I have to laugh at myself sometimes. (Which is a really healthy coping technique, by the way!) I’ll go years without falling for this or taking advantage of that and then ... I FALL HARD. And, it’s extra challenging when you fall hard AND it hits you right between the eyes!?! What am I talking about? Choosing a word to live by for the new year. I have friends who post their words on Facebook year after year and I even saw a few folks post on LinkedIn. I like the idea and actually tried to do this a couple of years along my journey, but I’ve never followed through. I may have thought of a word I’d like to live by or focus on during the upcoming months, but it never came to fruition.
It was during December 2018 that the word “intentional” kept coming out of my mouth. Yes, I’d used it before, but I sensed an urgency in using it. It came up during a Bible Study with my church ladies, I used it multiple times in trainings, and it would come to my mind randomly as I was talking to myself. (I certainly hope that doesn’t sound odd to you!) Needless to say, this is the year a word chose me.
Intentional
adj.
- done on purpose; intended, deliberate (The Free Dictionary App)
- performed with awareness, or on purpose
Since this is going to be my word for 2019, I want to get a better grasp and put into writing what this word is stirring in my spirit. So, I delved deeper into the root word and expanded definitions.
Wikipedia defines
Intention
as
a mental state that represents a commitment to carrying out an action or actions in the future. Intention involves mental activities such as planning and forethought.
In addition,
Intentionality
is a philosophical concept defined by the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy as
the power of minds to be about, to represent, or to stand for, things, properties and states of affairs.
Um, ok, that’s a bit lofty for me … I need something more concrete to wrap my head around.
I love
Google
searches; I appreciate what we have the opportunity to learn. I didn’t know there was a song from 2015 called
Intentional
by Travis Greene (Take a listen
here
.
Some good truthful lyrics!)
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Remember when I said I fall; I fall hard? I even bought a bracelet to remind me of my word.
You can too!
And there are so many more resources for intentional living – in any area of your life. Just
Google
it!
With all of this great googly information, the way I want to be intentional in my life, in my relationships, in my self-care, and in my time with God, is to BE PRESENT! Richard Moss says it so well for me:
“The greatest gift you can give another is the purity of your attention.”
I would broaden this by adding
the greatest gift you can give yourself or anyone else is to share your full attention without
distraction
. Oh, and how hard that is! Our world, our lives, our homes, our minds are full of distractions. It’s so worth deflecting these distractions toward a life of intentionality. What are you intentional about?
Does this make you want to get a word for 2019 or does it make you want to run? I’m choosing to run into intentional living. Day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment. Whatever it makes you do, I hope it encourages you to strive to live intentionally in 2019. If you have a word, I'd love to hear what it is and why you chose it. Just click on my name below.
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Intentionally,
Training Consultant
The Trans4m Center
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CBSG Program Facilitator Training
Watch your email for a Spring training opportunity in Dallas!
Kids’ Connection, Youth Connection,
and
Kids’ Connection, Too
(collectively known as the
CBSG
®
Program
) are unique, interactive, multi-cultural curriculum-based prevention interventions that teach high-risk children and youth ages 4-17 a set of essential life skills: skills to help them learn how to cope with difficult family situations (which include Adverse Childhood Experiences), resist negative peer pressure, set and achieve goals, and refuse alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.
This training is designed to fully prepare schools, community-based organizations, churches, juvenile justice divisions, volunteers, and other youth service professionals to fully implement the
CBSG Program
with fidelity.
Those completing this training will receive their choice one of the
CBSG Program
Facilitator manuals:
- Kids’ Connection for ages 4-12 in Schools and Communities
- Youth Connection for ages 10-17 in Schools and Communities
- Kids’ Connection, Too for Ages 4-15 in Homeless & Domestic Violence Shelters, Group Homes & Other Transitional Living Environments
COST to attend a scheduled training in Dallas:
$250
per person, one manual included
COST to contract us to come to YOU:
$3500
for up to 15 people, plus travel costs
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We Want to Hear from YOU!
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Have you been facilitating the
CBSG Program
with children and/or youth and have some success stories you would be willing to share?
We would love to hear your stories of the lives you are changing for the better!!
Please email
Sandi McFarland
and you might see your story in a future
Trans4ming News
newsletter!
Please remember to not share specific details or names. A Permission to Print form will be sent to individuals whose stories have been chosen.
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The Trans4m Center | 214.887.0726 | trans4mcenter.org
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STAY CONNECTED
@trans4mcenter
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