One Little Word

In 2009 I began an adventure I learned from Ali Edwards, one of my favorite scrapbook designers.  She challenged her readers to join her in choosing a word for the year that would help define who she wants to be at the end of the year.  I chose SERENE for 2009 and CREATE for 2010. I have enjoyed choosing a word that influences my state of mind throughout the year and creates a structure and framework for my life.

I have done a fair amount of scrapping and quilting this year, along with more gardening than the previous year.  I also got out my paints and brushes and made some Christmas ornaments which turned out to be more satisfying than I had expected.  I also used other definitions than just causing something to come into being, specifically to cause to happen by intention or design.  I worked on that in my professional life and my personal life as I caused things to happen by design and not just by accident.  That has also been fulfilling.  So my efforts have been a success this year, even if I didn’t get to craft as much as I would have liked.

Now on to 2011.  I have considered several words and almost settled on transition because that will be a big part of my life this year, but gave it up in favor of BALANCE.  With the health challenges that I have been facing in the last six months, balancing everything has been a real exercise in mental control.  I know I haven’t done a great job at it, so the thought of keeping that word in the forefront of my life this year seems wise.  I need to balance my needs and my family’s needs, as well as my ability to cope with life and it’s unforeseen curve balls.  So think of me on a teeter-totter as I try to stay in balance this year.

In 2009 I began an adventure I learned from Ali Edwards, one of my favorite scrapbook designers.  She challenged her readers to join her in choosing a word for the year that would help define who she wants to be at the end of the year.  I chose SERENE.  I wrote the word on my bathroom mirror and it has remained there all year as I have consciously tried to remain calm and serene through whatever came my way.  Have I been successful?  I will say, “yes”.  I have kept that word in the forefront of my mind and it has helped me deal with many situations that would have set me off before 2009.  I have discovered that crocheting helps me to remain calm during internal meetings of my volunteer organization and so I invested in $100 worth of baby burp cloths.  They are small and easy to crochet so they work great at meetings and I will keep some and give most away to the Primary Children’s Medical Center Festival of Trees, where I volunteer each year.  (My girlfriend told me, “Serenity through burp cloths-there’s something poetic about that.”)  I have become serene this year and it has blessed my life.  Scott rewarded my efforts with a Willow Tree angel called ‘Serenity’ for Christmas.

I usually have a hard time choosing New Year’s resolutions that are useful, but choosing a word that influences my state of mind throughout the year has created a structure and framework for my whole life that has been very satisfying.  So I am ready for 2010 and my word for the year is CREATE.

1.     to cause to come into being, as something unique
2.     to evolve from one’s own thought or imagination
3.     to be the cause or occasion of; give rise to
4.     to cause to happen; bring about; arrange, as by intention or design

In September 2008 I was blessed to sing in a women’s choir at a special meeting for my church that was broadcast world-wide.  During that meeting, Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave an address called “Happiness, Your Heritage” that included a section on the importance of creating in our lives.  The ideas really resonated with me and have influenced my word choice for 2010.  Here are some excerpts from his address:

“The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul.”

“Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment.”

“You may think you don’t have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us. The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before—colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter.”

“What you create doesn’t have to be perfect…Don’t let fear of failure discourage you. Don’t let the voice of critics paralyze you—whether that voice comes from the outside or the inside.”

“As you take the normal opportunities of your daily life and create something of beauty and helpfulness, you improve not only the world around you but also the world within you.”

I’m not really a New Year’s resolution kind of girl, but the new year is a good time for reflection on what’s coming up.  Ali Edwards’ blog encourages readers to pick one word that sums up what you want for yourself in the new year.  I have thought about it and added my comment to her post.  The events of the past year have convinced me that this is what I need in my life.  It will be difficult, but this is my goal.

My word for 2009 is SERENE.

–adjective 1. calm, peaceful, or tranquil; unruffled: a serene landscape; serene old age.
Synonyms: peaceful, placid, tranquil, calm, halcyon, quiet, untroubled, august, bright, clear, collected, composed