Are you making resolutions this year? Lists of things you want to do more of, better, more efficiently? Or things that you will stop doing all together? After years of putting things like, "learn how to make puttanesca sauce" on my list, I decided to try something different. Inspired by this post several years ago, I have switched to a single word. I love the contemplation of this one, single word. What is the one thing I need more of this year? How can I distill all my wishes into one word? It is a challenge, but one that has given me more energy and hope than the huge bucket lists I have made in the past.
So, this year my word is tend. A simple word that is not nearly as flashy or impressive as words in the past - but one that really captures what I need to do this year, which is to take care of what I have. I want to tend to my electronic files and finances, my micro businesses, my garden, my sewing and creative attempts, my relationships, my health, my community, this website. I do not need to seek anything new, just cherish and nourish the riches that are all around me.
I still have some BIG goals in my future (India!), but I think I will get to them by tending to all the threads in the rich web of my life. The stronger my web is, the more I will catch (as opposed to years past where I was constantly casting about - like the spider hanging on a long silk, ballooning around wondering why she is not catching any insects.)
If you could pick a word for your year, what would it be?
I was referred to your site from Patricia Zaballos' site, whose gorgeous essay I just had the privilege to publish. When I read your "about" page, I swooned. This phrase: "Overly sentimentalized depictions of motherhood belie the actual daily duties that alternately feel like drudgery, brave political acts, and absurd performance art" is pure genius. What a brilliant idea. I wish I could offer free advertising, because I totally would--my readers would DIG this! Fantastic idea!
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