Category: One Little Word

one little word | 4.28.20 …

Published on by Honoré14 Comments

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~sunrise @ 6:26 AM~

“…every morning we are born again, what we do today is what matters most.” ~Buddha

I’m a morning person. Have been all my life. When I’ve traveled with friends, they’ve been amazed at my early to rise habit… of course, that also goes with early to bed. Sun up: I’m up; Sun down – I’m not far behind. And that’s the way it’s been for me with me for decades…until  2020 and precisely, early in March. Just days before we “sprang forward” with the clock, I got sick with a cold. And since, I’ve been pretty much homebound, facilitated muchly by the total stop Covid-19 has enforced on our lives, as we know it, all around the world. I do not complain for I am grateful for every moment.

During this time, I’ve had plenty opportunity to examine my daily habits. My mornings at the table have grown longer and longer – primarily because I’ve nowhere to go, no place to be. I’ve spent hours at the table:  thinking, writing, reading, imagining, contemplating, and watching the sky change as clouds move in, around, out. I am noticing both new and different habits popping up into my days – as do the dandelions in the yard.

It is time now to refresh my tea and get a moveon with this day, the 119th of 2020.

How has your word shown up in your life this month? Please share your link below and if there are problems, add the link to your post in this blog’s comments. The linkup expires May 5.

Cheers~

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one little word | 3.20 …

Published on by Honoré16 Comments

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     Tell me, what is it you plan to make of your one wild and precious life    ~Mary Oliver

     Having an unlimited schedule with a “to do” list pretty much restricted to what one can do within the confines of home definitely plays havoc with my intentions: I am finding that my MSQT habit is lasting longer and longer, especially on days that begin with inclement weather. And then, before I know it, the day is well on its way to being over.

In this month of March, in conjunction with the daily practice of participating in 30 Days of Lists, I focused on developing the habit of writing a daily review and gratitude/s in a Traveler’s Notebook. I enjoyed the process, the simplified way to document these unprecedented times and the opportunity to express/share those little things – often taken for granted  – that make life wild and precious. I plan to continue this practice, experimenting a bit with other creative ways to capture the days of our lives.

How has your word shown up in your life in March? Please share your link below and if there are problems, add the link to your post in this blog’s comments. The linkup expires April 7.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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one little word | 2/20 …

Published on by Honoré18 Comments

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Good morning or afternoon or evening ~ or whenever you read this. Fifteen years and counting, 365 days out of the year, I begin my morning sitting at the dining table in the Great Room (as I dub it – the addition, kitchen/eating area, we built 15 years ago). This morning I’m in my craft room where my computer is located; my tea mug is close at hand and I am journaling via the keyboard rather than by pen in hand. Just as I was retiring last night, I realized that today was the last Tuesday and I had not drafted today’s post. Ah yes! Guess that habit – my 2020 one little word – hasn’t taken hold, yet!

This month, my focus has been on visiting my routines and tiny habits – the things I do consciously, intentionally or out of habit. For example: I’ve dubbed my mornings as MSQT – morning solitude and quiet time. I go downstairs to the Great Room, make tea and set the table with my journal/s/, pens, AM good reads and planner/s.* This past month, I added to my routine the practice of taking a minimum of 350 steps as tea water brews (in my new electric cordless kettle, just sayin’). This is a tiny habit that’s easy to implement: I can simply walk briskly around the perimeter of the Great Room and get my body movin’. Win Win!

Tiny Habits is also the title of a  new book published the end of 2019. BJ Fogg, the author has been studying habits for several decades and has narrowed the formation of new habits to the tiniest cue, e.g., you tie a desired behavior to something you already do. In my example, I want to be a little more active in the morning, get a jump start on my daily step count, so I tied walking with flipping the switch of the electric kettle.

BJ offered a free 10 sessions ‘ online class to the book’s purchasers; I joined and have been attending the ‘class’ this month. The interaction between BJ and class participants via text chat has been illuminating.  Today is our 7th session.

How is life with your word proceeding ? Please do share in the comments and if you’ve written a post, please also include the link in the comments.*

Looking forward to reading the stories of your February love affair with your 2020 one little word. And now, it’s time for me to hit publish, go downstairs and walk my 350 steps as water boils for my second cuppa tea.

Cheers~

*Yes, I have more than one planner; that’s a story for another post … and mark your calendar: Tuesday March 31 is the next OLW update! Apologies for no linkup party this month… I need to understand how the feature works. I’m sure it’s easier than their instructions and it’s past time to hit publish.

 

my one little word | 1/2020 …

Published on by Honoré19 Comments

My 2020 word, habit, continues from 2019. I decided to stick with it for several reasons, most pointedly ’cause I gave the word short shrift most of the year. Closer to year’s end did I begin to think and deliberately, seriously live with the word and all its facets and connotations.

Sitting on my stand-up/sit-down computer desk, is a plaque that reminds/invites me to Make Today Amazing. I’m of the opinion that I not only can do that but am also the only one who can! Most times, my daily plus +/ delta* Δ ) action list has more right forward >>> arrows, I’ll do them tomorrow, or perhaps never? … shhh… next to items that I didn’t get around to let alone complete. *Greek symbol for change

This month, I’ve:

1- been gathering into one central place, my habit tools and resources:

  • journal, planners & notebooks
  • books on the subject
  • signage & words
  • quotes, sayings, etc., and

2- looking at my life ( activity, actions, schedule, and druthers and especially those habits that I think (know!) do not serve my better intentions) and making small changes/improvements.

My plan for this year of focusing on and living with my word habit is to achieve much better outcomes.

What is your 2020 word and plan? Please share and join us in the linkup… and if for some strange reason the linkup doesn’t work, please share the link in this post’s comments.

Cheers~


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unraveled wednesday | 1.1.20

Published on by Honoré15 Comments

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Happy New Year! Yesterday, the UPS driver rang the bell and delivered a package with the two books shown; I’d completely forgotten I’d ordered and they were to be delivered the 31st! Tiny Habits will be a great follow-up to Bad Habits. Good Habits. I’m almost done reading it.

Whizz Bang is by an Australian quilter; her book – in both French and English simultaneously – has taken the quilting world-wide community by storm, according to the press I’ve read. I’m eager to dive in the book and play with the technique but will hold off until I’ve strengthened  a few habits (habit, my 2019 word, I’m continuing in 2020). Good things come to those who wait…

The knit piece is a hat I started last year; I’ve about two rounds of knitting to do before I bind off and it’ll be done except for the tassel. 

One of the things I’m focusing on as I work on recalibrating my creativity habits is to identify UFOs that I will keep or donate. My goal is to donate most and finish any I keep from years gone by before 2021 arrives.

Joining Kat and friends for another year of Unraveled Wednesdays.

Cheers~

 

my word, continues …

Published on by Honoré16 Comments

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Over the course of the past month, I’ve been considering candidates for my 2020 word. Last week, I thought I’d settled on the word CULTIVATE – one of many candidates. Others in contention: create/creative; finish; focus; garden; grow; Yes to No!, etc. The list of candidates grew longer and yet, nothing just quite grabbed me.

Saturday, I started reading Wendy Wood’s  Good Habits, Bad Habits, a book that’s been in my TBR stack easily a month, six weeks. The  book has received favorable reviews; the more I read, the more convinced and comfortable I became that YES! Habit was going to continue to be my word in 2020.

Habit permeates all aspects of life:

  • complicates yet eliminates decision making;
  • fascinates yet eludes;
  • helps and hinders;
  • liberates and traps;
  • confounds and explains
  • etc; etc; etc.

I am really looking forwad to continuing my journey with Habit. 2019 was a year of flirtation; I just didn’t really get very involved. I plan (hope?) 2020 to be an entrely different story.

In 2019, Juliann of Chasing Stories invited us to join her, the last Tuesday of the month and share an update on our experience with our words. She isn’t going to continue hosting our sharing;  I volunteered to keep the practice going in 2020.

I hope you will share your 2020 word and join the monthly updating the last Tuesday of each month. For this month, December 2019, please leave the link to your post in the comments. The January, 28, 2020 post will  have the inLinkz (link up) active.

I look forward to our 2020 One Little Word journey.

Happy New Year!

PS. You can read  about Juliann’s 2020 word here

 

thoughts on my 2019 word …

Published on by Honoré7 Comments

 

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As I, on the cusp of closing out this year’s experience with one little word, contemplate the myriad choices that have presented themselves over these last couple months of 2019, I’m struck with the small dictionary of words I’ve amassed over the past nine, ten, (eleven?) years. Begin. Complete. Document. Chronicle. etc.

My 2019 word: habit is one that I’ve toyed with perhaps all my life. Both the making and the breaking. As is my habit – pun intended – whenever I embark on a new adventure, I do a lot of research, shopping, trying a variety of approaches and experiences. Some might describe that as being attracted to bright shiny objects and in a way, I agree – tho’ I like to think of it as experimentation. This year was no different. Always, my aim/goal is to find the path of least resistance; as a result I think I often tire sooner than I should… mainly because I’ve not quite settled in/on a path, routine, etc. I guess one could easily describe those actions as “my habit” and thus, the raison d être for my having a lot of unfinished projects lurking in my closets… Having said all that, I’m surprised I get outta bed in the mornings <smile>.

My focus on habit for 2019 results in my affirming what I have always known: ideas and possibilities have the habit of grabbing my attention. It is who I am.

Because the year is coming to an end doesn’t mean that my focus on habit will end. I shall continue to keep the word and my actions at the forefront as I embrace my 2020 word, which,  I think as I write this post, will be _ _ _ _ _ _*

Do stop over to Juliann’s post re: her 2019 word!

Cheers~

*To be revealed next week; stay tuned!

it’s wednesday | 11.27.19 …

Published on by Honoré7 Comments

 

Joining Juliann for 2019 One Little Word Update and Kat for Unraveled Wednesday.

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Both raveling and reading over the past few days have been sporadic, preempted by assorted other activities- just life! I finished Forest Bathing Retreat (shared last week)- really like that book – and have begun the lovely book, pictured, that my friend Laura gifted to me; the card is from my quilting association.

My 2019 word Habit finds me at the half-way point – still working on eliminating some, revising others and creating new ones. I think that’s the way it works. I’ve come to conclude that the hardest habits to get a firm grip on are those I most want to change-up or eliminate. Many are the result of influential (at the time) circumstances; I have no idea as to when/why and how created, evolved or simply showed up. They are just there and require my intention as well as my attention! So, as is my habit – pun intended – I seek and experiment with all sorts of tricks, novel ideas, etc  to make changes … I have been making progress, for the most part, in writing one-off notes in one place.*

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The best news of all: Today, Elias is TWO! and grown enough to fit in big brother Chris’ coat. We celebrate tomorrow!

Wishing you the best Thanksgiving ever.

Cheers~

 

*This requires concerted effort but I sense it is on the verge of becoming a desired new habit! However, looking at my desk, currently, one might question…I do! The name of the game: If you don’t succeed, try, try again!

unraveled wednesday| 10.30.2019 …

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~me, 2009~

I made the witch’s hat in 2009 for Kayla, who was then 9.  Fun to see my  then state-of-the-art smart phone. Obviously, I hadn’t (and still haven’t) perfected taking  state-of-the-art selfies…

So, here we are at the end of October…just 62 days left in this year! Where does the time go? How did 303 days unravel so fast in what seems like the blink of an eye? I know this month has almost whizzed by, partly because the last LOAD layout a day challenge for 2019 ends tomorrow. The prompts, based on Tom Hanks’ movies and career, have been not only fun but also informative. I have learned as well as enjoyed the stimulation. Over this calendar year, thanks to LOAD challenges in February, May, August and July, I’ve made a minimum of 97 scrapbook pages: stories of me, people (family & friends), places and things. I am not necessarily (at least I don’t think I am) moved by time-bound challenges: our layouts have to be posted by 3 AM, Pacific Standard Time (I’ve never been up at that hour) to qualify. I generally finish and post by 7 pm EST…however, I do think the accountability metric helps move me to completion. I wonder how I might translate that into other areas of my life?

The next 62 days are going to be busy, busy with birthdays: Norman’s is Friday, mine two weeks after that, two weeks later, Elias will be two, and then two weeks into December, my sister’s! That doesn’t even take into account Thanksgiving and Christmas preparation and celebrations! Nor the 1001 other activities: eye/dental and medical appointments, concerts and events, dates due, general life items, and projects on my calendar/planner.

Clearly, if ever, the time is here for me to call upon my better habits and say out LOUD: YES to NO! No, I won’t add a single solitary bright shiny new activity or project to an already packed list…and to that effect, I am not undertaking NABLOPOMO (even tho’ I don’t think it’s still in existence, I did post daily last November);  I am going to make a gratitude journal but it won’t be time bound, i.e, required to be completed within a 24 hour period! Saying YES to NO! will be a huge contribution to days filled with those activities that light my life and fill me up.

I’m continuing to practice the Continental knit stitch; am reading Just Mercy  and Stillness is the Key; started The Water Dancer and have several books on my phone that accompany me on my walks. I just remembered I (still ) have a Christmas stocking with a few/some rows to finish; guess I’ll resurrect and get movin’ on it again.

Joining Kat and friends for Unraveled Wednesday and Juliann for One Little Word monthly update.

Happy Halloween, y’all!

Cheers~