Tonight I spent several hours commiserating with a few like minded individuals about our experiences with chosing a word for the year. I have been chosing a word for 7 or 8 years now and every year the process has had a profound affect on my life.
One of the most powerful exercises is the act of seeking out books and music that breath life into my word by offering advice or sharing an experience. Tonight I was introduced to two very powerful songs that I just love. Listening to the words of both songs I am convinced that BRAVE is the best word for me moving into 2015. So happy it appeared on my radar back in October!
Sitting in the cafe at Barnes and Noble, there she was, curly hair and all. I almost didn't recognize her! Brittany and I have not seen each other since October and, as far as I'm concerned, that is way too long! So tonight we caught up with each others' lives and talked a lot about teaching. Why things are the way they are and why things are just so difficult. We talked about caring too much and fighting too hard in a system that does not reward those that make waves. It was depressing.
So, we shopped for books. All in all, a great evening with a dear friend whom I miss too much!
The air is a bit nippy and my toes are freezing. Nevertheless, I am contemplating a trip to the gym. Yup, you heard correctly, this lady is heading to the pool. Call me crazy, but there is no time like the present to start preparing to jump off the Cape May Ferry. I am hoping that the water is warm and that the hot tub is working!
Don't get me wrong, I much prefer to spend a snowy evening inside. Actually, it is my favorite type of day to stay indoors. Since I have committed myself to jumping off the ferry, I had best get ready. Today is as good a day to start as any!
Today's sky was a study in contrasts. This morning the sky was bright blue and fluffy white. It just seemed happy. This evening, on the other hand, the sky was dark and ominous. The full moon hung in the sky defying the wind that batted the branches of the trees and rustled the rafters. The best I could get is this hazy photo. I hate to say it, but it feels like snow outside!
That means that I am free to enjoy everything Christmas at least until January 6th. After that, the clock starts ticking and I start de-assembling Christmas at our house. I am appreciative of the extra time with the decorations since everything went up a bit late this year. I started rotating through the Christmas shows and will do the same with the holiday cd's until the 10th. That is my first day off after the 6th so that's when I will really undertake the job of packing Christmas away. I really hate to see the season end!
Wow! The pile of books on my nightstand is unreal! How did this happen?
So many good books, so little time! The truth is that many of these books were hiding in piles next to my bed, hidden by sewing projects and journals. And, while there are three journals in the current pile, there are also nine books waiting to be read. A couple I keep by my bed to help lull me to sleep, certainly the quilting magazine and the waterfalls book are kept there to foster my dreams of time off and away!
The other books, all of them, are there to inspire me to keep moving forward towards a life that looks very different from the one that I currently live. It is a life that is fueled by my inner creativity and serves to inspire others to live out their dreams. Each day I find inspiration in the words of these books and I take baby steps toward achieving my dreams. As I understand it, it is never too late to live the life you imagined for yourself. I am counting on that!
New Year's Day includes some of my favorite traditions. First is the completion of a mystery quilt. This year, in attempt to use my stash, Bunkey and I decided to work on a kit from our stash. So today became "cupcake day."
The quilt was entirely cut before I started piecing this afternoon. I say this afternoon because I slept until after - noon. I guess seeing the 11pm movie last night didn't help today be very productive!
Good progress was being made through out most of the day. That is until dinner time. Another New Year's tradition, pork, sauerkraut and mashed potatoes. YUM! Could be one of my all time comfort meals.
Then it was back to sewing. As I prepare to get to bed for the evening, school bell rings early tomorrow, I am about half way done on the quilt.
This is going to be a very different quilt for me and sometimes that's a good thing!
Today was a cold but gorgeous day here in southern New Jersey and dusk made the sky glow with the bluest of blues.
Well, if today is any indication, 2015 is going to be a great year!
For the past several years I have selected a word to guide me through the upcoming year. Sometimes my words challenge me to live a more focused life. They gently push me into areas that I never thought I would enter and kept me company when their mantra was so far from what I felt I was capable of. Sometimes my word echoed in my mind as I desperately attempted to fulfill its mission, only to find that, at the end of the day, guidance and solace were all that it could offer.
In keeping with my tradition, this year I have chosen the word BRAVE. Actually, sometime back in October, BRAVE chose me. I'm okay with that.
This year I am going to be BRAVE. Brave enough to let go of those habits and relationships that do not nurture my being. Brave enough to accept my limitations regarding my athletic goals and brave enough to push myself just a little harder testing my limits, just to be sure.
I need to be brave so that I can let go of who I think I am supposed to be so that I can fully embrace who I am. I need to be brave so that I can fully pursue my dreams without fearing judgement and criticism.
Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines brave as having courage, dauntless. But that's not all. Brave is also defined as making a fine show, splendid and excellant. It all sounds good.
In recent years I have followed along with Ali Edwards' as she explored her One Little Word. I have enjoyed the process and the sharing that takes place on her private Facebook page for the group. This past year I became distracted and a little overwhelmed by the volume of people and the virtual "noise" it created in my life. This year I am doing something new.
Once a month I will sit down with my word and create something special related to my word. It may be an art journal that I paint in or that I create collages in. It may end up being a journal, just a written record of what I experience while living with Brave. I may also end up being a combination of lots of different modalities. Who knows, but it will be fun.
I invite you to join me. Once a month, either at my house or online, join me for My Word, My Story, My Year. I don't know what will happen but it is always sure to be interesting! Think about it. I will share more details as I figure them out.
Until then, here I go, into the new year, exuding bravery as splendidly as I can!
