Courage ~ My Word for 2017

Happy New Year! Each year, I choose a word to focus on and since today is the first day of 2017, time to reveal my word. 

You can also read about my past choices, if you are interested, by going to the very bottom of this post. I have them listed with links by year and word. 

January 1st nature hike - felt amazing after days of sickness. 
nature is always good for my soul everyday

This year, as I started working through finding my word, a theme emerged. Personal challenges really brought that out. The five words that came through were courage, bravery, perseverance, nourish, and acceptance.

I have kept the explanations very simple this year, but I think they are also very powerful. 

For 2017, I choose the word courage. 

Courage to be selfish, to choose the path that is best for me.

Courage to face all the challenges with strength that I know I have inside of me. 

Courage to try new things, including things that push my boundaries and break down my walls.

Courage to believe in myself and that I can do anything that I set my mind to.

Courage to go against the flow. 

Courage for those times when I will feel like I am at rock bottom, when I need just a tiny sliver of courage to keep going.

Courage to take a stand for myself and choose what is right for me and my 
health.

I always like to collect a few meaningful quotes about my word: 

With courage you will dare to take risks, have the strength to be compassionate, and the wisdom to be humble. Courage is the foundation of integrity. Mark Twain. 

Courage isn't having the strength to go on- it is going on when you don't have the strength. Napoleon Bonaparte. 

The most courageous act is still to think of yourself. Aloud. Coco Chanel. 

You cannot swim for new horizons until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore. William Faulkner. 

"There are so many ways to be brave in this world. Sometimes bravery involves laying down your life for something bigger than yourself, or for someone else. Sometimes it involves giving up everything you have ever known, or everyone you have ever loved, for the sake of something greater.
But sometimes it doesn't.
Sometimes it is nothing more than gritting your teeth through pain, and the work of every day, the slow walk toward a better life. 
That is the sort of bravery I must have now." Veronica Roth (from Allegiant)

My past words: 
2016 - Magical
2015 - Peace
2014 - Shine
2013 - Love 
2012 - Adventure 

I hope you have a beautiful happy new year! If you choose a word to focus on, I would love to hear it, leave me a comment with it below!