Sunday, December 30, 2012

My Word for 2013


For the third year in a row, I am choosing a "sacred word" to guide me in the coming new year. 
(2011 was shine, 2012 was open) 
I use several different how-to's, suggestions and guides found online for ideas and exercises 
to help me discover what word is calling out to me to be embodied and help me learn 
and grow the most, and be the best me possible over the next 12 months time. 
(just Google "word of the year" or "one word" and you will likely find a wide variety of blog posts 
and worksheets devoted to helping you discover your word!)

As is my "tradition" to do during the weeks between Christmas and New Years, I planned to take some time to delve into a few resources for discovering my word of the year for 2013...but I have to share how it actually came about this year...
 Even before I had a chance to begin any of that work/play, one afternoon a few days before Christmas, I was standing under a steamy soothing hot flow of water in the shower, and I must have had the thought of choosing my word in my subconscious...because suddenly, out of nowhere, a word just came into my mind...complete with all of the positive connotation, possibilities, excitement and connected-ness I had desired and planned to work on finding! At first, I sort of "brushed it off", thinking "well how silly it is to have that word just pop into my head before I have even done the work or really sat and contemplated exactly what I might need as an intention and guidance for the coming year!", along with "this can't actually end up being "THE" word, I wasn't even really thinking about it yet"!...                                                                                                                                                        (I know, I KNOW!! Well, DUH ME!                                                                                                          Don't you recognize the Universe and your heart and soul at work and in cahoots even YET?!!)
I could NOT seem to get the word off my mind or out of my heart.                                                             It didn't take me long to become more and more attached and excited by this word.
Could it really be THE word? MY word...?! (coming to me that "randomly" & simply?)
Then, in seemingly "opposite order" of what I planned to do, I began some work around that word.                                                  I looked up it's many definitions and usages. I explored what it said, meant and felt to me.                                     I brainstormed and played with the many possibilities it opened for me as far as how living that word would feel and change my daily existence, and even, who and what I was/am.
And soon, I fell absolutely head over heels in LOVE with this word.
No doubt in my mind, this was THE word. MY word! And how easily and unassumingly it had chosen me...
                               TEND (verb)

                                                                                       Care for.                                                                            
Give attention to.
Have the care of.
Watch over.
Look after.
Manage the activities and transactions of.
Be an attendant to.
Be a servant to.
Minister to.
Nurture.
Handle.
Keep an eye on.
Maintain.
Nurse.
Protect.
Watch over.
See to.
Have supervision of.
Accompany.
Care for the wants of.
Cater to.
Cultivate.
Feed.
Guard.
Be attentive to.
Note carefully.
Serve.
 Await.
Expect.
Move in a certain direction, usually with to or towards.
Be directed, as to any end, object, or purpose.
Aim, to have or give a leaning.
Exert activity or influence.
Serve as a means; to contribute.
photo by me
"Today be a good steward to the gift of life that has been given you.                                                                    Every one of us is infinitely precious.  Most of us do not believe or feel this, yet it is so.
The life you possess is like a garden.  
We are each given a little piece of ground to work with.                  
No two gardens are alike.  
Each one comes with different soil, different seeds, and a different climate.
But every garden has the potential to be very beautiful.                                                                                           Seeds must be planted and watered. Weeds must be pulled.                                                                              You must shine light on your garden, and make sure that it is loved and nurtured.
Every human life is like this.  Every infant born is like this.  No two gardens are alike.
Yet it is universally true for all gardens that they increase in health and beauty proportionate to the love and care that is given them. 
Right now, you have a garden.  The garden that is You.                                                                                               And no matter how the garden was tended in the past, this garden is all yours now.                                                 Maybe it is a bit dry and weedy.  Maybe it could do with some watering and feeding.                                                The point is, work with what you have right now at this moment.                                                                      There’s no use wishing you had a different garden.  This is the one that is yours.
Be a good steward to your garden.                                                                                                                      Take care of your body.  Exercise it, and feed it nourishing food. Let it rest, and relax.                                                  The body houses the mind.  It is the soil in which the mind rests.                                                                                    If you want your mind to flourish, it is good to start with the body.                                                                         Seeds will not grow if the soil is too dry and hard.                                                                                                 Tending the body is like moistening and aerating the soil.
All that you wish to do in this lifetime — these are your seeds.                                                                          Some may already be planted, some you may have yet to plant.                                                                                If you wish these seeds to grow into strong plants, you must tend the soil well.                                                The soil is You. That is why it is essential to be loving and nurturing with yourself.                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Every gardener knows that there is a great deal of love and care that goes into a beautiful garden.
Do not expect to transform your garden all at once.                                                                                                   Do not become paralyzed or disheartened because it seems like too big a task.                                                 Just start somewhere.                                                                                                                                                       Take one little corner of the garden, and work with that.  All beautiful things are created little by little, piece by piece.  They do not appear all at once.
The main thing is just to do a little bit every day.  In this way, all seeds sprout.                                                              A little every day, with water, light, good soil,                                                                                                       and tender loving care.                                                                                                                                                             Be a good steward of the gift of your life. Tend yourself like a garden."

Oh how I long to live this word...be it, embody it, honor, keep and adore it. 
Make it mine, make it me. 
Encode it's meaning and action and quiet beauty into my heart and soul, spirit and mind. 
And actions.
TEND. 
So very much I wish to tend to.
And intend to. 


(Do you have a sacred word in mind to guide you through your journey of 2013? I'd love for you to please share if you want to! And you might be interested in joining this event: Energy Share to Charge Your Word for 2013)

I hope you and yours enjoy a shiny, sparkling, happy New Year! 

Happy Me-Laurie Z!




2 comments:

  1. What a terrific word, LaurieZ! I love it a lot. :D

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great word for 2013. My word is epiphany. I'm excited to see God revealed in new and exciting ways in the coming year!

    ReplyDelete