Thrive

At the start of 2015 instead of resolutions I chose to live by one word. It's a concept to live your life by one word for the year rather than plan resolutions that could possibly fail or last only a few months. I heard about it through a local radio station and researched the concept on-line. There is a website and a book that is dedicated to assisting individuals in choosing one word. I read the book and decided that it is what I would do for 2015. It took forever for me to decide on a word, I didn't want something too easy like happy or joy, I already was happy and I have joy in my life regularly. I also didn't want anything complicated since it was my first year trying this out. I should have known that I wasn't choosing my word but it would be chosen for me. I was driving in the car and a song came on and tears filled my eyes. My word had been chosen, it was thrive. 
I knew after I chose the word that it was perfect for the 2015 year because as I looked for devotionals and books, I found a book titled "Thrive" by a band that I listen to. They explain how to thrive in your life and how to keep God in your life, which as I now reflect realize I was struggling with.
Thrive is a verb that means to prosper and flourish. From reading about thriving, it's about digging deep and reaching out. For each month of the 2015 year I chose to focus and "thrive" on a different aspect of my life building me into a better person than I started. January was finances, February was health, etc....
I was doing great and then a tough decision arose during the summer: to stay with my current job or jump and take another one. I am
not spontaneous, I love structure, balance, routine so leaving my job (that I never thought I would leave) seemed a dumb decision on my part. I took a mini vacation to Florida and realized just how toxic my job was on my life. I no longer enjoyed getting up and playing with kids all day. As soon as I woke up, I began counting the hours till I was home. I didn't want to travel and visit friends, didn't want to craft, or take pictures. I also saw co-workers who I loved (and still love) feeling the same way and it was breaking me down. I was so angry that I wasn't thriving and I couldn't see how starting a new job would help me thrive, especially since it was a brand new company that had yet to begin.
And then I leapt, I quit my job and chose to go to the unknown. My new boss promised protection and support and a lifeline for stability when I didn't think there was one. Little did I know that this change would make me thrive more. 
I have been in my new position for 4 months now and am blown away. I work less hours, spend more time with friends and family and have been able to accomplish more goals and start new adventures. I know if I was still at my previous place of employment this would not have happened. I travel a little more now and am finding and seeing more of Columbus than I could imagine. I know many of the highways without my GPS and am able to laugh and smile a lot more. Once I chose this life change I had friends comment on how happy I seemed, how much more I smiled, and how often I was willing to go out and be with family in friends. I even started to notice these things about myself. 
I can definitely say that this year my word lived up to its expectation and more. I thrived in so many ways and cannot wait to see what my next word (still narrowing options down or for it to be told to me) will do for me in 2016.‪#‎thrive‬ ‪#‎blessed‬ ‪#‎oneword‬