My 2017 One Little Word

Hello Lovelies,
It's that time again. I love this time of the year when I get to sit with my dreams and ideas about how I want to spend the next 12 months and from those plans, pick one word, one symbol, and one color to guide me on the journey. 

This year, I had a lot of words audition for the top spot, but none of them felt right. It took me some time to finally land on SELF-STUDY, but when I did, I had a physical reaction in my body and I knew it was the right word at the right time. The other two (color and symbol) just fell into place once I selected the word. 

Why Select a Word of the Year? 

This is one of those things that I have to say is really personal. No one can tell you that you have to pick one or even HOW to pick it. You have to feel led to do this and then decide what it means for you. For me, it's a way to "calibrate" myself throughout the year. It's a way to focus my energies in a direction that I believe will help me be a better human and have a more fulfilled life. 

I share a little more about the reason I do this in my post from last year. The bottom line is that this practice has replaced making a list of resolutions and has become the one thing throughout the year that I can actually stick to and feel good about when January rolls around again. 

How I Plan to Self-Study in 2017

The word self-study really is perfect for me this year. Last year was one of my most productive, creative, lucrative, and exhausting years to date. From family drama, almost daily technology issues, deep grief and sadness around losing two really important women in my life, to a spiritual awakening while on a trip to Spain, 2016 kicked my butt and grew me in ways that I still haven't fully processed. 

So 2017 is a year of processing and studying self deeply, intimately, and truthfully. It's a year where I'll dig my heels in so that I can bring closure to the things that no longer serve me, to stop waiting for permission, to do more of what I love, and none of the things I don't. 

To be fair, 2016 also gave me Khalil, my great nephew; CJ, my first nephew on my husband's side, amazing clients, students, and customers, multiple opportunities for collaboration with some of my favorite artsy pals, more fountain pens that I dare say, my first destination mastermind, and lots and lots of laughing with friends (old and new). I feel like I have a pretty amazing life and I recognize all the goodness and blessings that surround me. And this is the kind of stuff I want more of in my life. So -- SELF-STUDY!!!

My kind of self-study involves lots of meditation, quiet time, ART, laughing, reading, traveling, and surrounding myself with people who get me, encourage me, challenge me in positive ways, and who are just as hellbent on cultivating happiness as I am. 

The very loose plan is to do all the things above while also being in conversation with others who are doing similar work. So here's what I'm doing for self-study:

• I'm joining a Wisdom Circle
• Working with the FABULOUS ladies in my Emerald Mastermind
• Being more active in communities where others are studying things like Astrology, Tarot, Yoga, Chanting, and various intuitive guidance systems. I'm super excited about a class I'm taking with Hali Karla called Into the Stars -- it combines art and astrology -- WHAAAAAT!!!! I know -- perfect. Right? 
• Teaching in several upcoming classes with other amazing women. Stay tuned for the list.
• Attending art retreats, pen shows, spontaneous weekend trips, hiking, biking, and connecting with nature. 
• Running an online course with my husband Damon to start the launch of our newest offering. I am BEYOND thrilled about this and I'm bursting to tell you more. Stay tuned. 

So there you have it. That's my loose self-study plan for the year. I'll still be doing the work I love (drastically paired down) and finding lots of ways to connect with my online communities. Did you pick a word for the year? A color? A symbol? I'd love to hear what you're focused on for 2017. 

Creative hugs...