The Word Thing

It's that time of year to do "the word thing"...to pick a word to focus on throughout the year.  Last year, my word was contentment.  It may have been a grad illusion, but I was hopeful.

I wasn't going to pick a word this year, just like I don't make resolutions anymore. I don't want to jinx myself.

But, then this morning, the little voice that comes to you in a whisper...the little voice that I have not be able to hear AT ALL lately...whispered the word love in my ear, and so I guess I will have a word this year after all.

...and, duh, love so comes before contentment anyway, right?

Then, that little voice reminded me of this quote...

"Life is too short to wake up with regrets.

 So love the people who treat you right.

 Forget about the ones who don’t.

 Believe everything happens for a reason.

 If you get a chance, take it.

 If it changes your life, let it.

 Nobody said life would be easy,

 they just promised it would be worth it."

 - Michael Gartner

...and I knew that little voice was on to something.

A Cat Up a Tree

I used to know an elderly man who, whenever you asked him how he was doing, would rattle off every complaint he had. I remember I used to laugh, thinking he was joking...I mean, who does that?

Don't we always just respond, no matter how we really are, with things like, "good", "fine", or "I'm hanging in there" (which really means, I'm not doing so great, but I don't want to burden you with my problems)?

That's me right now. I'm hanging in there.

I'm guessing the elderly man I was referring to didn't have access to the great motivational posters of the '70s.

(source)

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season! I am so glad it's a NEW year! How about you?

December Bullets (that's not a very good title)

1. We finally got our traditional Home Depot tree this weekend.

2. On the way to the bus this morning, Macy recited Robert Frost's, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening. The whole thing! Without fail! I'm so proud.

3. I still have not purchased one single Christmas gift.

4. I'm getting more comfortable using the manual setting on my camera. I can't believe I've never taken the Christmas lights bokeh shot before. How fun!

5.  I am still addicted to Pinterest.

6. I'm also addicted to listening to the Michael Buble station on Pandora. I fell back in love with him after watching this video.

7. I have a bad case of "glove love". My friend Corinne has a wonderful etsy shop full of knitted goodies. I was snooping around there a couple of weeks ago looking for a pair of fingerless gloves. She made me a pair that are cozy, and red...and from the heart (you can tell).  Such kindness should not go unnoticed. I will definitely be paying it forward (at her request)!

8.  Lately, I've noticed that I live my life motivated by desperation, rather than inspiration. I want to change that around.

9. We are one 4th grade orchestra concert down, with one 6th grade choir concert, and one preschool Christmas party left to go.

10. I am wondering when I will start to panic.

Snow Doodle

"The future lies before you, like paths of pure white snow. Be careful how you tread it, for every step will show." - Unknown

Awesome

I don't just have some awe. I have a lot of awe for this children's book author I found over on Brene Brown's site today...

Writing children's books has always been a dream of mine. One of my bigger dreams. I have quite a few unfinished, and one that I actually sent out a handful of times (but got rejected). This gives me hope that self publishing could actually work.

It's official, he is my new idol.

Click right here to read An Awesome Book for free, and then buy it, because it's awesome!