One Little Word

You can download a high-res, printer ready version of my Today-Do Art here. If you're like a larger version, go here.

 

 Healthy. My word for 2011 was healthy. I’m not going to lie; it took some time for my word to take hold, for me to fully embrace it, but when I did, holy cow. The first five months of the year, I thought about my word. I thought about making changes. I thought about embracing the word. I thought about trying to be healthier. But that’s all I did – a whole lotta thinking and no action.

But then something changed. I went to a retreat in June. Best decision I’ve made for myself in a very long time. The retreat, hosted by the amazing Liz Lamoreux, focused on the idea of telling your story. It wasn’t about being healthy, but somehow it translated into that for me. Telling my story, moving forward, making changes … those were all things that would translate into healthier living for me. The retreat gave me a safe place to tell my story and introduced me to a tribe of brave, creative loving women. Those women believed in my from the moment they met me and started to cheer me on as I walked toward healthy. 

Still, the desire to make real changes didn’t take hold until August 11^th. Something bad happened to me on that day. Something I’m not sure I’ll ever share publicly. But it spurred serious change. I made a decision to move forward in the right direction. I started running. I started eating better (thank you Weight Watchers). I started journaling, meditating and creating for myself. I’ve managed to lose 25 pounds since that day. I went from a size 12 to a 6. I’ve run more than 200 miles. I’ve written poetry, which is totally out of my comfort zone. I’ve stopped spending outside my means (Christmas was done in cash, which we had plenty of, but the pessimist in me is always afraid of spending cash on hand and would rather hoard it and use credit). I’ve taken my life by the horns and am healthier (emotionally and physically) than I’ve been in years. Things aren’t perfect. I could stand to lose five more pounds. My body still constantly aches. I could be more frugal and resourceful. I could stop eating and spending emotionally, though I’ve cut back on both considerablely. And still have some lingering anger, sadness and trust issues, but it’s a start -- a huge start. 

With 2012 just around the corner, it’s time to pick a new word. I have been wrestling with this for weeks now. My word for 2011 came easily. It practically smacked me in the face. My new word isn’t coming as easily. So what are some of the words I’ve been thinking about? Grateful, appreciate, brave, better, be, savor, enough, happy, free, creative, search, change, learn, accept, play, joy ….

But in the last few days, as I’ve thought about this more, the same word kept popping up: DO. I need to do more, think less. I need to do the things that bring me joy. I need to do things for me, and not because others think I should. I need to do. Do. Do. Do. 

And with that, I have my word for 2012: DO.

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If you've never heard of One Little Word, check out my friend Ali's explanation here. Or, visit my friend Liz's blog, as she's been doing One Little Word for a number of years now.

Also, if you'd like a copy of my Today-Do subway art, you can download a 5x7 or 16x24 high-resolution, printer ready file. Enjoy