Word of the Year 2010.

Ok, this is what I am challenging you with this year. I can absolutely not claim any kind of ownership over this idea! I have a few favorite blogs that I check on a regular basis, and Ali Edward's is one of them. I have lots of things I like about her and her blog, but one of the things that I really look forward to every year is her post about the word of the year. I participated last year, and my word was CHOICE. I chose that word because I knew that 2009 would hold lots of opportunities for big, big decisions for me. As it turned out, CHOICE was a great word for me in 2009. My buddy, Suzy, even painted me a big ol' "CHOICE" that I love, and I intend to start collecting my "words" on my new art room wall. Hint Hint, Suzy! But, I digress. I recommend you go to Ali's blog and read back a few posts to where she is talking about her words for the past three years. You can also read through her comments to find out what other peoples' words are and, in some cases, why they chose their words!

Ok, so if you know me at all, you know I just love these kinds of little challenges. Want to know why I chose "CHOICE" last year? Well, I knew at the first of 2009 that I would be facing some really big decisions. And I am not much of a fan of "big decision" making! So, I needed to face each decision with a very conscious mind that a CHOICE would need to be made and that by making it a very conscious choice, then I was in the driver's seat and I was in a power position, so whatever came of the decision, I had to accept it as my fault... good or bad. Does that make any sense at all? I made a decision to move out of the house that is basically paid for to move into a BAH that will mean not only more acrural of debt, but also potentially many, many more years of work for me to pay that sucker off! Early retirement may also be nothing more than a dream now because of this CHOICE. On the other hand, I have two baby girls who will have more room to have friends over, pallet parties, lots of playing outside with all kinds of running room, etc. It means Todd and I will have more sanity because we have definitely outgrown our "starter" home we bought 13 years ago! This house will give me more space for my art. It will let me make design choices that I particularly enjoy. I also had to make the CHOICE to let an employee join me as director of my clinics, therefore participate in profit sharing and in making many of the critical decisions I was so accustomed to making on my own for 15 years. There were financial considerations in that choice, but moreso, there was the opportunity for me to be at the office less and with my girls more. So far, that has been a great CHOICE! I made a conscious choice to pursue my dream of returning to my roots in Art and developing my little company, MoJoy. In making this choice, I added a big ol' art room in my BAH. I also have space upstairs for what I hope are people who want to come to my house and participate in art retreats! I now have the room to totally host about 10-12 people for an art retreat weekend. I am, obviously, not there yet, but it is all part of my plan and was involved in choosing to build, get a partner, and cut my hours. I have now made another CHOICE to stay home much more. After we returned from the beach at Thanksgiving, I have not had a full patient load. I have had a full patient load, as well as do much of the administration and virtually all of the decision making, hiring, firing for, again, about 15 years. I am putting more stock in my director and basically overstaffed myself in the PT department to take myself out of the treating equation. It has been odd to not treat patients all day! I went in this past Monday and worked with adult patients before lunch. I LOVED it! I really love being a PT. I love working with patients! Young and old! I love the relationships. But I am also aware that my little girls will not be little for long! Ellie will likely be doing some sort of pre K 3 late next year... simply because I think she will want to! She loves getting out of the house and will probably be ready for some "mental challenges". I mean, you HEARD those ABC's, didn't you?! I want to be with them in our home while they are so little and so enamored with their mom! I am keenly aware that there will be a day when they are not! I intend to be much more present this year, and my 2010 word reflects that!

In years past, my words would have definitely been words like... FOCUS, DRIVE, PASSION, INSPIRE, SERVE, GROW, etc! You know how you always hear people say, "I learned so much about myself" or "I know who I am now" or "As I have gotten older, I am so much more in tune with myself or who I am", etc. Well, I kinda understand that now! Because those words reflect so much of who I am down deep in my soul, but... when you look at last year's word being CHOICE and seeing how that was a year of big transition, and this year's word being NEST... you can see how my life is kinda changing. I think most people are setting up their nest in their early 30's. Mine just needs to be set up at 40. I really considered PEACE. And I do think this is a good word. But as I reflected on why that would be my word, a lot of it had to do with myself. NEST has more to do with my family. It still has peaceful feeling to it, but I think it also has a little to do with simplicity and getting rid of things I don't need. We should be moving into our new house in March/ April, so I want to really create a NEST out of that BAH that in no way feels "cozy", because, well, honestly, there is a point at which square footage becomes not so cozy at all! I want to make mine cozy no matter what! My girls and my husband (and I!!) deserve that! NESTing to me means staying home more. Less running the roads. Less meetings and board involvement, etc. It means sleeping in with my girls, making their breakfast, and storytime every night. It means more threesome baths (sorry Todd!... and yes I DID plan for this with a big ol two person corner tub in master bathroom). I want to think about NESTing when I pick out the details for my new home. Todd and I are a fan of carpet. I know, I know... lots aren't! But I don't like the whole stained concrete craze because to me it is not cozy. I am using lots of wood and natural materials in the interior of our house. I think that will create more of a nest. Keeping fires in the fireplace and soft blankets at the ready in the den. Those are a couple of ways I can create a NEST. I welcome other ideas you may have for my NEST. I hope you get the picture of why I chose this word and what my focus will be this year.

Now, for you... I am providing a couple of links that I think will be helpful in your determining your word. And of course, I want to know your word! And if you feel like it, even the "why".

The first link is a list of words that Ali's readers have used over the years. It is a good place to start. Last night at New Year's Eve, I asked a few of my friends, mom, sister, (oh, and feminine bro in law, Don) to start looking at the list and coming up with their ideas. It is interesting, because as they looked at the list, it was like an "Aha" when they saw their word! It will be a word that just resonates with your soul! Go check it out!

List of options for your word of the year!

Next, Ali provided a link to the person who I think (?) may be the originator of the whole word of the year idea. Here is the link for you. She provides a free downloadable worksheet to help you think through your word, why you chose it, what may get in the way of it becoming your reality, what can help you make it all come to fruition, and so on. I printed it off, but haven't really worked on it just yet.

SO, I know I was wordy today. I really do like the concept of pausing to reflect at the end of an old/ beginning of a new year! It only comes around every 365 days, and as you read yesterday, you never know when your last year may come. So, think of your word. Focus on it this year. Let it be something that is needed in your life. Make it be something that you want to see more of! Ok, get to work!

Mo