck to you in the things you want to commit to this year!

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Thank you Robyn and all the best for your commits.🌷

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