last year I chose a word for the year 2010 to inspire and guide me through the year, I chose Now as I had been procrastinating and avoiding doing things and generally wasting time, the word worked and as the months passed helped and encouraged me in a way I had not thought of, I found that by just getting on and doing something Now I spent less time dwelling on all the things that needed to be done in both home and garden, the result was I got more things done, I have been considering a new word for the new year but kept wanting to just continue with Now, what was stopping me was the feeling that if I did continue with Now it is standing still, not moving on,
then the word Present came to me as it also means now and also has the meaning of a gift, each new day is a gift, to have a house and garden in a rural area is a gift (to me), I am lucky and have lots of gifts, in the Present would mean I could continue to concentrate on what I am doing now and not worry about how much needs doing, but I was not totally at ease with Present, no reason just a feeling,
then after reading Carolyn’s post about editing her garden the word Edit kept coming back to me, I have been Editing things ‘stuff’ in my home very slowly for a few years now, I sort of Edit the garden but must admit the wind does most editing in the garden though I can start to Edit out anything that is not wind and rabbit proof,
Cat has chosen her word for 2011 and gave a link to dictionary so I looked up Edit and in my home dictionary, they talk of Edit in terms of writing and films etc., the words used improving, clarity, selection, rejection, rearranging, remove, expunge, eliminate, arrange,
so the word to guide and inspire me through 2011 is EDIT,
what would your word be?
and just for KC did you Enjoy 2010?
I was thinking that Pesent was the perfect word, and then you decided upon Edit! That’s an excellent choice, too, and something I need to do, inside and outside my home, as well as on my blog. I am going to reorganize my archives and side post soon – a daunting task, but not so difficult as reorganizing my son’s post college bedroom, which is an archive of his entire life!
Deb in my mind I thought Present was just right but you know when you get that ‘feeling’ no reason just a feeling that your not quite there but when I started to think about Edit after reading Carolyn’s post it felt right, I often go with feeling, good luck with your editting too, now a son’s bedroom is something I haven’t had to deal with for 20 years though my DDiL is starting to have to deal with my DGSs bedrooms as they grow older, your son’s room will be a memory lane trip, Frances
I like the idea of choosing a word to focus on during the year. I’d read Cat’s post and started mulling it over. I think I’ve about settled on a word, and your post nudges me further in that direction. Thanks for the encouragement!
you’re welcome Chris, I look forward to reading which word you choose, Frances
I am choosing a word that does not require work. Edit requires work. I do enough of that, so for once in my life, my word is Enjoy. Enjoy what is all around, enjoy what life has to offer and enjoy time to do what I choose. Bring joy so others may enjoy too. And change the things I do not enjoy. ENJOY.
with your work Donna I can see you would do a lot of editing, Enjoy is a great word and if I was still working (for other people) I would go for a word like that but since retiring I do lots of things I enjoy and side step things I should do that are work, so I need words that give me back a little of the work ethic, one of my ‘gifts’ when I was thinking of the word Present was it’s a Gift to have reached retirement, Enjoy, Frances
Even though it may seem deceptively simple, I worked very hard on the wording of my New Years Resolution post—I did a lot of editing! That it has inspired you to choose your guiding word for 2011 is a great reward to me. I never thought of choosing a word to guide me through the year, although looking back I have. For 2008, it was Impact as I resolved to buy no new plants that I didn’t already have thus increasing the size and impact of each patch. It was hard but I did it with tremendous improvement of my gardens. In 2009, it must have been Now because like you I resolved to do things in the garden when I thought of them, and I had the same result: more things done, less dwelling. As I said, in 2010 I Edited. I think 2011 must be Write as the ideas are just pouring out of me now that I have given myself permission to take the tine to write by starting my blog. So we have inspired each other. Maybe next year’s word should be Synergy.
Carolyn I think it has always been true that ~ that which looks the simplest is the more difficult, your post is thoughtful and to the point, thank you, it was your post that made me realise I have been ‘editing’ some of my belongings for a few years and like you I don’t just throw things away but like to find a new home for them, I am very pleased you decided to write a blog and look forward to future posts, Frances
I like your word Frances…the idea of improving and clarifying and rearranging is very purposeful and will continue to give you the feeling of accomplishment that Now gave you…well chosen! Looking forward to hearing how you edit throughout the year ;)
thanks Cat and I look forward to hearing about your explorations during 2011, Frances
I think if I have to choose a word it will be “HOPE”because I am a very selfish person and hope is the only word that comes to mind.
Carol you do not seem like a selfish person firstly your working in the caring profession………….. don’t put yourself down, I think Hope is a good word for you so I Hope 2011 will be a good year for you, Frances
I like your word, Frances as there are so many aspects of life in and out of the garden to edit, to refine, to clear out.
Finding the mot juste for New Year inspiration is not as easy one – I tend to review on the negative i.e. must not procrastinate so on a more postive note, have chosen Focus. It goes with my camera learning skills and my resolution to centre, to concentrate, to knuckle down.
Here’s hoping the wind and rabbits leave you enough to edit
thanks Laura, a few years ago I didn’t take a word for a year but I did start to use Focus more, I think it is a good word and your Jan first post is a good step towards it, looking forward to seeing your red, blue and white garden develope, I’m not a pink person either, Frances
Edit is a brilliant word for a year – you can apply it to everything in your liff one way and another.
To tell you the truth Frances, 2010 was a very curate’s egg of a year for me’n'Marmers’n'fpu, because we rather carelessly lost mpu and are only getting used to the idea nearly two months on.
So purrhaps EXPLORE will be my word for 2011, as we paddy-paw through experiences new and not-so-new as a family of three.
Happy 2011 to you and all your creativity xxx
thanks KC glad you approve of my word, Explore sounds like a great word for a clever cat like yourself, I’m sorry you have lost mpu you an’ Marmers an’ fpu must miss him as you tread (Explore) a new path without mpu, take care, Frances xxx
Glad to have found you. Thinking about edit made me consider (picnic) as my word for the year as I really depend on it to help with my dodgy pics. Then I thought better of it and have gone for (contentment). So this year I am not going to strive for perfection in the garden, I am going to be content.
hello Alistair, I think Contentment is a lovely word to chose and if I had a garden like yours I would be feeling very content with it, Frances
Hi Frances, I found your blog again after losing track of it somewhere along the line. I like your Key Word idea very much, and after some thought I have decided to recycle your NOW. I think this is a good word for me, the Great Procrastinator, and I hope it will have a good effect. Good luck and best wishes to you for 2011!
hello Jill glad you found me, I hope Now works as well for you as it did for me, all best wishes for 2011, Frances
I have found that having a word for the year is very popular on a lot of blogs I have visited. I love the idea of a word. Mine is ORGANIZE! Since I retired, my time management skills have gone out the window. Hopefully, I can get organized this year instead of running around always looking something I can’t find!! Organize – I already feel better!
Gale