Embrace Life

One little WORD | 100 Days to Find GRACE

Today is September 22nd and that means there are 100 days left in 2014.

Blink.

Enough time to focus on a project I've had in mind. I enjoyed participating in #100happydays earlier this summer and it did provide a focus, an ability to be mindful of the events in my days. I'd like to use the next 100 days to perhaps focus a little more on my One Little Word: GRACE.

At this point of the year I am often weary of my one little word.

This year I want to focus and finish leaving 2014 in a state of grace.

A couple of weeks ago, I was wandering through the internet - you know the drill, click here, click there - and found a notebook, an art print and a day timer.

Finally, I found the proper words to express my definition of grace. There is no whisper of religion or dogma, it is about a state of being. This art print is now framed and put in a prominent place in my office so I can be reminded through my days to lean into GRACE.

For the next #100daysofgrace - in my new robins egg blue journal with the same quote on the cover - I plan to write a daily entry, stick in a daily photo, find a quote, make a doodle, copy an article, find some lyrics and whatever else suits my search. I do many, very many, photo + word based projects. This is going to be something different. The only real photos will be taken at the end of the year, when the project is complete and I can let go of grace to find another word for 2015 - but still have grace live within me knowing I did all I could to keep it around and make it present within me, to my core.

What about you? Do you have a guiding word for the year?

ONE little WORD | 2014 March

Just in time, I got my dreamboard completed!

As I mentioned in a previous post, it is time for me to keep it real.

For my dreamboard, the images changed a lot from the start of this assignment to the completion of it. I had to abandon the idea of using magazine photos and words as none of them were quite right. They were the dreams and ideas of others and just did not resonate in my heart. Instead, I sat quietly and wrote a list of images that would represent what I would like to manifest in my ideal present - and near future. I then proceeded to download images from internet and combined them in Photoshop Elements. I created a board of images that reflect exactly where I am right now - not where I am expected to be or in any warped competition with people who do not matter - and where I would like my present to take me.

Though my board does not use my one little word for this year, everything on it boils down to grace.

ONE little WORD is a 12-month workshop created by Ali Edwards. With monthly prompts, I use photos, text and other good stuff to record how my guiding word has shown up in my life through the year and my personal growth as a result. Keep your word visible with me, join in here.

ONE little WORD | 2014 February

My ONE little WORD journey continues this month with writing assignments. There were two parts: reflect on the month just past; and, complete action cards for the year ahead.

My JANUARY REFLECTION:

My ACTION CARDS:

Materials: Templates by Ali Edwards, provided in class | Polka Dot Paper by Katie Pertiet | Louisiana font

And with that, everything is all out there! Wow. Lots of good stuff. Tough and real, and oh so good!

Interested in the Desire Map? Head over to Danielle LaPorte's website. The resources are incredible. Be sure to watch the videos! Fierce, gentle and encouraging. I am enjoying how this OLW project is helping me understand the Desire Map process better while fostering some creative contemplation and action. Funny how my choices are now flowing in a similar direction. Maybe not funny as much as the result of consistent effort and my stubborn belief that my life has a purpose.

ONE little WORD is a 12-month workshop created by Ali Edwards. With monthly prompts, I use photos, text and other good stuff to record how my guiding word has shown up in my life through the year and my personal growth as a result. Keep your word visible with me, join in here.

desire map | define

Prompt 3:

What's a desired feeling of yours, and how would you define it?

I have chosen my four core desire feelings:

TRUST

CONNECT

ALIGN

GRACE

Of those four desires, the most difficult for me will be GRACE. Well, they'll all be difficult but TRUST and GRACE do not come naturally to me. TRUST is something I constantly work on internally. To me, trust is more of a heart project. GRACE combines some inner work as well as some outer polishing!

Though I am a card-carrying introvert, I am not one to keep my opinion to myself should my voicing support or dissent create awareness or conversation. I am not graceful. More like a bull in a china shop - but less belligerent. I'm just awkward, at least I feel that way. I would like to be calm, poised and graceful when offering anything.

There are many definitions and quotes about grace. Believe me! Just Google it :)

My favourite, and the one for which I strive is from Eckhart Tolle:

To offer no resistance in life is to be in a

state of grace, ease and lightness.

Nothing could be further from my natural condition.

It's time to flip this coin and lean in to grace.

One | Two | Three |