Honoré here: As I reflect on 2010, I think it was a pretty good year... I traveled to Oregon, Washington and Ohio; visited old friends and made new ones; quilted, started knitting again after a lengthy hiatus; dabbled in art journaling; took classes online and off; worked, off-and on, to improve my photography skills; joined a quilt guild; volunteered; and had opportunities to spend more quality time with my nieces, especially nine year-old Kayla.
In 2010, I chose begin as my one little word; I was on the threshold of becoming a full-time career graduate (read retired librarian) and the word seemed to be quite appropo, considering the major change in my life.
I began retirement with many dreams, ideas, and projects - all clamoring for my attention. As my friend Kathy can attest, I was somewhat fearful about having too much time on my hands, or at least, using my unencumbered days unwisely. I just wasn't quite able to fathom how I would spend my days - after all, I'd been working for 46 years!!!
I need not have worried or fretted about having too much time on my hands. That just hasn't been the case. The days have passed and projects plentiful... As my friend Kathy quipped the other day: "You haven't had any problem beginning; that has been accomplished." I had to laugh...and agree......and wonder: what have I accomplished?
Certainly, not as much as I'd anticipated. When I retired, I had (and still have) a list of projects and activities that could take a lifetime to bring about. For some reason, I haven't been able to hit the ground running. It seems that every day I say to myself, "this is the day I'm turning over a new leaf; today I will..." and I don't.
I have determined that I need to restructure how I approach each day in order to accomplish both the necessities and the myriad projects in my bucket. I think I must establish a different perspective, routines and habits if indeed I will succeed in living my one little word in 2011.
I am reminded of the day, when I was four years old, plus or minus a day or two. On that day, I awoke and decided: this is the day I teach myself to tie my shoelaces. Back in those days, there was no such animal called velcro. And so, after breakfast, I announced my plan to my mother. She offered to help and I politely refused; I was, after all, a big girl and I could do this. It was going to be a snap...or so I thought.
And so, I bounced off to my room and set about at my task. Needless to say, not the first, tenth or even the hundreth time, did I succeed. I do recall that I had a few assorted temper tantrums [at four, those are allowed] and several times my mother offered to help. I continued to politely refuse. About mid-afternoon, I emerged from my room, victorious! I had taught myself to tie my shoelaces.
I share this story mainly as a reminder to me that when I put my mind to doing/learning something new, I have been this way before and accomplished my goal. This story also reminds me that I don't have to do it all by myself: it is OK for me to ask for and accept help. And temper tantrums won't get the job done, either ;-).
For 2011, my one little word...
Creating new habits and establishing a different routine will be a challenge, but I am determined. I believe doing so is essential in order to succeed in doing, to bring to pass, to reach the end, to perform fully, to fulfill and realize my intentions, to accomplish learning how to tie more shoelaces...
Cheers~