I heard the last couple of years that the thing to "do" was pick a "word" for the year that is supposed to be yours to claim, live, embody, look for, etc. My attention span isn't strong enough to hold on to a word for a whole year, or maybe it's not that but that I think I'd get bored focusing on one word for an entire year. However, I do think there's some merit in it. So I've decided to pick a word for the month. The month of January that is. I'm making no commitments to do it again in February or any other month of the year.
RESPECT: esteem for or a sense of the worth of a person or a quality
The word I have picked is: RESPECT, and no I don't mean like Aretha Franklin. I mean more like how can I SHOW respect in all aspects of my life. I've been thinking about this a lot the last couple of days. It seems to me that respect is more than saying please and thank you and waiting patiently in line. Here are some ways I'm looking into.
- Dress- I think our society has become so embedded in "casual" that we (I) sometimes miss the fact that at times being casual or "too" casual can actually be a bit disrespectful. I plan to think about where I am going, who I will be with, and what would be most appropriate - not what is most comfortable for me or even what I can get by with.
- Conversation - I need to pay more attention, let people finish their sentences (even my children) and truly listen and engage in active conversation when I am with people. This applies to one on one or in group settings. I think all people should be shown respect when I am with them.
- Table Manners - this is what started the whole ball rolling. When our family recently went out to dinner my husband and I realized just how seldom we took our kids to a "nice" restaurant. Our tendency is fast food or very casual dining because it is less expensive for our family of five. At home our schedules tend to be full so dinner has become a quick affair without much emphasis all the proper etiquette. While I wouldn't say we act like we've been raised in a barn, there is certainly room for improvement. I've come to see table manners as a form of respect for each other and for the occasion.
- Housekeeping - I will confess right now that I hate cleaning house. It is boring and tedious. My husband and I have different definitions for what "clean" is, and has probably been the only real source of contention in our marriage. We've come to some sort of compromise through the years, but it's not a happy one. I am going to try harder (not for a sparkling magazine house - that's totally unrealistic for me) to improve. It shows respect for the blessing of having a home.
- Writing - I need to show my respect by scheduling my time to include designated time to write, whether it is for my blog or my book. If I believe in it, I need to show it some respect.
So, that's my word for the month.
Labels: January, Respect, Sheila Siler
