Embrace

So I do believe I have mentioned before how much I love Tara Wager, aka The Organic Sister. I joined her "tribe" for monthly calls and she also started an online Sisterhood Tribe. One idea she shared recently is that of choosing a word at the New Year to focus on for the upcoming year. I have never really taken "resolutions" too seriously but this idea struck a chord with me. 

Peace is an obvious choice - it has been a focal point for me for a long time now - since before I had children and was teaching. But I don't think I need to focus on it more - it is the word for my *LIFE* not just one year. ;-) Plus I have really noticed how just because I want to be peaceful, the desire and the word alone are not always enough to help me actually achieve it. At first I liked the idea of the word "gratitude". I stole it from Tara - she focused on gratitude in 2011 and in her words, it rocked her world. And I know that when I am in a place of feeling grateful for all of the blessings in my life, especially the people, then everything else flows. But then the idea of "Action" also grabbed me. I have been in such of place of reading, researching, soul-searching for a while now and I am being pulled towards putting it all into action. Less thinking and more doing! From these two words I came up with this:

Gratitude + Action = Embrace

It makes sense to me. (I love how something can symbolize something to me that might mean something different or nothing at all to someone else!) Well here's how I got there - the idea of being grateful and the idea of movement and action... well, if you put those together you get an embrace. I think of embracing my loved ones, especially my husband and kids. And Embrace feels so positive to me. Whenever I am struggling or having a bad day I am noticing it is because I am resisting something instead of accepting it. Ever since I read Byron Katie's "Loving What Is" I often think the phrase "love what is" if I am struggling. I want to embrace reality, my reality. If my kids are melting down, instead of detaching or reacting, I want to embrace them in my love and compassion. If plans don't go the way I wanted or expected I will embrace what actually is happening and make my decisions based on the new circumstances. 

Let me tell you, it has already been powerful and 2012 is barely a week in! There have already been a couple of times when I just breath really deeply and think my word to myself. And it feels wonderful. And Peaceful. 

Maybe you would like to try a word too... let one come to you, try it on, and don't be afraid to change it if a better ones pops into your mind!

Happy New Year!