Word-of-the-Year

Querencia (Spanish):

a place from which one's strength is drawn, where one feels at home; the place where you are most your authentic self.

Well...it's that time of year again, the time to select my guiding word for the year.  This year, with both of my daughters' impending graduations a day apart this summer, I've been giving a lot of thought to this year's word.  I guess I always do, but this one is particularly meaningful for me as the year will mark the beginning of adulthood of my youngest child which, in turn, means more great changes ahead for me as a mother and a woman.  I chose to add the image of a feather as a symbol of a quill to mark the beginnig of writing my own new story, as well as representing flight from the nest for my children.

I've been asked to consider more teaching this year which I'm very excited about, and the completion of more university courses ahead (year three is challenging and thrilling all at the same time). A new 52 WEEKS project has begun and there are so many wonderful (and scary) things happening in my creative career in general.  So here's to the year ahead!

Previous words have been:

1. FEARLESS:  My 2010 word as I found I was getting caught up in the fear of how I was perceived by others and the fear of failure.  Whenever I noticed fear in myself, I would focus on my word and it helped me to overcome challenges, it actually helped me to be brave in so many little ways.
   
2. SURRENDER: I decided that 2011 would be a year of letting go of my history of control...of self and others...and allowing things to happen.  And, boy, did things happen.  Yes, both good and bad, but always in the end for the better.
3. STILL:  For 2012 I wanted to grow both as an artist and human being, and remembered the verse in Psalm 46:10 'Be still'.  I tend to feel like I have to do everything, you know, that sense of obligation.  Not only because I feel I should but because I worry that I don't do enough.  I actually went through a physical injury that forced stillness, and it seemed that everything that needed doing got done.  And I felt so much more peace in my life by allowing it.
   
4. WISDOM:  In 2013 I wanted to further my education as well as seeking knowledge and understanding of others and myself.  Wisdom is considered a cardinal virtue, though because of my passionate artist's nature I struggle with stepping back and attempting to control my reactions...still a work in progress.
5. GRACE:  My word for 2014.  To me practicing grace is similar to gaining wisdom in my hope to extend grace to myself and others.  Theologically divine grace inspires virtuous impulses and imparts strength to endure trials.  I believe it is about compassion and understanding and also about acceptance.
   
6. RESERVOIR:  If you are wise, you will show yourself rather as a reservoir than as a canal.  A canal spreads abroad water as it receives it, but a reservoir waits until it is filled before overflowing, and thus without loss to itself shares its super abundant water. ~ Bernard of Clairvaux, Celtic Monk      
   
7. BRAVE:  You have to be brave with your life so that others can be brave with theirs. ~ Katherine Center