I have been tentative about claiming my word for 2015. Each year I begin making a list of words that are good possibilities. Even if they aren't "the one", they usually lead me to my final decision. Here is my working list this year:
Invitation
Hospitality
Joy
Stretch
Make
Imagine
Adventure
Explore
All good words but none of them felt right. I also choose a word by the way it sounds to me as I say it or even think it. On New Year's Day my word came to me - risk. Knowing me, you can see why I needed two days to live into it. I am organized, careful, thoughtful. I will try new things...after much thought, weighing the pros and cons carefully. In general that has been a good practice for me. But maybe it is time to stretch myself, not only in my actions but in my process. That is different than be risky. I want to risk for the sake of growth not just for the thrill. I think of risk as a decision that happens in the moment. There are positive and negative consequences from the decision but they all may not be clear at that time.
Maybe this decision has been informed by three movies I have seen in the past three days: Big Eyes, Wild and Frozen. They all are stories about women making bold choices to become more than they are. Acting on a decision which will take them out of a place that is safe and maybe not really working for them anymore. I don't think I will be moving to Hawaii or hiking the Pacific Crest Trail or "letting it all go" but I do think there is room for change.
This is the quote that will be in front of me all year:
The most important thing to remember is this: to be ready at any moment to give up what you are for what you might become. – W. E. B. Du Bois
And so the hardest part in choosing this word is that I do not know how it will start to show up in my life. Sort of scary for the planner in me. So... I will be watchful and ready for when the opportunity presents itself...and then take a risk!
*gulp*
~ Pam
Invitation
Hospitality
Joy
Stretch
Make
Imagine
Adventure
Explore
All good words but none of them felt right. I also choose a word by the way it sounds to me as I say it or even think it. On New Year's Day my word came to me - risk. Knowing me, you can see why I needed two days to live into it. I am organized, careful, thoughtful. I will try new things...after much thought, weighing the pros and cons carefully. In general that has been a good practice for me. But maybe it is time to stretch myself, not only in my actions but in my process. That is different than be risky. I want to risk for the sake of growth not just for the thrill. I think of risk as a decision that happens in the moment. There are positive and negative consequences from the decision but they all may not be clear at that time.
Maybe this decision has been informed by three movies I have seen in the past three days: Big Eyes, Wild and Frozen. They all are stories about women making bold choices to become more than they are. Acting on a decision which will take them out of a place that is safe and maybe not really working for them anymore. I don't think I will be moving to Hawaii or hiking the Pacific Crest Trail or "letting it all go" but I do think there is room for change.
This is the quote that will be in front of me all year:
The most important thing to remember is this: to be ready at any moment to give up what you are for what you might become. – W. E. B. Du Bois
And so the hardest part in choosing this word is that I do not know how it will start to show up in my life. Sort of scary for the planner in me. So... I will be watchful and ready for when the opportunity presents itself...and then take a risk!
*gulp*
~ Pam
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