Goals, Words, Years and A Bonus

12:26 PM

Walking in the mall shortly after the new year, I saw this sign in a store window.

It pretty much sums up the way I feel about 2012. I will own it.

So why am I just now posting about word-of-the-year, goals and such....on February 1st?

Well, if you read the blog, you know 2011 ended on a sad note and 2012 started on a sad, worried note.
“The days are long, but 
the years short. ”
Since time has continued its relentless march forward, I find that I need/want/must go with it.

A Glance Back

Looking back at 2011, I can say the year was truly a year of challenge. Highest highs, lowest lows, outrageously good times and unable-to-breathe scary. I am pleased to have survived as well as by all that I accomplished.

Finally, as I face 2012, to go farther, higher and deeper.

When I look forward, I see new challenges to take on and overcome, new highs to aspire to, new delights to celebrate, accomplishments to revel in, new places to see and new friendships to build.

The Speed of Forward

I am learning there are many speeds to forward. My plan had been to hit 2012 with the throttle open as wide as it would go. The Universe had other plans, plans to slow me down. Way down.

I fought it for a while. A fruitless activity and a waste of energy. I've settled down now into a much slow pace forward. I'm getting a lot of behind the scenes stuff done that if I were traveling at full throttle, wouldn't get done properly nor with the detail it needs.

I won't say I don't rail against the current speed. I do. I hear a soft chuckle in the nether regions of my mind. Perhaps a whisper that says "all in good time, child, all in good time."

A Wise Word

My word last year was move and boy, did I! I moved my body (exercise), I started the move of my business to a totally different host, set up, web site and more, I went to NOLA and had a blast! I moved my mind and myself past obstacles, challenges, and sadness.

What word could I possibly choose to guide me, ground me, be an advocate, and otherwise remind me to enjoy every minute of every day as much as possible?

That's a pretty tall order for one word.

At the very end of last year, I was trying on bodacious and audacious as my watchwords for 2012.

Then the sadness came along with some other obstacles. The slowing down I could do nothing about.

And I didn't feel audacious or bodacious anymore.....still, I wanted a word that would remind me of the present moment, to celebrate the accomplishments of the moment, to savor life in the moment while also keeping my eye on moving forward.

In the end, I chose two words, revel and best.

I chose revel to help me to enjoy every minute of the day as much as possible. Even set backs, slow downs, obstacles and challenges. They're often gifts. We just have to change our perspective sometimes to recognize the value they bring. I chose the word to remind me to revel in small things as well as big and to celebrate them rather than rushing to the next challenge, obstacle, or task.

Inspired by KJ's gentle wisdom over at Catching Happiness, I decided to choose a second word. When I settled on best, it was so I would ask myself the necessary questions so that I would stay aware of the choices, decisions, energy and resources I put into any situation....is this the best decision I can make? [Make it and move on.]

Is this the best thing for me to be eating right now? [No, put the donut down and go get an apple.]

Does this situation require my very best or is good enough okay? [Good enough is okay. Put the extra energy towards the next challenge.]

Own It

I believe revel and best will help me to own 2012 and to make it mine. There will be missteps, obstacles, failures, struggles, fear, celebration, joy, tears of sadness and happiness.

With any luck at all, when I look back over 2012, I'll be able to say that not only did I own it, I made it count. I made it a good one.

A Bonus

(Congratulations if you made it this far! I know this is a ridiculously long post and I promise to be more brief in the future!)

One of the things I did way back at the beginning of 2011 was to write a few sentences down using my word of the year move. These sentences were written as if it were already the end of the year and I was writing an overview in December of all my accomplishments. Some examples follow:

  • I really moved forward with the business by changing the way I deliver the class material.
  • Moving my body has really helped me to move towards better health.
  • I finally get to move around and visit different parts of the country with Imaginary Trips Made Real!

I also wrote a few that didn't happen and that's okay. These did! By writing out these sentences using my WOTY, I was setting intentions, putting myself and the Universe on notice that I had things to do, places to be, people to meet!

I was just recently introduced to a new tool called futureme.org. It is a tool that allows you to write a letter to yourself and then have it delivered on whatever date in the future you want. You can even add a photo if you so choose. You can make it anonymous and public or keep it private.

The Challenge

So here is my challenge to each of you to help make 2012 your best year yet is to write a letter to yourself as if it were December 2012. Talk about all the things you accomplished, all the goals you met, the challenges you overcame. Set a powerful intention to yourself NOW.

The letter will help you to see what you accomplished in the 11 months to come.

Perhaps you'll want to send more frequent letters (I have mine set for the seasons' solstice).

Here's to our year. 2012. Let's own it—together!

[DM, this ones for you!]

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30 Creative Thought(s)

  1. Oh, that's awesome. I love the letter idea. I use that in my local classes, but was not aware it could be done online.

    Now somehow I missed the end of the year news, so now I must reread back through the blog.

    So hugs and thank-you for being the inspiration that you are.

    xo

    Donna

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    1. Donna, writing that letter makes a huge difference!

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  2. I enjoyed reading this post, Laure. You said a lot...and it was all good. I chose my word for the year back in December...savor. Each moment is special...

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    1. Savor....love it Kelly! Yes, each moment is special and I tend to let too many pass by.

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  3. Thank you for the beautiful, heartfelt, inspiring post! I love your word choices and can't wait to see what they help you accomplish in 2012. I'm going to take you up on your challenge and write myself a letter, also. I tend to get off to a good start and lose focus throughout the year--maybe this will help!

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    1. KJ, I think it will be a huge help....I also think it will be easier to stay on track.

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  4. Laure, Thanks for such a heart-felt post. I write myself a letter on my birthday each year and have done this for a while, it's a humbling, exciting, interesting process. My WOTY is: Believe! I have no idea where this will take me, I'm simply Believing every day!
    Here's to 2012 and the infinite possibilities!
    Best,
    Jeanette

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    1. Hi, Jeanette, you're ahead of the game! It's never occurred to me to write a letter to myself...it will be interesting to see where this all takes me. Love your WOTY and I BELIEVE it will take you where you need to go!

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  5. A terribly inspiring, sensitive and terrific post.

    "Healing" is my word, and I like your idea to write that December 2012 enough to do it--and soon.

    Thanks for sharing yourself; it's magical when we do it even when it feels frightening.

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    1. I think healing is another awesome word....it will and can take you in so many ways other than the expected ones! Hope it's an awesome year for you!

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  6. I had to read this in sections. :) I keep a journal and always start the year with plans and see how I have done at the end of the year. Hope they pan out for you this year. John Lennon said it best when he said. Life is what happens when making other plans. We do the best we can with what we have to work with be it time or energy. Inspiring post.

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    1. And John was right Cris, life is what happens while we're off planning out what we think SHOULD happen. Still, we have to keep trying....

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  7. Laure - I love the idea of a letter to myself from the future. I've actually done that from my eighty-year-old self, but haven't done it in the short term. It's definitely on my to-do-list.

    Hurray for you that you're being gentle with yourself in realizing sometimes you can't accomplish all of your goals because life has hit you hard. And it's okay.

    There's always tomorrow.

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    1. Hi, Maria! From your 80-year-old-self? How AWESOME! That's going on my to do list!!

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  8. I'm going to have to read this a couple of times..... wonderful food for thought.

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    1. Hi, Elva, it's life as I currently know it....hope it helps you as well.

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  9. This is a great idea! I need some motivation (mainly from my own self) in where to go from here professionally. I think I will start to look at it as owning my own experiences and go for it....starting NOW!!! Thanks, Laure!!!

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    1. Julie, I think we all can use a little personal motivation....and owning the good, the bad and the inbetween makes a huge difference. Good luck to you!

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  10. Thank you for your last post; it's honest and relative to so many. I support the use of words for empowering oneself.This is my current inspirational quote.
    "Draw lines, young man, and still more lines, both from life and from memory, and you will become a good artist."
    by : Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres to Edgar Degas

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    1. Outstanding quote, Kay. It is what it all comes down to....practice. Good luck for the year!

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  11. Wow! What an inspiring post. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. You are our Cheerleader. We are all capable of great things.

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  12. You are an inspiration Laure. You have set me to thinking.

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    1. I've come back to this post 3 times already, each time I get something else from it, how many ways can I say thank you? Along with taking 2 of your Imaginary Trips, my life is going in a direction that's more to my liking.

      My word for this year, first time I ever had a word, is Peace. With a side order of just plain Happiness. Much harder than I thought it would be...
      Last October I got a 5 year, one-line-a-day diary (I'm not a diary-journal person) and haven't missed a day. The idea of sending myself a letter grabs me big-time and is bit scary, too.

      Lots of cool stuff here, Laure, thank you.
      Again.

      Susie
      TheAntiquePalette.com

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    2. Susie, you've chosen a great word and I love the idea of a one line a day diary! I'm attempting this in a day calendar I purchased, but I'm kind of hit or miss. Send that letter! Nothing to be afraid of and you might even be surprised!

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  13. I think this is a great post! I'm thinking of keeping the goal from last year of "be nice to yourself" as it can apply to anything. Like "don't drop your clothes on the floor, it makes more work for you tomorrow - be nice to yourself" etc etc.
    Happy 2012!!

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    1. What an excellent idea, Mim! I know my first word was bold...it's still with me. I can see this being something that reminds with you always. We sometimes need that simple reminder in our lives.

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  14. This is so timely. I use antique children's blocks around the house during the holidays with meaningful quotes. As I took down the decorations I decided to leave these up. I started turning over the blocks to see what phrase I could come up with and "Imagine The Best" was possible to do. So that has been sitting on top of my cabinet since January 1st....and so far "The Best" has happened throughout the month. The power of intentions are wonderful.

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  15. How grand, this Blog land. How grand to read your posts and feel like you are right next door. Love how you share and help us all take a moment or more to reflect. Great words and phrases for 2012, Laure!

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