Word-of-the-Year: STILL

Evanescence Gallery

For the past few years I've been following the direction of musician Christine Kane and selecting a word to guide me through the year instead of making New Year's resolutions.  Last year it was SURRENDER - to my faith, to what needs to unfold for me, and to this creative spirit inside of me - instead of trying to control or manipulate situations I've allowed for 'God-moments' in my life.  I have to say that this year has been one of the most succesful as an artist for me and I truly believe it's because I'm learning to open up my hands and heart and learning to let go.  The year before my word was FEARLESS - because I was allowing my insecurities to dictate my life, and not always loving myself as I am...yes I am chatty, and maybe a little too friendly, and sometimes too particular (I desperately need order in my life), but I like me.  When I set that word as my intention for the year I began to grow into myself even more...my world now revolves around art - both my personal life and my business life and I have never been happier.  In fact, last year I had a necklace created with my word by Lisa Leonard which I wore with my small adirondack chair (a gift from a friend to symbolize my chair paintings as well as the AIRdirondack Project which I co-ordinated for the past two years).  This year I might order a cuff bracelet from the Rusted Chain because a physical reminder to be STILL is sometimes necessary for me, and stillness is why I choose to paint what I paint.