One Little Word 2018

It takes me a long time to think about and choose a word to accompany me during the new year. This year, my word “appeared” in November and the more I thought and wrote about it, the more it seemed like a good fit. One thing I wanted from this year’s One Little Word was that it would incorporate the last three OLWs that have provided good guidance, and in some cases, been transformative. They are SIMPLIFY (2014 & 2015), MINDFUL (2016) and CHOOSE JOY/GRATITUDE (2017). This year’s word . . .

. . . seems to meet that criteria.

This definition captures what I hope NOURISH will do during 2018: “to cause to develop or grow stronger; to foster the development of; promote; to support and encourage. As I thought about “nourish” and how it might guide me, I divided my intentions into three areas:

Mind

• Morning reading time
• Sketching
• Classes: Sketching Now: Watercolor, Linda.com: Lightroom 6, Holstee*, Craftsy
• Improve photography: work on the photographic journal (a Christmas gift), CY365
• Continue to declutter and purge
• Create two travel photo books (for some reason this continues to be an intellectual and creative challenge!)

 Body

• Healthy diet: focus on anti-inflammatory/whole foods
• Regular exercise routine (3/week minimum) & daily stretching
• Rest; maintaining a balanced schedule

Soul

• Every day, find a way to give something to someone: thanks to God, lend a helping hand, thank someone for kindness, give $5 to the needy, give a compliment
• Quality time with family and friends
• Spiritual direction
• Daily prayer/meditation practice
• Daily journaling/Morning and Evening Reflections
• Volunteering
• Contemplative Photography
• Catch up with Project Life
• Card Making

I think it’s easy to see how NOURISH incorporates the concepts of simplifying, becoming more mindful, and expressing gratitude. I know there will be days when the daily meditation and journaling will fall by the wayside. But I do believe that by having them written down as an intention, they are much more likely to happen.

*I’ve joined Holstee this year. If you look through the site you’ll see that they have a series of themes–one for each month. I’ve used their journals on reflection and intention already and find them very helpful. Before I joined, I subscribed to their daily reflections. It didn’t take long for me to appreciate the wisdom being delivered to my inbox every morning. I can also highly recommend Jessica Swift’s 100 Uplifting Days. I’m on Day 99, and I will miss them! I can’t tell you how often during the last 99 days just the right message showed up in my email with a piece of beautiful mixed media art and an inspiring quote.

I found the graphic for nourish on the internet and there was no attribution attached to it. It’s such a perfect fit!