The February assignment for One Little Word was to create monthly reflection cards. I decided to print the cards exactly as Ali had designed them. I think the grey color is perfect for my word, "Twinkle." I have chosen a collection of blue and green papers to accent this year's album. The color combination works well for me.
February ended on Friday and I finally finished the January intentions and my February assignments on January. I placed a collection of papers in the empty pockets, I may decide to change what I have done further on down the road, but for now, I am happy!
My actions were a bit harder to complete. I tried to commit to actions that would promote my ability to "twinkle" while allowing me to spread the "twinkle." I have a feeling I will add to my actions, but I had to start somewhere!
I had actually completed January assignments just before February 1st. Except for the Intentions page, my album was all set up. My intentions were hard. I stressed over them. I wrote them in pencil, erased and then re-wrote them. It was a mess.
And then I lost the good copy I had printed. Today I was determined to get my intentions done before I completed February's assignment!
Here it is:
Intellectual: looking for books that have strong female characters that could be "twinklers" or biographies of women who have "twinkled"...doing this as an attempt to visualize twinkling - manifest the twinkling!
Emotional: recognize when I start to spiral - do my best to focus on gratitude and all that I know to be good and going well. Hang out with people that are positive and do not get caught up in negative thought or worry.
Creative: finish organizing my space so that I do not carry the weight of disorganization and I am free to create. Complete projects to free up time to be more spontaneous with my creativity!
Relationships: I want to be sure that I let people know how much I appreciate their presence in my life. When things do not go as planned, during difficult conversations, approach my words and actions from a place of love.
Physical: despite physical pain I want to continue to pursue the life of a triathlete and allow my twinkle to inspire, motivate and suport others making the attempt to be athletic. I want to volunteer at events even if I choose not to participate so that I spread the "twinkle."
Today, without the February pages, this is what my One Little Word Album looks like:
Just like I did with page one, when I find two quotes that speak to me, I will include them under the photo and the explanation of why I chose twinkle. I just added the photo also. I picked this one because I am surrouned by all types of light, included the reflected light from fireworks. I feel like this is me "twinkling!"
Honestly, although it took me a while, I am happy that I took my time completing the January assignment. I am pleased with my intentions and declarations. Already I am feeling that "twinkle" really is the best choice for this year and the challenges that I anticipate.
Today is February 1st. I guess it is time to finally complete the January assignments for my One Little Word class. A part of the problem is that the suggested materials were just not available to me and I was having a difficult time deciding how to handle the assignments within the parameters of what I had available. So, this is what I did.
For the first page of my album I cut down and 8.5 x 11 page protector, used the awesome blue sparkle cardstock to present my word for the year. I love the silver on the blue sparkles. It is all very twinkly!
Because the very first page is actually 1/2 a page, you can see the second page when you open the album.
I guess, without really realizing it, I have chosen twinkle lights as my symbol for my one little word. It sort of just happened but it really is very appropriate.
My word, Twinkle, means to shine with a flickering or sparkling light; an intermittant radiance, and to appear bright with merriment.
Synonyms for my word include: scintillate, glitter, glimmer, shimmer, sparkle and glisten.
The quote I chose to share is from Marilyn Monroe: We are all of us STARS and we deserve to TWINKLE.
There are two 4 x 3 pockets, one under each of the first two pages and I am going to place additional quotes or pictures in those pockets.
The back of the first page includes the journaling of my reasons for chosing my word:
The truth is, this word chose me. I tried to avoid it, chose a more "meanngful" word, but "Twinkle" kept showing up in the most bizarre places. I liken "twinkle" to shine, but shine is too much - in your face - give me sunglasses. Twinkle says it's okay to radiate - to gow from within - and to share inner joy. When people see me, especially my family, I want them to see someone who feels blessed and is generally happy. I do not want them to see someone weighted down. This year, I want to "twinkle."
The last page I have completed, at this point, includes the journaling resonding to the prompts presented in the January assignments. I don't want to bore you with all of my thoughts but I thought I would share my more/less journaling.
MORE/LESS more exuberance, less worry
more light, less weight
more joy, less guilt
more smiles, less frowns
more inner warmth,
being more open to experience the lighter side of things
more awareness
more giving and caring
There is still one more assignment that I need to complete, specifically my intentions for the year as they relate to my word.
This morning, bright and early, the February assignments showed up in my inbox. I am excited about the prospect of living with "twinkle" throughout this year and I am looking forward to increasing my mindfulness.
I didn't want to twinkle, at least that's what I kept telling myself when this One Little Word kept cropping up. "What a ridiculous word!" So I went off in search of a new word.
In October I registered for Brene Brown's class at Oprah.com and I was slammed with this (okay, not slammed, you get the point):
While I had seen the quote before, it had never resonated with me the way it did in October. That's it, I decided, 2014 will be the year I twinkle. And then life got in the way and I felt less like twinkling than ever. Everything seemed to be pushing me towards something more "meaningful", serious. I thought to myself, can't I find a grown-up word? Perhaps a word to help me "survive" the school year and the pressure that I was feeling. I even tried a few words on for size, took them for a spin around the block...that just didn't work.
I went off in search of a new word. I was searching very diligently. Finally, when we were away in Bethlehem right before Christmas I came across this:
I started thinking, maybe there was something to this "twinkle" stuff. Once home I started perusing some interesting multimedia art, still not convinced that "twinkle" was my word, this appeared"
But, it was two weeks till Christmas and I had things to do. My word would wait. Or so I thought.
Christmas morning, as I was sitting with my son, he turned to me and said, "What's wrong?"
Well, it was Christmas morning and there was absolutely nothing wrong. Then Jess piped up, "Yeah, you have that look." What look? Why was the fact that I was truly happy and joyful not being expressed in my outward demeanor?
I assured them that I was extremely happy, sincerely and we went on with our celebration. A wonderful celebration and truly an opportunity to enjoy each other's company and time to just "be" together. When it came time to open gifts, my husband handed me a package which revealed this...
I can't deny it, this year I was meant to twinkle. For me I think that it means I am meant to exude a light from within, allowing those around me to shine. It means to celebrate those ordinary moments that just allow our hearts to burst with happiness. It means that I will embrace the dark so that I can experience the light. It means that when my children, or anyone else for that matter, happens to glance my way that they won't need to worry that something is wrong. They will see the absolute joy that I experience in the everyday and the light I embrace.
Every year, for the past several years, I have chosen a word to help guide my experience in the new year. I first heard of this practice here, from one of my favorite bloggers, Ali Edwards. I have always felt that my "words", such that they are, help me to focus and facilitate the life I envision for myself. Some of the words I have chosen include, grace, thrive, simplify, and balance.
Last year, I chose PAUSE, as my word. Actually, I think it would be fair to say that the word PAUSE, chose me. Of all my experiences with words, PAUSE was by far the most meaningful. I think that last year I truly tried to live out the meaning of my word. I began 2012 by reading seven sacred pauses, Living Mindfully Through the Hours of the Day and I continued my book study of my new word by devouring Pause, Putting the Breaks on a Runaway Life. Throughout the year, my mind constantly returned to this one thought, "Commit to fewer things, but give more time to what gives your life a happy jolt." Wow. I strove to find the happy jolt and while I didn't necessarily do "less", I constantly made the choice to do things that would provide a "happy jolt". Truly a life lesson. The last and final book I read concerning my word, Pause, 52 Ways to Shift any Outcome in Less Than a Minute, provided a practive and an inquiry into a specific behavior designed to help the reader make mindful choices. I no longer feel terrible anxiety when I choose to relax over taking on yet another committment. I have learned to recognize when I need a break, long before I explode or collapse from exhaustion. I learned so much through living with my word, I am really reluctant to move on. But, move on I must.
This year, my word came to me in a flash one early October evening. Then, around the 27th of December, I began to doubt my choice of word for the upcoming year. Finally, New Year's Day came and I awoke with the overwhelming pressure of dealing with a word that would not leave me be. So, after trying to shake the word off, I finally succumbed.
My word, for 2013, is MAGICAL. Yes, magical. Not the magical of Harry Potter's world but the magical that has to do with appreciating the mystery and beauty that is this life we lead.
By choosing, MAGICAL, I hope to recognize the enchanting quality of life and appreciate the little magical moments that appear everyday. I want to rise above the minutiae of the everyday and revel in the gift that is to be found by truly living each day.
Pause is my word for 2012 and I am really loving the impact it has had on my life. I am more relaxed. I have taken the time to recognize those activities that help me to pause and relax.
My husband picked up my camera last night and snapped a few photos of me reading in bed, evidence that I am taking my word seriously and doing my best to allow time for the activities that I love, like reading!
Yesterday I did something I don't think I have ever done in my adult life. I woke up, that's not so unusual.
I had cookies, Vienna Fingers, for breakfast. Again, not so unusual.
Then, I went back to bed. Seriously. I wasn't sick. Nothing was pressing and the weather was grey so I got back into bed. I brought with me the quilt that I am currently sewing the binding on and convinced my husband that he could read in bed. So there we stayed. And boy did it feel good. A real lay low kind of day.
It actually felt so good that it is something I will probably do again. So grateful for the opportunity to just take pause. My word and I are getting along famously!
I am truly making progress. Now there are times when I actually choose to pause. Awesome! In this regard my husband Mark has been very instrumental. He encourages me to take advantage of "down time" and that attitude is starting to rub off on me.
Mondays are currently my no training day. After work I make no plans and I try to take the time to do what feels right. Tonight that was a brief stop at Starbucks for an iced tea lemonade with Mark and a nice chat while we sat out on their patio.
After a dinner of leftovers we took a trip to the library.While Monday is not a day for training, it is certainly a day I can read about getting my butt in gear!
I paused outside the library to admire one perfect daffodil. I just love the form of daffodils.Then, as we were leaving the library I noticed our flag against a radiant blue sky. I paused once again to take the photo.Next, on our way home, a stop at Dunkin' Donuts for a free medium iced tea for me and a free medium iced coffee for Mark. Refreshing!
As the evening wears on, there will be a bit of school work, but I am relaxed and have allowed myself the time to pause. It really feels so good!
I am so glad I chose to pause for the short amount of time this video took to view. Although this was not my only "pause" today, perhaps it is the one I needed most. Please pause and enjoy!
