My word for the year actually surprises me. I've been bouncing "CREATE" and "LAUGH" around in my head, but this is seriously what I felt like this Sunday morning! (Though, I must say my bathrobe is way cuter!!!! LOL!) "My word" ended up being neither of these!
The house has emptied of family gathered from far and near and any signs of holiday celebrations have been returned to storage for another year. The floors have been cleaned, beds have been changed, and as I sipped my first cup of coffee, morning greeted me with the comforts found in creaky old house noises during Winter, laundry spinning, dogs sleeping and snow once again beginning to fall.
I checked my email and was so overwhelmed with the love of over 200 messages, that I just enjoyed reading each one with a smile and took time to clean out folders and get things processed. I also found myself getting my mind-set shifted back to "work" mode.
I find affirmation in using a word to "define" my year of growth and self exploration ahead. I've been so inspired by everyone's blogs and your New Year's Quilty goals this morning, but for the first time in my life, find myself without a list in hand or huge aspirations ahead. So I used my scraps and spent the morning creating this little wallhanging as perhaps, this truly is my year to just:
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I find myself content. I find myself just needing to go with the flow right now. I find myself just wanting to enjoy quilting as my craft, my creative outlet that needs no deadlines or commitments. I'm learning that though there are many things going on in many young adult people's lives I love and work with, that I'm not the one in control and that perhaps the best thing I can do for each of them is to just BE me...quietly. (LOL!!) Perhaps this too is the gift of middle age?? That in letting go, you also empower? That by being their foundation, you give them strength? That by listening, you offer encouragement? That by accepting, we create freedom? That by being ourselves, we set an example? Atleast this is what life is teaching me right now...
as I find myself content to just BE me in 2015.
So this week will find me slow stitching this little wallhanging as Jackson obviously keeps warm underneath. I'll look forward to sharing it finished next Sunday. Until then, how about you...do you use a WORD to define your year? If so, I'm curious. Please do share and tell us what it means to you. I'm off to spend the rest of this snowy day stitching...quietly!
With smiles!
Val:)
The house has emptied of family gathered from far and near and any signs of holiday celebrations have been returned to storage for another year. The floors have been cleaned, beds have been changed, and as I sipped my first cup of coffee, morning greeted me with the comforts found in creaky old house noises during Winter, laundry spinning, dogs sleeping and snow once again beginning to fall.
I checked my email and was so overwhelmed with the love of over 200 messages, that I just enjoyed reading each one with a smile and took time to clean out folders and get things processed. I also found myself getting my mind-set shifted back to "work" mode.
I find affirmation in using a word to "define" my year of growth and self exploration ahead. I've been so inspired by everyone's blogs and your New Year's Quilty goals this morning, but for the first time in my life, find myself without a list in hand or huge aspirations ahead. So I used my scraps and spent the morning creating this little wallhanging as perhaps, this truly is my year to just:
as I find myself content to just BE me in 2015.
With smiles!
Val:)
Happy New Year Val!
ReplyDeleteYes! Be! That's super! And so well written and described!
Let life surprise you! Enjoy being in it!
Take care,
Joanne
What a sweet photo of you stitching with your furry friend! I don't have one word but I always pick one quote to focus on and post it at the bottom of my blog. Enjoy your slow stitching today!
ReplyDeleteVal, after you left me a comment I had to pop over and see your blog. I can totally relate to what you mean about "this stage" of life. I am also finding that it is time to just "be" but only realized that it is OK after reading your post.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this enlightenment.
Perfect word! I think it is tempting to think we should always be improving. That implies that we are somehow imperfect. When actually we should be content and happy with who we are. But as you say, we "middle aged" ladies have this figured out!
ReplyDeleteI like your word choice! Jackson has the coziest place and your little quilt is too cute. Enjoy your last pajama day!
ReplyDeleteAll the best in 2015, Val.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a word for the year, but you've got me thinking. I think your choice is a good one.
Love the photo of your stitching with pup in lap! Here;s to a good year.
ReplyDeleteI have been attracted by a saying I saw on facebook.
ReplyDeleteImagine, believe, achieve!
This is what I am aiming for in 2015
A great word indeed! I think the ability to just be comes with age. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely image of sipping coffee and enjoying the quiet. I don't do a word like you do, but I do like yours for the year.
ReplyDeleteNice word with a great explanation. I also find myself content. So my word for the year (first time having one) is enjoy.
ReplyDeleteLove your furry friend helping you sew. My pups love to cuddle while I sew, too. Define is a good word...I like that!
ReplyDeletegood choice of word, I am trying to find one but so far not achieved it, another blog i follow has chosen order and her Church is using contentment, now I would like to feel content and peaceful will ponder some more maybe ponder should work for me
ReplyDeleteI think you have a good plan for this year. I'm still thinking about my 2015 plans but will blog about it soon.
ReplyDeleteI think I would like to use content as my word. I have had a bad few years. Ups and downs. I would like everything to settle and just be content.....
ReplyDeleteJust BE you the best possible person to be. Love your word for the year. I hope the new year is wonderful for all of us I know how much I'm looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteGreat word. I think you are going to enjoy just 'being' this year. I feel that perhaps that has been my word for the first 30 years or so of my life, and now I need a few action words :)
ReplyDeleteI have been using my "About" page on my blog to write a paragraph each year that sumarises my craft goal for the year. I have found it helps, but this year I intend to keep a personal journal, too, to help me with all of my goals in life. I am trying to become more active in achieving my goals.
Good word! You will probably be your usual busy bee.
ReplyDeleteI think my word should be HELP... not as in the request, but the verb. I'm not going to make a tiny quilt of it though. I've already lined up a bunch of QALs to make.
Hugs
Jackson looks so content and comfy. Val, I don't think I could hand sew without a dog beside me.
ReplyDeleteWhat you wrote is so lovely. Yes, just be you!
I'm going to try to remember what you said: " That in letting go, you also empower? That by being their foundation, you give them strength? That by listening, you offer encouragement? That by accepting, we create freedeom? That by being ourselves, we set an example? ". No questions - you are right on!
Great post! I think there is a calmness in just Be that I could do with this year!
ReplyDeleteBe is easier said than done. I hope you find a year of contenment in that word. My word for the year is enough. I'm enough, God is enough and I'm to find satisfaction in that.
ReplyDeleteLovely word choice Val. I hope I'm a year away from some fun words! LOL I've selected Focus after much thought and changing direction. Guess that's why it's the word for me...
ReplyDelete