You are currently browsing posts tagged with community
Breathe
Renewal
Listen
Faith
Openness
Today
Blossom
Live
Empathy
Gentleness
Home
Release
Cherish
Enjoy
Clarity
Worship
Here are the words that came to some of us this past week. Thank you all for journeying with me to find our ONE LITTLE WORD. A double thank you to those who posted a comment revealing your word to me, to everyone. If you think about the idea that people out there are putting these words in front of themselves this year, then I think we can all have a sense of HOPE for 2010. I know that I do.
P.S. I will be checking back our journey with our one little word later this year.
Picking my ONE LITTLE WORD was not easy for me this year.
And it is my own fault.
My word kept banging on my door… and I kept denying it.
Which is ironic, because my word is OPENNESS!
This word is about the SCARIEST word in the world for type-A, control freaky, organizational-nuts like myself. There are a lot of unknowns in my life right now and if I had my way I would orchestrate it all… every detail unfolding in some master plan to rule the world (insert eville laugh here…). But, I don’t think that is gonna happen… not for lack of trying, mind you. I could organize the entire to/from school carpool for next Fall (yes…September…) right now, today, and send it out to everyone. But I am pretty sure my friends and neighbors would send in the men with the white coats… I mean, there is planning and then there is trying to be a demi-god.
I have to admit, at first I was holding out for a different word. “That is NOT my word,” I kept saying. But, alas, it IS my word. I have never really thought of myself as a closed-off person. But, with so much up in the air for my family in 2010, I think I need a reminder to hold my sense of control loosely, to remember there is more out there then what I can personally anticipate. So, OPENNESS is about letting go of control, and trusting that the path is clear of obstacles (well, at least “too many” obstacles) and to let my heart, my God, and the universe lead me to all that goodness waiting for me and us. I don’t really have much of a map, and I guess I don’t need one… well, at least that is what “openness” is trying to convince me of, anyway.
Okay. So. I am OPEN to whatever comes. Openness has an inherent quality of TRUST, of FAITH, of CONFIDENCE, and of HOPE to it. I think I can live with that.
Here are a few definitions that hit home:
1. Generous, liberal, or bounteous
2. Unguarded by an opponent
3. Free of navigational hazards
4. To render accessible to knowledge, enlightenment, sympathy, etc.
5. To unfold or expand, as a blossom, so as to reveal the interior
I really feel that 2010 is going to be an incredible year. But, I have no idea how that is going to manifest. So, I am open. Let’s see what happens.
Dare I call him Daddy-Bloo? I better not.
Since I am married, my wagon is hitched to my husband’s. So, I thought Dave should also get a chance to comment on the idea of ONE LITTLE WORD — from a man’s persepctive. So, here it is….
—————————————
In 2009 my word was “traction”. This worked well for me. I wanted to stop spinning my wheels, trying to catch… uh, greener grass somewhere, I guess. “Traction” meant slowing down and taking some thoughtfull deliberate steps – forward. Thanks to “traction” I left real estate sales and got back into teaching and coaching (as my wife had first suggested 4 years ago). Thanks to “traction”, I was able to take the time to fall in love with our new baby daughter this year. Thanks to “traction”, I’m happier than I was a year ago.
What’s my new “traction” word for 2010?
It needed to be something that hit me deep down. Like that movie “Rudy”. Something that inspired me and made me cry a little, but in a manly defying- the-odds sort of way. Something that combined the Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps with the coolness of Johnny Depp… actually, he’s a little feminine. Maybe Matt Damon.
I know, I know. I was really all over the map on this. I needed to use the lessons from my 2009 word to help me find my 2010 word. At one point, I thought I had it: Appreciation. I shared my word with Mamabloo (aka ”my wife”) and she said “ Do you mean “graditude’? I like it! You could use some graditude!” Wait a minute, “graditude” wasn’t what I said… oh, forget it. And I kept searching.
So finally, I found it. My word for 2010 is HOME.
I am not a wordsmith. Few words actually speak to me. But this one did. To me home includes family, taking time for myself, feeling good, comfort. After gaining all that ground in 2009, I want to be sure I know why I am working 60+ hours/week, why I forced myself to change careers, why I do what I do each day. I am not really after glory or fame (though, those would be nice… I think I will let my wife get all of that). But I do need to remember the five kids that wait for me each night when I come in the door, the wife who needs a foot rub, the garbage that needs to be taken out… again, and that home is not just my wife’s responsibility. I play a part, too. Putting that in front of me this year is just what I need.
It is interesting, I think, when minds think alike.
On Friday I wrote a post about the New Year and finding that one word to guide yourself through 2010. Then, things just started pouring in. As more and more energy came to me from this one post, I discovered more and more people out there looking for, celebrating, and living with their ONE LITTLE WORD. The notion of seeing your whole life through the intention and awareness of this one word is something pretty amazing.
I have always been a nut for the power of words, especially the spoken word. Maya Angelou says that words “hang on the walls” in our life. Even the characters in Harry Potter knew the power of words when they refuse to utter Voldemort’s name. I am careful (well, most of the time) not say anything that I don’t want to speak into exisitence.
So, I am gonna say this. Let’s do it. Let’s all find that one word to guide us.
Might I be so bold as to say this, too. Wait until the kids have been shuffled off to school or the baby is down for a nap. Grab a cup of coffee or that ice cold Diet Pepsi. Be sure you have pen and paper – or better yet, a journal. Then look through some of the links below. Then, try and get your husband or significant other to join you in picking out his own word. If you hubbie is anything like mine, there is no chance in getting him to delve into some blogs and websites, but a good ol’conversation may work. Last year Dave selected TRACTION. We are in a profoundly different spot than we were last New Year’s. I have to believe that the intention of this word, TRACTION, in our life was part of why we are where we are — no more spinning our wheels financially, professionally, familially.
Here is my process. I write down the words that jump out to me. Then I let is rest for a bit. And there is always one (or maybe two) word(s) that nags me to distraction; one word that rises to the top of the list. Then I spend some time looking at the definition of the word, saying the word, wondering what it means nto me. Then I just pick it. This year I am going to try out some of the ideas below to really cement this one little word into my life.
Click here for some ideas from a whole website (no longer being updated) that dedicated itself to the whole notion of ONE LITTLE WORD. I warn you, though. This website will blow you away! If you click on a word, it will take you to some quotes and even some art projects to inspire you! Mind blowing, like I said.
Here is another place to check out. Shutter Sisters guides photographer with one word each month. If you love photography — or know someone who does — you must check this site out.
A couple more. Check out this blog post from Ali Edwards. There are some embedded links inside this post that will take you deeper and deeper into this idea of one word. Christine Kane’s blog provides a great list to get you thinking and click here if you want to go directly to a video describing the switch in thought when you move from a resolution to a word – from “doing” to “being”. There is also a downloadable worksheet that can take you through the steps of implementing your word into your life.
This week I am going to dedicate myself to finding my word for 2010.
Words are powerful. Choose cafefully. Then open yourself up for what the power that your one little word brings you.
Will you share with me your word?
« Older Entries
