This may be the last OLW blog hop since the class is moving to Ali’s website and there will be a Facebook group. I still plan to check in here on the first of the month because I work to deadlines. 🙂 The blog hop has helped me be accountable and get the assignment done. Looking back at my January intentions for “Stillness, ” I see how far I’ve come and how much work still remains. I did slow down, but I still flutter about unnecessarily quite a bit. Some intentions I was successful with, like capturing moments with my camera, not judging others as much, checking in with my goals. I was good at noticing nature but terrible at making time to enjoy it. Stillness feels scary. It brings up unsettlement and restlessness. I have to push through that to get to the other side. I have learned that it’s easier to just surrender to the present moment than to fight it. As I say goodbye to my word this year, I want to remember:
- It is a dance – a bit forward, a bit sideways – but my word was often with me (so I did make progress).
- The unsettled feeling will lessen over time.
- As a reminder to be gentle with myself and relax, I’m going to move my vision board to my bedroom.
- Gratitude and happiness grow out of noticing present moments.
- I want to sit in nature more to better connect with spiritual calm.
- Creating art = a calm mind. Do that more.
- The answers are always within. Listen.
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This year, Ali is running the class through a password-protected area of her own website. Each month will include two main features: a reflection and an action. The reflections will be something to think or write about and the actions will be something creative – an opportunity to do something beyond writing. In the past that’s included things such as a photography assignment, a collage, a vision board, creating a playlist, etc. Every 1st of the month, I will share with you what I did with the prompt.
“Mindfulness” in 2012 showed me how much unnecessary mental chatter I have. “Stillness” showed me that I need take better care of myself and make decisions (since I can’t do it all). I didn’t even have a chance to ponder a word for 2014… I was guided toward the word “cherish” and I accepted it. “Cherish” means appreciating myself and taking care of myself. It means noticing the beauty and light in ordinary moments. It means loving and singing and being grateful.
So here’s to new beginnings. I wish each of you a very joyful and peaceful new year.
You can view all the past OLW posts here.
Regular blog content will resume on Monday, January 6.
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Lee: http://thelinarstudio.typepad.com/embracelife
Cheri: http://cheriandrews.blogspot.com/
Margareta: http://www.paperpilekitten.com/
Naomi: http://www.poeticaperture.com/
Mrs. Wookie: http://mrswookieswanderings.blogspot.com/
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