One Little Word – Page 5 – Morning Glory Studio

one little word |july 2020 …

Published on July 28, 2020 by Honoré14 Comments

Good morning! I am amazed that the month of July is nearly over…and that, in less than 5 months – December – we’ll be saying in : “In just 4 days, it’ll be 2021!” Certainly, 2020 will go down in the books as the year to remember.

Last month I wrote that my intention was to carry on with messy art journaling – and I have but my art is not nearly as messy as I think I want. Perhaps “messy” is not my style but I think it’s too soon to make that call. The images in the above photo collage represent the activities and colors that garnered a large portion of my creative attention and energy in July: Nature. Reading. Knitting (my 100 day project). Walks. Slowly, these photos and others plus snippets of collage materials from magazines, paints and stamps are making their way onto the pages of various art journals, scrapbook albums and eventually as small art quilts. I am convinced that I would not have made as much progress – if any? – had life not been circumscribed by Covid-19.

A prediction: August will provide more results of my new habit: messy art journaling. Yes? How? Why? Everyday, I not only schedule time for the activity, I spend the time so engaged and that is how a habit is made.

In this month of July, how has your word shown up in your life? Please share your link below and if there are problems, add the link to your post in this blog’s comments. The linkup expires August 4, 2020.

I look forward to reading about your July 2020 One Little Word experience. Thanks for sharing.

Cheers~

one little word |6.30.20 …

Published on June 30, 2020July 27, 2020 by Honoré12 Comments

Birdsong @ Sunrise – 5:51am /6.30.20

Last month I wrote about my desire and intention to resume some form of daily art journaling, a practice I abandoned, perhaps 5-6 years ago. Why ? I know not. This time around, I think I want to be messy – but, that’s not really me, my style, despite the fact that I someitmes leave my computer desk in a state of messy. If I’ve been there too long and tired overwhelms, I put the computer to sleep and walk away until the next day. I don’t do this often but it is a habit . And I must admit, since we’re on the subject, that is exactly what I did last night.

Over the past two months, I hae been creating some form of art – though I wouldn’t call it messy, on an almost daily basis. My canvasses are small, ranging in size from 3.5 x 5.5 inches to 5.25 x 8.5 inches. I find that doing this daily is causing the juices to flow a bit. I look forward to the daily break and miss it when I don’t make. I’d have to say that this definitley is a habit in the making … including my quest to try my hand at messy art journaling.

I wonder how July will fare?

In this month of June, how has your word shown up in your life? Please share your link below and if there are problems, add the link to your post in this blog’s comments. The linkup expires July 7, 2020.

I look forward to reading about your June 2020 One Little Word experience. Thanks for sharing and have a safe July 4 holiday.

Cheers ~

PS. Ever wonder why birds sing at sunrise? Read on.

one little word|5.26.20…

Published on May 26, 2020 by Honoré15 Comments

Drop by drop is the water pot filled. ~ Buddha

Over these past days, correction, months, of social distancing and staying at home, I’ve been more conscious of the minutes, hours, passage of time. I suspect we all have as shared by news and social media tales of how we are coping – or not – world wide. I know the rhythm of my days has certainly changed; I suspect there won’t be a return to what was and in many ways, that is A-OK with me…for I am liking the flow and new habits that I am creating. That’s good.

On my bucket – or someday maybe – list, has been a wish: resume the practice of art journaling. Ten years ago, when I first retired, I did a lot of art journaling. I drifted away. I’m not sure why or how. Lately, I’ve found myself dabbling in messy art. Could this be the reawakening? Or just a passing fancy? Only time will tell but in the meantime, I am enjoying the reconnection.

There are other habits on my list I wish to resume, start or stop. But before I tackle them, I shall focus on cementing my reconnection with messy art journaling, my unrequited love?

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 June 3, 2020.

I look forward to reading about your 2020 One Little Word experience. Thanks for sharing.

Cheers~

one little word | 4.28.20 …

Published on April 28, 2020 by Honoré14 Comments

~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~

one little word | 3.20 …

Published on March 31, 2020March 31, 2020 by Honoré16 Comments

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.

one little word | 2/20 …

Published on February 25, 2020March 30, 2020 by Honoré18 Comments

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 January 28, 2020January 27, 2020 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~

unraveled wednesday | 1.1.20

Published on January 1, 2020 by Honoré15 Comments

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 December 31, 2019 by Honoré16 Comments

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