2012 - Renew

There's a new trend that's been emerging the past few years on the internet, one that I heard about this time last year but didn't pay much heed to. To be honest, I thought it was hokey. The idea is that instead of making resolutions (which I don't do either) you choose a word to guide you through the year on a journey to personal growth. It just didn't resonate with me.

But life is funny. I was doing some mindless shopping while on our family vacation in June when I came across a little pile of small, polished, enamel stones inscribed with words. I looked at them, read them, fingered them, walked away, came back. There was one word in particular that seemed to call me: INSPIRE. On a whim, I bought it. When I got home, I placed it near my computer where it still sits. My idea was that it would remind me to try to inspire others (particularly Campbell) to be all that they can be, to find the joy in life. But I think the stone has done more to inspire me then it has propelled me to inspire others. I've used it a number of times in photos over the past months.

 

Fast forward to December 2011, Christmas Day, to be exact. I hadn't given any thought to choosing a word for 2012, in fact, I was still working on "Inspire" since I'd only had it for six months. But the "word gods" had other ideas.

While hanging around on Christmas morning, camera in hand, of course, I spotted Krista's coffee mug. Because I find mugs an interesting subject to photograph, I snapped  a few shots. It wasn't until later in the day when I was downloading my photos that I spotted the word on the mug: RENEW.

My heart beat a little quicker and my mind started working. Renew. That's exactly where I considered myself to be at this time in my life as I enter the retirement phase of my life story. December 28 was my last day "at work". I would become a stay-at-home person after more than 26 years, I would become primary daycare provider for Campbell when she was not at school and her parents were not at work, and I would become a "photographer". This was indeed a time of renewal for me.

And so, my word for 2012 found me. It inspired (ah! there's that word again!) me to write a prompt about words for our Flickr photo group and it propelled me to take a year-long online course, One Little Word. This is all new territory for me but the skeptic in me is being hushed and I find myself eagerly joining my photography pals in exploring the word renew and the possibilities that it might bring to me in 2012.

What about you? Do you make resolutions or do you choose a word each year to inspire you through your journey?

 Dotti

Comments

[kristin]

what a wonderful way to begin this new stage in your journey. may you feel renewed over and over this new year.

[LDM58]

Renew is a perfect word as you leave one stage of your life and move onto the next. Congrats on the new stage! I'm not sure how or where I first came across your blog but I remember looking, enjoying and being "inspired" by your photos and writings. Today I came across it again through my Google Reader - I considered it a sign that I should subscribe to you - so I did. :) My word of the year is "Accept/Acceptance" - after living in another state for almost ten years, my family and I moved back to our home state about a year ago. I have spent the last year yearning to move back to the other state - this year I'm doing my best to accept that this where my life is now. Thank you for sharing your work and thoughts here. It is a pleasure to read!