Word of the Day

Emily Apuzzo Hopkins   |   April 30, 2021

The word that I have tried to keep at the center of what I do day in and day out lately is intention.

I absolutely love a list and plotting in my planner. But recently I had started to notice that I would too often write out some items that were lofty and lovely thoughts yet I lacked the fire to actually do them. Instead, I would feel guilty - guilt for not doing the thing and more guilt for writing it down in the first place.

So I started a new approach.

Some days my intentions only extend as far as the latest “Real Housewives of somewhere” episode and a clay face mask. And on other days, I am a force to be reckoned with. Here is how I am allowing intention to work through me so I can get to work.

Time

It is incredibly easy to sit down to do anything and ask myself afterward, “where did that time go?”... knowing it is gone and uninvested. I used to make up the excuse that I could not find the time to do this or that. But it’s never been about finding it… it’s always been about making the time. Understanding how long an item takes to accomplish has also been critical… not all to-do list items are created equal when it comes to how much time they will take. Recognizing how much time I have to get things done, makes me intentional about what I plan to do and when. Being intentional with time has, quite frankly, been a game-changer. And I still make plenty of time for some guilty pleasure TV because I planned for it… don’t you worry ;)

Exercise

Over a decade ago, I started running. I had dabbled in other forms of exercise, but running - to the complete shock of me and everyone who knew me well - proved to be the thing that excited me the most. It made me feel like the strongest, most playful version of myself. What I noticed is that my goals were never really weight-based or driven by physical appearance. I saw that when I had a race on the calendar or a time or distance to work toward, I would be that strong sprinter pushing her limits or that playful prancer, hopping over roots and rocks in the woods. My intention is to greet each race as a better version of myself since the last race run and to do whatever I can to make it happen.

Writing

The newest item on my to-do list! Just over a year ago, I began taking writing more seriously. I knew it was something that brought me joy but did not know how to channel it. I found myself lost in the world of kidlit in the best way possible. I found that the website I had started without any objective, now had a purpose as my writer’s playground. A place to create the space I wanted to build intentionally. The words I write and the picture I choose are all done so with care. I try very hard to articulate what I feel and think in a way that not only represents me authentically at the moment it's created but also connects with others through an empathetic spirit. And it’s all done with intention - and gosh, that feels so satisfying.

There are a number of other things I could add to this list - there always are and always will be. But the point isn’t the quantity of the items on my list, but instead the quality of my efforts when I do them. The best things in life don’t happen by accident. Sure, luck has its place, but it’s not something we all find in our lives. But intention… intention is the catalyst we recognize on the road to doing the work with our heads, hands, and hearts. We all have access to it and it doesn’t cost a thing.

As you look at each day and decide how you plan to fill it and where your focus will lie, I do hope you invite intention along for the ride. Because whatever you decide to do, you deserve to accomplish each and every one of your days with a fulfilling sense of purpose brought to you by…

intention.