Last year I came across the practice of choosing a word to be a “theme” for the year.  It was the first I had heard of this idea . . . and this year, I’m jumping on the bandwagon.  I’m choosing a word . . . and hoping that it brings me success, productivity and helps me be a better version of myself.  The word I am choosing is . .

Plan.

However, one of the first quotes that came to mind when I picked this word was:

If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.

Woody Allen

I don’t know much about Woody Allen.  One thing I do know is that a long time ago I went to see one of his movies and I remember thinking – and you can quote me on this – “this is the worst movie I have ever seen in my entire life; watching this is torture“.  I wish I could remember the name of the film, but I must have blocked it out.  If you are a Woody Allen fan, perhaps you know something I do not.  However, I do love this quote attributed to him: “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans“.

My goal this year is to be a better planner. I need to plan better in every life category – so I’m giving God plenty of material to work with!

 I’m going to plan more educational activities for my son and I to enjoy at home.

I’m going to plan my days better and hopefully get more house work done.

I’m going to develop a better writing and working plan . . . and I am going to create new plans to meet new (and old goals).

I’m also planning on writing a list of other things I need to plan better.

Will everything go as planned?  Of course not!  Will God laugh?  I hope so – I love to laugh, I imagine He loves it too!

Hey, maybe God will send us a newborn . . . that will certainly challenge a lot of plans!  But at the same time, we have been planning on adding to the family – so we shall see!

However, just because everything will not go as planned, that certainly isn’t a good reason not to plan!

One of the most practical skills I learned in college was how to write a lesson plan.

I was a Psychology major. I learned a lot of wonderful lessons at my liberal arts school – but, most I felt, I could not bring directly into the job market.

As a teacher, a good plan allowed me to have better classroom management, create a positive atmosphere and permitted me to enjoy my role as an educator.

Walking into school without a plan made the day feel longer, had me feeling more anxious and didn’t exactly excite anyone about learning that day.

A good plan can make a huge difference in a day, a week, a month and so on.  Or, as the writer H. Stanely Judd put it so much better:

A good plan is like a road map: it shows the final destination and usually the best way to get there.

Ultimately, I hope my final destination is heaven.  About a year ago I started praying, “God, help me be who you want me to be and set the world on fire“.  I prayed that over and over again.  That prayer, I believe, has brought me so many blessings, so much excitement and so much joy.  I firmly believe I am exactly where God wants me.

But, where do I go from here?

I need the map.  I need direction.  I need some sort of plan.

And honestly, as my son’s first teacher, he needs me to have a plan.

I am so happy and grateful that God creates all of us to love and serve Him in a unique way. I’m excited to serve Him in the way He has planned for me!  I hope and pray the goals I set and the ways I choose to attain them are guided by the Holy Spirit.

And if on the way to attain them I make God laugh . . . awesome!

Do you pick a word for the year?  If you had to pick one, what word would you choose?