A word to live by in 2014

At the beginning of 2013 I chose a a word to live by for the year. The word I chose was courage and I don't think I could have chosen a better word for the year.

There were many times when it resonated with me and saw me through.

I had courage to race my first half marathon.

I had courage to get pregnant with our second baby.

I had courage to say "yes" to another C-Section with it became clear that was the best choice.

I had courage to sit at the bed side to say goodbye to my dying aunt.

I had courage to give her eulogy and honor her life.

The list could go on and on. But when I think about 2013 I really don't think there was a more perfect word for me to live by for the year.

We are one month into 2014 and I have been thinking a lot about choosing another word to live by. This year looks so different for me already. I'm a stay-at-home mom for the year. I have a little man who is in his very trying three's. I have a newborn. I have two kids at home, not just one. 

I am an anxious person by nature. I am pretty high-strung if I'm being honest. I plan. I obsess. I tidy. I have a hard time "relaxing" or "going with the flow". But with two kids and a year at home, I need to relax a bit more. I need to ignore the dishes and tend to my baby or play with my little mister. 

I need to be a little more calm. 

So that is the word that I've chosen: calm. 

When my 3-year-old is throwing a temper tantrum or demanding my attention over and over, I need to stay calm.

When my baby is crying in the middle of the night and I can't figure out why or how to help her, I need to stay calm.

If I'm too exhausted to get my workout in for the day, rather then obsessing and stressing, I need to stay calm.

If there are days and moments when the laundry is piled and there are dishes in the sink, rather then letting it overwhelm me I need to stay calm.

This is going to be challenging for me, but I know it will be the best word for me for 2014.