Create - the only thing you need to know: Word for the Year

Resting on a colander

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These two birds were found with the rest of their family many years ago at a garage sale. They, as well as their siblings were feathered in downy red at that time. But over the years these two have changed.

They have aged, been moved around, dangled from the edges, and fallen...off the tree which we prop in a corner of our living room during the season.

They have grown weary over the years and needed an update. They inspired my word for the year, Create.

The rest of the bird family has been packed away for another year, these two however, remain staring at me. And in this project, you will see them enter this new year in a new form.

Trying to improve

Anyone who knows me is aware how I like to re-imagine things. On empty pages, and with torn bits of the past, pieced together to make something new. Fitting for a new year, don't you think?

If you decide to continue to follow along here, you will see a shift towards creation in my words. Over the past year (perhaps enforced by distancing), I have realized that creating is much more fun than consuming.

And in this attempt to Create, I ask you too to give yourself permission to do what needs doing this new year. 

You may choose to de-clutter (because space is a good thing), to re-read a favourite book (because you've grown in the meantime), to investigate a new skill (because, why not?).

 We all Create in different ways. (Tweet This)

 

A piece here, a piece there. Note the glue medium stuck to fingers.

Smart Husband suggested they could dry this way!

I will aim this year to Create as much as I can, out of words - a poem or a story, on canvas - with paper and markings from anywhere, ribbons, wool, textile donations anyone? Using things that others might call pieces of trash. 

Many of course will call this madness, but I name it Create. (Tweet This)

And now, here sit two new birdies. In this new year.   

The only thing you need to know?

Start small. Change takes time.

All the pieces of yourself count.

They make you, You.

(Tweet This)

May your Word of the Year guide you to a better you. (Tweet This)

 

Stay well, stay kind.

 

 

If you are looking for other ideas for your Word, you can read some of my previous choices.

Re-Write    How to choose your word     Open

Then choose your word at  One Word 365

 

Re-Write - Word of the Year and 12 Ways to Use It

Choosing a Word of the Year has been helpful to me for the last few years to be used as a map. It has given me a reason to slow down in that space between experience and reaction.

Re-Write - Word of the Year and 12 Ways to Use It

Last year, my word was Celebrate!, a year I devoted to getting ready to and then learning to celebrate the end of my working career. A year spent rediscovering myself and what was important enough to carry.

So many reflections emerged with that word, including the releasing of silly thoughts that no longer served me although they seemed so important at the time. The realization that the days that were spent are gone, and that no one can give you the peace that you deserve except yourself.

... and to Celebrate! last year is what led me to my 2020 Word of the Year - Re-Write.

When you have a little more time on your hands since leaving a long career, you are given the gift of Time. A gift that is easy enough to squander with tidying-up tasks, staying in your pajamas all day (yes! I've done this a whopping twice in the last eight months), or aimlessly watching a screen. Or squeezing in as much as possible. I tell you this because "squeezing in" is my default and something I am working on. You might already know that I like to check things off a list but now I am asking myself why it has been so important to me.

This gift of Time is also about choice, who and what to fill your time, which project to tackle first, which book to read, which Netflix series to follow next. 

Oh How I miss the Quiet

Catching up around the water cooler is a handy social time waster. But do you really care about the long version of my “event” whatever it was? Do the stories of all the quirky people I saw at the airport while I waited for a three hour flight delay, add anything to your life?

I am nearing the finish line of my year of Slow. This year, I’ve slowed down enough to notice how people fill up their time. I know that I am outside of the norm in guarding this most important commodity. I wish I had more of it, always. I am dogged about finding a few moments to do the things that fill my soul, to give back my energy and my learning to someone who would appreciate it.

My Sweetie and I were at a wonderful musical event last week but then the evening went on and on. Great value for your money for sure, an encore that left most of the audience standing in appreciation. But, we’d had enough. Thank goodness we usually agree on our tolerance for "noise".

We needed Quiet, we needed to talk about the melodies we’d heard and the jokes that seemed unrehearsed, we’d had enough. Not many years ago, I wouldn’t have been able to recognize my need. I would no doubt have stood and cheered the playing of song after song although I had grown weary.

Last week I was able to stop. Maybe it's my age, and diminishing need to be polite. Maybe, I am finally happy being still. Slowing down has helped me find a peaceful clarity of understanding. Knowing that this was my time to give and that the musicians, regardless of how good they were had taken enough from me.

The decision was made.

Good night.

Let’s go home.


How much Quiet do you crave? (Click to Tweet)

How much "Noise" can you tolerate? (Click to Tweet)


If you'd like to start thinking about adopting a Word for next year, check out OneWord365 and start planning! 

Bubbles of Time

I was early for an appointment today and decided to sit still in the food court area to pass the time. If you are used to being in a busy mall, you will know, how being there before the area is fully illuminated, before the hustle and bustle begins for the day, before the music starts wafting into every corner, how unreal it can feel.

As I sat something caught my eye. What is this, I thought to myself. And then I realized (although vaguely) that I had seen this before. Maybe a hundred times before, but not once had I noticed the magic of it. Because we usually head to a shopping mall, strictly to accomplish (buy!) something, most of us are usually on "a mission". Very rarely do we allow ourselves time to truly look around, at anything more than the shop windows.

So today I looked. I watched how these static bubbles, just WERE. How the light caught them and magically threw them shafts of colour, how passersby gave them slight motion, how their shape appeared to change depending on how the clouds moved. And WOW! how magnificent they looked as a plane flew by in the distance.

What else have we missed, being in such a hurry? What special moments have happened that we didn't recognize or appreciate?

If we don't allow ourselves those few seconds of Pause, what else will happen right in front of our eyes that our brain will not see?

What else will happen right in front of our eyes that our brain will not see? (Click to Tweet)

The Habit Pause

We all do them. We do them with so little thought that there is nary a pause in our motion. Sometimes they are bigger habits, bahaviours that affect our lives and those around us, some can take away our good health or ruin our relationships. These are habits that take utmost devotion, dedication and support to change.

But today, let's talk about our silly habits. The things we do everyday and today I will tell you a secret. Although I am a compulsive, conscientious clean-up-as-you-go person, my desk top is a disaster! I am, lets say, my most creative in my home office space.

At times, there may be piles of paper to be filed, shredded and "read further" in assorted piles. There are torn out articles (or food for thought, as I call them) to be pondered over and there is always a pile of colourful paperclips. And this is where this story is going...

Leap Year

We might not be as daring as this young man but how lofty are our goals for this year?

You can bet that this brave soul did not just decide one day to head to the top of the mountain and see if he could make it down (in one piece). 

I’m quite certain that he had made a plan, he’d practised, he’d trained, he had the right equipment, chose the best climate and conditions and many other important details which I know nothing about snowboarding. In other words, he did what he could to be prepared. So my question to you is, how prepared are each of us to reach the goals we’ve set for this year?

Have you done the training, have you taken steps to see your expertise grow, have you set a goal that is attainable (no one needs to feel shamed)? Because when we gather the facts and research with an expert, reward ourselves by documenting our learning and keep ourselves accountable, we WILL see progress. Yes, set a goal that excites you, it will add a spark to your life.

The first week of the new year has already slipped passed us, what have we put in place to move ourselves forward to these goals?

2016 is a Leap year, how will we use this powerful word to inspire us? This year I aim to be as brave as my friend flying through the skies and see how the leap will help me learn and grow. 

This week I can say that in spite of our bone chilling cold, I had fun and made some headway, this is my way of staying accountable to you:

Fitness – kept up on my training for the next half-marathon on my schedule

Writing – scribbled ideas to write about in my journal and have written on this blog 3 times this week

Healthy eating – allowed myself one small sweet treat each day this week, if only in order to empty the freezer

Something new – signed up to volunteer at the Calgary Public Library for the 50@150 Exhibit, I’ve never been a docent before!

The 50@150 Exhibit highlights Canadians who have had an impact on us all in celebration of Canada's 150th birthday coming up in 2017.

Slow - My word for 2016

Slow.

My Word for this year. Not a word that comes easily to me, family will tell you that I'm not known for sitting still for long periods. My mind is jumping around although I can fool some people. Creative thoughts are bumping up against each other with uncontrolled velocity, so many projects to try.

I was not a child who was encouraged to sit and dawdle. It's a habit that sticks with me to my detriment sometimes. I can't remember the last time that (I allowed myself) to sit with a tea and read my current book until...what? Until, I was fulfilled. There always seems to be something "interesting" to switch to. And in doing this, I think I've missed a lot.

So this year I will aim to Slow. To take a breath and feel the air going into my body as my yoga teacher teaches me. To feel it reaching the tips of my toes, giving me life. I will pause and watch as the sun dips across our window and the shadow slides across the page I'm reading. I will gaze at the what is passing my window while I am stopped at the red light, and smile at the scene of the man in the jaunty hat walking his dog, who is carrying his own ball. I will stay still and capture on my camera the berries poking out of the snowdrift and the first tentative green shoots emerging in the spring.

I will be Slow but I believe that I will grow. Because I will see our world with it's noise and beauty, clear streams and taxi horns, crisp winter chills and long line-ups with different eyes.

Not me

I will pay better attention and I will be looking for you to add to my story.

Wish me luck with my word. I'm looking forward to seeing what I will discover and how it will transform the way I live.

Play along and tell me your Word and check in here to see how living my life Slow escalates my senses.


I will be Slow but I believe that I will grow. (Click to Tweet)