New Years Word 2018

Well, beloved reader we are already 4 days into this New Year 2018, and I gotta say I have never looked forward to a New Year as much as I have looked and longed for 2018. I've always thought it was strange in some ways to think of a New Year as a kind of a light at the end of the tunnel, but that is what it truly feels like to me in this new year.  I'm still kind of reeling from 2017 and my head feels foggy when I try to recount all of the reasons I hold 2017 with such disdain, but it's over... Thank God it's over! I don't want it to sound like there weren't really good things that happened in 2017 as well, but  overall it was a rough one for me personally is all I can say about that.   There were so many disappointments, and changes. Change, I have come to know as the one constant in life, and I'm no longer terrified of change. Still, there were some changes last year, that I could have done without.  There were deaths of beloved friends and even family members who had to say goodbye too soon.  Death and Loss are the changes that no one sees coming around the bend, but all the same the train keeps moving on, and you either get on board or you check out and try to get off. I chose to stay on board with moments of check out,  and if that doesn't make sense to you then I'm not sure we are speaking the same language.   I chose the word Purposeful for my New Years word last year, and boy howdy did I ever put that word to use.  Last years word is wrung out and hung up to dry !! Not only did I realize more than ever before, that my purpose here doesn't change with the job or title that I'm given, but I had to be careful, and aware of every move I made, because I felt as though if I wasn't it all would fall apart.  I know that the weight of the whole world doesn't fall on my shoulders(thank you Jesus) but the weight of my little small world here sometimes does feel this way.  Every choice, every word spoken, every action or reaction, every social engagement, every trip, every blog, every post on social media, felt like it had a purpose. I realized more than ever I have a voice here, and whether I use it for good or for not so good, people are listening.  That word "Purposeful" came so quick to me last year, and was beyond a doubt a divine word for my life as a whole in 2017, so it isn't any wonder that this year... 4 days in I was hanging onto 2017's word and still left wondering what my word for this year should be.   I suppose to some of you it might seem silly to become attached to a single word for a whole year, but for those of you that this makes sense to, it's like the word becomes an old friend. I prayerfully ask for a word that will become a life reminder for what lies ahead. This word becomes the rhythm for my life ahead, kind of like those piano timers... what are those called anyways? I asked the Googles ... it's called a Metronome.  

I woke up this morning and looked over at my wall that holds all my favorite notes, paintings, and pictures and there it was, My Metronome... My word for 2018 ... BREATHE
"When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive, to breathe to think, to enjoy, to love. " ~Marcus Aurelius

It was literally there on the wall on a plaque that my daughter Chloe gave to me many years ago. It's a simple word, and one that we don't need to be reminded to do every couple of seconds, but to Breathe deep ... well that's a different story. "When you own your breath, nobody can steal your peace. Try to learn to BREATHE deeply, really to taste food when you eat, and when you sleep, really to sleep.  Try as much as possible to be wholly alive with all your might, and when you laugh, laugh like hell. And when you get angry, get good and angry. Try to be alive. You will be dead soon enough."  ~Ernest Hemingway Before this morning I was thinking about how grateful I am to be alive and breathing and how I need to be kinder to myself, and take better care of my body... which is not an uncommon thought for this time of year. I thought about how long it has been since I've had a daily practice of yoga and quiet times of centering my soul.... and then I looked over and saw that word. In the practice of Yoga your breathe is a huge component of the practice. To be so aware of your body, and how it should be stretched, and where it needs help, you have to start with your breathing. It's as though you are thanking the life force that is breathe with every inhale and exhale.  I think about how Spirit is Breathe.  The Holy Spirit that lives and breathes and has his/her being in me... helping me thru every day. I'm currently reading an old book that was a HUGE spiritual tool in my tool box of walking out life with spiritual eyes. It's been just about 30 years ago that I first read this book so it's kind of a trip to read it now after all these years and I don't really want to say much about it here on this blog, but I bring it up here because The Holy Spirit is breathe.  The title of the book;  Good Morning Holy Spirit by Benny Hinn. 

  "I could feel reverence humming in me" ~Jane Fonda (on becoming a Christian) Often times I will wake in the morning and see that word Breathe hanging on my wall, and before my feet even hit the ground I will give thanks for this breathe inside my lungs.  Another brand new day to start all over again.  So here it is a new fresh year,  with promise and I'm giving thanks for 2018, and I will remind myself with this word to breathe deep, and give thanks for all that has gone before me and all the lies ahead, and center my soul for the moment that I am in.  It's all just rivers and roads til I reach you.