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Explore: 2013

January 3, 2013 by Farewell Stranger ·

I first chose a word for the year (“seek”) in 2011 and, boy, did that turn out to be the right word. Then last year my word was “vibrant” and I’ve decided, upon reflection, that it was the right word.

I’m notoriously non-committal when it comes to “inspirational” stuff like this. I hear about a concept that I like and jump on board, but then my interest wanes or, more commonly, I end up unsure if I’m really on the right track. Either way, I can usually be counted on to give it a few weeks and then move on to something else.

Not with this whole one-word-for-the-year thing.

I’m not big on setting resolutions (another thing I was very good at abandoning almost immediately). I think it’s because resolutions tend to be things that I feel I should do (or shouldn’t do, in some cases) and shoulding is really not a terribly useful way to get motivated. But, I’ve discovered, I’m all over putting something out there and being open to seeing what comes of it.

In that spirit, my word for this year is EXPLORE.

My chosen word came to me sooner and more easily than in previous years. It was just there, and there was no question about whether it’s the right word. It just is.

I want to explore all kinds of things – items on my life list, writing opportunities, my writing here. I want to get to know our new(ish) community better – it’s lovely and pretty and so close to so many things I want to dip my figurative toe into. I want to find my running spirit in this new, snow-filled environment. I want to take more trips — nearby and possibly farther away — and I want to spend more time in the mountains just breathing.

I want to continue to keep in touch with dear friends from back home and find new ways to connect with them on a regular basis, because they lift me up. They were sent into my life for a reason and I’m not going to let geography push them out of it.

I also want to figure out my relationship with Connor. I haven’t written a lot about it aside from the delight of his four-year-oldness, but I’m struggling and the voice in my head is whispering that if I don’t do something about it I could become irreparably disconnected from my beloved first boy.

So that’s my word. Explore.

See you out there.

One word image courtesy the very generous Melanie at Only a Breath. Want one? She’s offering one word buttons now (and not just for bloggers).

Filed Under: Hello, Inspiration · Tagged With: living life, One word, The Universe

Reflecting on a ‘Vibrant’ Year

December 31, 2012 by Farewell Stranger ·

As I sit here on New Year’s Eve I’m thinking back to the one word I chose for 2012.

Skating on New Year’s Eve

VIBRANT

Actually, as I mentioned in that original post, the word chose me. I knew it was the right word because there were things about it that spoke to my hopes and dreams for the year, but my word was born of its own volition in the newness of the year. It chose to come into my life and my job was to nurture it.

I’m not entirely sure I did my word justice this year, to be honest. And yet I’m pleased with what I brought into this year and what this year brought me.

One of the reasons I felt “vibrant” was the right word for me for this last year was that I wanted to have another baby. It turns out my word took that challenge seriously and we knew before January was through that Ethan would be joining us this year.

New life. That was enough vibrance even without anything else happening.

But the process of bringing that new life into being left me feeling decidedly less than vibrantly alive. Between antenatal depression and morning sickness, that pregnancy nearly killed my spirit. As a result, I didn’t do as much as I had hoped over the course of the year.

At this time last year we had only just moved here and I had grand visions of all the things we would do over the course of the year. I was especially excited — having moved from the one part of Canada that doesn’t really get any winter to speak of — about all the winter activities we could do. But the first few months of pregnancy had other ideas and before I knew it we were into summer and two straight months of temperatures so hot I could barely stand it.

There were many times this year when I did not feel vibrant.

But the word chose me for a reason and I accepted it into my life. I had it put on a ring that I wore every day (at least until I had to get my wedding ring cut off and then I didn’t dare risk losing another precious ring). The word was always there – literally in front of my face and never far from my thoughts.

And when I reflect back on 2012, I realize my word was in fact made manifest this year. This past year has been full. I have embraced the new and held on to what’s dear from before and in doing so I have felt alive.

Vibrant, even.

Cheers to the old year and welcome to the new.

Filed Under: Hello, Inspiration · Tagged With: favourite activities, gratitude, living life, One word

My One Word

January 6, 2012 by Farewell Stranger ·

Again this year, my word found me. I clicked a link to a post on the one-word theme and there it was.

You know how things stick in your brain? They take up residence and stand sentry, saying, “For now, you will see everything through my lens.” Ideas do that to me, as do perspectives and my heart’s greatest desires.

And words. Words do that to me all the time.

This one has unequivocally moved in. It has brought its things—its toiletries and its lists and its ambitions—and it appears intent on staying here through the year. So I’ve decided to let it.