Finish

That is the word I have chosen for next year. Seems to fit quite nicely for today. HA HA

Maybe "finish" is not an uplifting word. I have no trouble starting a myriad of new things but have to remind myself to see them through. That is my job for this year. 

Rachel Snyder says it well...

Finish what you start. Finish up the last calculation, the last page, the last round, the last lap. Finish that final assignment so you can finish up your degree. Finish that vest you have been working on for eons, that tile job you thought you'd never finish. Would someone please finish up this last bit of soup so that I can finish up the kitchen.  Finish that discussion when you are both feeling a bit calmer. Pray that they finish soon so that you can go home. Finish sanding, finish trimming, finish cutting so that you can put away the tools. Finish off one project before you start another. Let go of that relationship: it's finished. let go of being a doormat: you're finished. Go back and finish what you swore you would never finish in a million years. When they ask how far along you are, say I am finished?

I finished my Italy book and gave it to Rick for Christmas. That is the beginning (last years word) of finishing something (this years word). I am so clever. 

Here is one of my favorite pictures of that trip to share with you.

 It is the Isle of Capri.

And so to finish this year 2010, here's to you!!!!

Cheers!

Begin.....

So there is this movement afoot. Actually it has been
around for a few years now. That is, to choose a word
to focus on for the year. So this is me, Elena (my alter
ego). Tell me how do you focus on just one word. Last
year I chose three: Focus,balance, joy. I liked them.

This year I forced myself to chose just one and it has
taken a bit of time. I read this bit of prose by Rachel Snyder.
It goes like this.

Begin.
Start something. Put one foot in front of the other and
inch forward ever so slightly. Show up. Say hello and
begin a conversation. Ask Says who? and begin a
revolution. Write one sentence and begin your novel.
Begin again, this time in a different key, at a different
tempo. Begin putting yourself first. Begin enjoying it.
Begin an intentional community if that's how you want
to live. Begin a reading group and focus on women who
made bold new beginnings. Begin a new way of eating,
a new way of moving, a new way of getting your needs
met. Begin as soon as you finish reading this page. Begin
at the beginning and don't even think about where it will
take you. Now begin.

Have you figured it out. My word is BEGIN. And, I don't
know where it will take me. But, I will begin by sharing
a pretty image I captured.



Until next time...

Words of Wisdom

Words to inspire in 2009...

Looking for Joy in Ordinary Places

One of my New Year's Resolutions was to look for something
to be joyful about, each and every day. One time it was simply
putting on pants warm from the dryer. Another was the sheer
joy of discovering that my Christmas camellia was blooming.
Another was the beautiful and unusual shape of a coffee cup
saucer. Looking for joy each day, caused me to really notice
my surroundings. Whatever brought my joy, I discovered,
was always in the present. It wasn't really the promise
of a trip to come or an event that had passed. It is always
in the here and now.



Life is good when lived in the present. Why don't you try this
with me and look for joy each and every day in ordinary places.