Radical Living

Apparently, all of the cool people this year have narrowed their New Year's resolutions down to where a single word is the focus, like "healthy," "thoughtful," and "quiet."

With this new trend, I'm thinking that the topic should be broad enough that I ought to be able to find enough wiggle room to actually find myself successful in  keeping a resolution.

On the other hand though, if you want to get philosophical, I suppose that the one word focus could actually call for a lifestyle change rather than just cleaning all the french fries out of the van or losing 10 pounds (just an example, Mom, no worries) and checking it off the list.

Anyway, not wanting to be left behind by the cool crowd, I went with the single word thing for 2012. After way too much thinking, I chose the word "radical." (I seriously hope that New Year's resolutions aren't like birthday wishes because I just blew it, if that turns out to be the case.)

Honestly, Will and Carly were a little shocked with my choice of words. . . seems that their working definition for radical took on a negative spin, as in terrorists and such. Certainly not what I was going for.

My friends at school seemed to think I was radical enough. I tend to say what's on my mind at faculty meetings and can turn into a mother bear when my 3rd graders are on the receiving end of any perceived injustice, but I think all of that falls into the category of opinionated or protective.

I want to be radical, as in "all in" or "no fear."

 I want to respond and receive and react with no regard for being thought a fool, for opening myself to hurt, for being judged. I want to love hard, with all of me. I want to laugh until I cry and when I'm sad, I want to do that ugly-I-might-throw-up cry.

 I want to pray without ceasing.I want to forgive my ex and, more importantly, myself. I want to give (and take) second chances.

 I want to believe when there is nothing around me that supports that belief.

It's taken years for me to finally embrace the simple life I've always known I was meant to live. I'm hoping this year will give way to radical living in the midst of simplicity.

If it doesn't work out, I can always clean the french fries out of my car or lose 10 pounds -- just kidding Mom!