Sunday, January 8, 2012

One Word Blog Hop...

Recently my wonderful group of fellow fliers, alumni from the Summer 2011 Flying Lessons course with Kelly Rae Roberts, decided to do a Blog Hop as a way of ringing in the New Year. This is my first time participating in a hop, and I have had tons of things to learn and questions to ask. Fortunately we have some amazing, and tech savvy artists in our group, and they have spent hours of their time talking the tech-challenged majority through this process. Ladies, you know who you are, sincerely and profoundly, thank you...

On the surface, I get the appeal of doing New Years resolutions. It makes sense really, who doesn't spend time  at the end of the year, after the holiday whirlwind has calmed and the dust has settled, to examine, not only the previous year, but our personal goals and path. But, lets face it, New Years resolutions are a cliche, breaking them is so common, no one really puts any credence to them when they hear them. I had at least three little cartoons posted to my Facebook page comically depicting the concept...
So this year I was interested to hear about the "one word" idea. Instead of a to-do list of unobtainable goals, (and lets face it, if we were going to do these things, we would be doing them, right?) you choose an word, one single word, and try, throughout the year, to focus on that word and bring it's benefits into your life.
  What word you choose is entirely up to you, I have heard examples such as; create, de-clutter, soar, heal, and peace. How you honor your commitment to this word is also entirely up to you. Some are making signs, creating jewelry, or producing a piece of art, as a reminder to embrace their word, and incorporate it into their everyday lives.

 I have chosen the word "moment". I have spent entirely too many years of my life, waiting for the right moment. Thinking only of the future, and the responsibilities I have to everyone around me. I am the ant, in the ant and the grasshopper tale. Raising my children, making the sacrifices, the tough choices, saving, scrimping, doing the right thing, and going without. Always, somewhere in the future, I would have time to do my thing, create my art, start my own business...someday.

"We are here and it is now. Further than that, all human knowledge is moonshine." - HL Mencken

  My kids are grown and gone, and yet I am still holding out, waiting for them to get their feet on the ground, ready to catch their foul balls, still setting the good example and trying to guide them into responsible adulthood. But really, I am done. Oh, they may still need me, in a strictly advisory capacity and for unconditional love, but they don't actually listen if they, indeed, ever did. They are off and running with the bit in their teeth, and other than being a touchstone, when the world gets scary, I am left behind to rediscover who I am, and what I want.

"Rejoice in the things that are present, all else is beyond thee..." Mantaigne

    I struggle with worry, as if I stand a chance of warding off tragedy by trying to second guess destiny or fate. But the truth is, when I stop to really think about it, worry is just a waste of energy, it has no actual effect on what will be. I need to stop wasting my precious time, and focus on the things I can do to make my life what I want it to be. So learning to, not only live in the moment, but to live without fear and actually move forward into that big scary world again, now, not at some vague future date, is my goal and moment is my word to remind me of that.
 "This is the time, now is the moment." 

Until next time...enjoy.

To read other artists blog about their "one word" experiences, please go to this site

24 comments:

  1. Thanks for your post - I feel like I can thinking of creating my creative business but hold back some cuz of regard for the kids. I'm almost an empty nester - my youngest is graduated from high school, taking a year off from starting college to travel and work. My oldest is in the Army and the middle kid is still in college, so I feel a little "in between". Time is precious...and beining in the here and now - being in the moment is essential.

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  2. Love your word and your post. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and art!

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  3. I love how you've said this, Sally, and I wish you well on your journey!

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  4. What a positive and heartfelt post! Thank you for sharing this, Sally. I especially like the reminder about worry. It can be so hard to keep in mind, but its true that worry doesn't heal or cultivate success. I love what you captured in this moment and wish you the best throughout 2012!

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  5. Sally what a superb word! Live life NOW this is your MOMENT!

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  6. Moment is a word worthy of being a lifetime word... not just for the year. Your post is beautiful, and I love the art. Thanks for hopping with us and for all that you offer our tribe!

    ~Rae

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  7. Hi Sally! This is a beautiful post!! Wishing you peace and prosperity in 2012!!! And always remember to wear your I-pod:)

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  8. Great word. Great reminder that all we have is THIS moment now. Let's all live it as fully as we can. Thank you so much. "This is the time, now is the moment." You go girl!

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  9. That was such a great post, Sally!! As a fellow worrier (just did it again today) I can understand how worry can hold you back. I am so glad to hear your word, and you thoughts on it. Mine is BE for very similar reasons to yours. So I wish for you many, many, magical, worry-free moments this year!!

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  10. Wonderful post, Sally! This really resonates with me. Thank you for sharing your story and beautiful artwork.

    Enjoy those wonderful moments the new year will gift you! Happy wishes...:)

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  11. I loved reading your post Sally! Moment....what a WONDERFUL word!

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  12. Aww...sweet.... remind yourself when you want to go to that place of worry...

    "Fortunately we are not in control."

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  13. I'm holding the space for you to live YOUR life now, have your moment. It is so built into women to be the caregiver, we are just wired that way. I wish you all the strength you need to live your now. Blessings.

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  14. Loved your heartfelt post. I too, have been recently promoted and am trying to shape this next phase of my life. Wishing good things for you in your artistic journey this year. Happy to be flying with you in the "moment."

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  15. It is your MOMENT Sally, Happy 2012

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  16. it's your time and your moment!

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  17. 2012 is your moment. Such a perfectly wonderful word for you! Continue to enjoy your moments while on your current trip and all your moments in 2012. xoxo

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  18. What a great word for 2012. May this year be your "moment" to a great start. Have a wonderfully creative year!!

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  19. I love moment! Happy 2012, and may it be filled with many great moments for you!

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  20. Sally, I love MOMENT! We all need to remember to live in the moment, the now, the present. I love all the quotes that you used. I'm a quote kind of person, love to ponder what they say. Good luck and best wishes for 2012!

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  21. Your post definitely ring true for me also, with my grown up kids on their own and my new found freedom I ask myself what am I waiting for? Moment is the perfect ord to remind us to live in the moment and capture the moment.

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  22. I am right where you are, so I really related to what you had to say - one day I finally realized that if I was always looking backwards or forward I was never really living since all we have is this moment. I am excited for all that you will experience in 2012, one moment at a time!

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  23. Wow, what a post! You go girl! No more waiting or worry, it's time to shine.

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  24. Beautiful blog post. Love the quotes you chose.

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