OLW 2020

Song - Begin Again by the Piano Guys

As some of you know, instead of making a New Year's resolution I instead choose One Little Word to embrace for the year.  In 2020 I chose "begin".  It's a simple word yet holds so much meaning.  I tried out several different words in January and I kept returning to "begin".  When I am frustrated with a painting not going how I want, a project I want to finish in the house or garden, I just breathe in and whisper "begin".  For some reason it just gives me enough space to get started and then I usually get enough momentum to finish.  Hey I can do that!

"The beginning is the most important part of the work."

--Plato

Choose Wisely Grasshopper

Song - Fix You by Coldplay covered by Jamie Lim

I have been pondering what my "One Little Word" for the upcoming year might be.  I have a list of about 20 words taken from a long list of suggestions and for now, I have the list where I can see these words often and try to get an idea of how they feel-resonate for me during the next few weeks.  Usually one pops out for me!

In the past my words have been:

Intention 

Balance 

Light 

Thrive 

Simplify 

and 

Grace.  

If we own the story then we can write the ending. 

--Brene Brown

Grace

Song - Amazing Grace by Jeff Campbell

Each year I choose One Little Word on which to focus for the upcoming new year.  It is more relevant for me to have a word to focus on than to have a New Year's resolution which I usually blow within the first month and then I feel bad about myself.

In December my word came to me for 2016 and it was Grace.

Not the kind of Grace where I have to walk and act "graceful"......nope, that wouldn't be me!  But the kind of grace that you don't see but you feel.

Looking back on the month of January, my dad was the perfect example of Grace.  He was a quite man who loved his family and home.  Dad worked hard and loved the simple things in life - his garden, going for a ride with mom, fishing, and good friends.

Calvin Kenneth Crawford

1927 - 2016

"I do not understand the mystery of grace - 
only that it meets us where we are
 and does not leave us where it found us." 
-- Anne Lamott

Goodbye Light, Hello Thrive

 Song - Light you Up by Shawn Mullins


For the last few years, instead of doing a New Year's resolution, I participate in Ali Edwards - One Little Word.

 
The idea is that you ponder, meditate, journal, scrapbook on just one word for the entire year.  I have been doing this for the last 5 years and it is so much more helpful to me than to make a resolution, which often feels like pressure.

Here are my words for the last few years......

2010 - spirit

2011 - intention

2012 - balance

2013  - simplify

2014 - light

 
For the last few days of 2014, I have been spending time thinking about what has transpired with my word "light" so that I can let it go and focus on my 2015 word. 

 2015 - thrive

It's a beautiful word in so many ways.

I'm feeling inspired!


"The ideals which have lighted my way, and time after time have given me new courage to face life cheerfully, have been kindness, beauty and truth." - Albert Einstein

OLW 2014

Song - The Light by The Album Leaf

During the month of December, I began to think of what my One Little Word  for 2014 might feel like and become.

I wrote down several words that might be a good fit for the upcoming year.  As the weeks passed, I was able to cross off words that I just didn't connect to at the present time.

This year's One Little Word is.....

l  i  g  h  t 

--lightness of being

--lighter possessions

--a lighter load

--enlightenment

--delight

--bathed in light

--shine my light

--my art needs light

--to become light

If you would like to join in One Little Word with Ali Edwards, here is her link.

One Little Word

"Shine like the whole universe is yours" -- Rumi

2013 One Little Word

Song - While My Guitar Gently Weeps by George Harrison

Wishing you A Very Happy 2013!

I still have a house full of "Christmas" because I am painting like crazy to get some new pieces ready for a show going up next week at the Lafayette Gallery "Tokens of Affection"!

It feels so wonderful to be painting again!!  Yippee!

Here is one of Sergio Romo on the final game of the Division Championship.  I still need to work on the rain, the shadow color under his arm and the background crowd a little but I just love the energy in this painting!

The GIANTS have clinched the NL Championship

I will show it to you when it's finished!



If you have never heard of "One Little Word", check it out on Ali Edwards site or on Big Picture Classes.

 

In 2010 I chose the word "intention" for me to use for the upcoming New Year. It turned out to be a great word as I would pause and set an intention (or game plan) before moving forward.  

Last year it was "balance" which ended up being too general of a word for me. 

During the last month,  I have been "feeling out words" for 2013.

I have narrowed it down to several which each has a pull for me.

Grace

Inspire

Lighten

Mindful

Purposeful

Serenity

 

 

 

But one word that is sticking with me is "Simplify".  As my life gets more and more complicated, simplifying feels like breathing room. 

A concious effort must be made to simplify anything - paperwork, household possesions, shopping, eating....every thing that piles up!

According to the dictionary -

: to make simple or simpler: as

a: to reduce to basic essentials
b: to diminish in scope or complexity : streamline <was urged to simplify management procedures>
c: to make more intelligible : clarify
 

 

‘In proportion as he simplifies his life, the laws of the universe will appear less complex, and solitude will not be solitude, nor poverty poverty, nor weakness weakness.’ ~Henry David Thoreau

I N T E N T I O N

I have been away for awhile from my blogging as I have been taking painting workshops & traveling,



Tomales



 ...throwing special birthday parties for those I love.....



Calvin's place

and taking so many online classes that I can barely keep up with them (but wow they are so much fun!). Mostly it is because the "camera GOT me"!!  I received a new DSLR for Christmas from Mr. B and I have been exploring all of the joys of photography. 

 

Me and my new obsession



I am taking 3 online photo classes http://www.bigpictureclasses.com/ and one in a local camera shop.  I am also enrolled in Ali Edwards class "One Little Word" where you choose a word that you would like to explore for an entire year.  It is very inspiring to be around all of these incredibly creative people! And I almost forgot, I am taking a "texture" class from Kim Klassen which is teaching me all about Photoshop and texturing my photos. http://www.kimklassencafe.com/ 

My word for the year is "INTENTION" and for me it is about putting more thought and effort into each and every day, as well as setting goals and coming up with a gentle way of attaining them.



"And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."  --Anais Nin