one word and 1 thing in 2010

I have to admit I have been wildly excited for 2010 to get here for a while. I think I was mostly looking for a fresh start. I say that knowing 2009 wasn’t a bad year (I prove it to myself later in this post), but it was really challenging for me.  So, now that 2010 is here, my insides are a mix of excitement for the future and fear of change. I am trying to channel that fear into motivation and I have been looking for a good way to express what I specifically want for 2010.

Last year I chose a word to define my year and wrote a crafty to do list. Looking back, I think half of it was pretty successful. I feel like I did a pretty good job with my word, but not with my to do list. I am such a to do list person, but I am learning that to do lists seem to be more successful in the short term. My to do list didn’t take into consideration that during the year priorities may change and other needs (versus wants) might become more important than sewing a jacket or learning to free motion quilt. I look back at the to do list and focus on the things I didn’t do, not the things I did (take a class and learn more about machine embroidery) – and it surely doesn’t point out all the other great things I prioritized instead (see list below). On the other hand, my one word, Grace, gave me space to ebb and flow throughout the year (to make mistakes and try again) and it guided me into becoming an even better version of myself with more defined priorities, a clearer vision of my future and a desire to go out an grab my dreams (even if I am scared).

I really believe that my one word was more successful because it was grounded in Intention. So, I have decided to pick a word for 2010, Choice, and because I still have a penchant for to do lists, I have also decided to participate in Michelle from When I Grow Up blog meme called 1 Thing in 2010. It helped me create a to do list of sorts, but not one of grounded in what ifs or wishes, but one grounded in Intention.

Here are my 1 Thing answers. They are wordy, so read at your own risk and know it is quite scary for me to put all this out there for everyone to read, but we are all friends, right : )

If you were only allowed to have 1 Intention for 2010, what would it be & why? My one intention for 2010 would be to make sure that every Choice I make, no matter how small or how large, is in alignment with my core values. Small choices are just as important as large ones. Each Choice I make that honors myself and my values of kindness, love, health, grace, simplicity, family, creativity and faith will help me gain strength and confidence. I intend for the choices I make in 2010 to help me move forward, find clarity and gain momentum toward building the life of my dreams. My one word for 2010 is Choice.

If you were only allowed to have 1 Goal for 2010, what would it be & how can you achieve it? The one overarching goal I have for 2010 is to actively pursue my future/my dreams. I think there is part of me that always thought that if I wait long enough all the things I dream of will happen, that the answers will just come. As I grow older I am realizing that the only way my dreams are going to come true is if I am more of active participant in the pursuit of them. There may be one little snag in this plan, while I have an understanding of what I want for my personal life and am ready to take steps to make that happen, I am still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. Is it what I am currently doing in a different environment or is it something entirely new – I am just not sure. So, I envision 2010 to be a year of exploring and questioning, of stepping out of my comfort zone and trying new things.

If you had to do 1 New Thing in 2010, what would it be? Will you commit to it now? One of the things I am doing to actively pursue my future is to sign up for classes on topics that interest me.  I am already signed up for a natural health and wellness course and hope to sign up for a small business course too. While taking classes isn’t new to me, the topics are. Okay, so honestly I considered about putting Internet dating for the answer of this question, but it still scares me so I am not quite ready to commit to it. There just has to be another way.

If you had to get rid of 1 Thing in 2010, what would it be & why? I would like to get rid of my tendency toward negative language and self talk in 2010. Seriously, why is it so easy to be hard on myself, to point out the negative instead of acknowledging the positive? To get rid of negative language also means I am going to work on adding positive language in 2010 – not just in self-talk, but in all conversation.

What have you achieved in 2009? List it all!  Looking back on 2009, while I struggled to keep my head above water through most of it, I have to admit I really did accomplish a lot, including: Took a crochet class and became addicted • submitted 2 sewing patterns for a craft book that were accepted and will be published in 2010 • had a sewing pattern published in a 2010 calendar • lost 15 pounds • learned to make myself a priority amongst all my obligations, realizing if I didn’t I couldn’t succeed in the other parts of my life • continued to work through grief • purged a lot of clutter • caught up on outdoor house projects • grew tomatoes for the first time • reveled in the simple glory of nature while watching a cardinal hatch and grow • participated in a virtual quilting bee and learned paper piecing quilting techniques • spent more time with my friends • exfoliated negative relationships • reconnected with my inner fine artist • was named my kickball team all-star • faced challenge at work, gained confidence and kept fighting even through the hard times • took good care of my Pop • made the decision to actively pursue my future

So my friends, do you have a one little word for 2010 or answers to Michelle’s 1 Thing in 2010 meme?

Can I just say writing this post was really cathartic and completely energizing. I am so ready for my fresh start in 2010!

Comments

[Katie W]

Congrats on your achievement Colleen! Travis bought me the page-a-day calendar you contributed to for Christmas this year. I can't wait to check out your book when it comes out! Glad things are going to wonderfully!

[kelli]

So, we are 12 days in. How is it going?

[Ellie]

This was very encouraging and inspiring. I keep putting off any sort of 'resolution' for this year because I don't want to think about it, but this has inspired me.

[Laura Neff - Life Leadership Coach]

Rock ON, Colleen! First of all, CONGRATULATIONS on all that you accomplished in '09! What a rich & juicy list!

Of course, you know by now that I'm 100,000% in agreement with what you wrote about "Choice." Love it, love it, love it, and what I know for sure is that tending the tiniest of choices, and making sure they're in alignment with your beautiful values, will always be a good thing.

As far as your goal for 2010 and actively pursuing your future and dreams, don't let that perceived "snag" stop you. I have a hunch that whatever you're going to be when you grow up, it's going to be some very cool mish-mash of things you haven't even thought to try yet, plus things that are currently on your radar, plus other stuff that comes out of the mixture of those two. So, rather than it being a snag (which can have bummer energy associated with it), I so encourage you to focus on what you DO know :) and trust that as you take the next right step, and the next right step, and the next right step, a picture will emerge. Sometimes we just don't get to see the whole thing in advance, which, if you think about it, could even contribute to your value of Simplicity. Sometimes seeing the whole picture can be overwhelming! And if you're making it all up step by step as you go along, well, then you can fabulously engage your value of Creativity in how you evolve into your next vocational phase, right? Yaaaay, values! :D

I'm again struck by your clarity. What a great place to start from at the outset of the new year! Thanks for posting this link on my blog. I'm excited for your 2010!

Laura

p.s. "...hope to sign up for a small business class." Hmmm..."hope"?? GO FOR IT! ;)

[Carmen Torbus]

Look out 2010, here she comes! Great post!

xo,
Carmen

[Zarah]

I always feel really exposed when writing my New Years' posts, too. Good for you for just putting it out there. I really do think there is power in stating your intentions. I think 2010 will be your year!

[Michelle]

I love love love (love love!) how Choice gives you the space to go after Your Dream(s), whatever they are in that moment. I'm such (such!) a list person too, but I'm in total agreement that they're best used for the short term, while an Intention are with you, almost as a feeling, all the time. It doesn't mean I'm going to stop my list-making (they help so much with big brain dumps & knowing my ideas are safe somewhere), but it does mean that I'm going to make them into daily or weekly or monthly ones instead of yearly ones. I've always hated the question, "Where do you see yourself in 5 years!" & now I really know why!

So glad that the 1 Thing post energized, focused, & even cleansed (for lack of a better word) you! Makes me so happy.

You're gonna kick some 2010 ass!

[Frank]

:-) Really inspiring!