Mid-Year Review of 2021 One Word-SJT

Life is about transitions. I look back on this year. Winter was filled with urgent to-do lists. Sell the Long Island house, find a spot open for COVID vaccinations for myself and my family, call the movers, and in the weeks before the move have an estate sale of my antiques and collectibles. I pause to reflect on my 2021 one word, begin, knowing that it has brought me through many challenges since I asked it to be a guide on my life journey. 

I contemplate my one word's presence in my life, consider what it offers for the future, and deliberate on what can be done to stop brooding over past missteps. Sometimes, I celebrate the word begin and other times get wrapped up in fairytale-like ponderings of an ideal new life. In reality, life is not an easy road to transverse. It is filled with detours, congested pathways, and bridges to cross. I am fully aware that life is fragile and uncertain but can be a hopeful journey if i remain positive. 

From the beginning of January, I trusted my one word. With faith on my side and the word begin, I crossed several hurdles starting with getting lost on the trip down to Virginia. I am not quite sure how I did that but it happened and left me in a quandary. I circled around, tried to find a new route, and finally broke down in tears. Was this a warning on how life could be if I continued to be stressed? Did I slow down when I finally arrived in Virginia? No, afterall there were so many tasks to be completed as we moved into our new home. My granddaughters have provided love and joy that dismisses tense-filled weekly tasks. 

I am happy to say, that I have prevailed through surging storms, service calls, and edginess amidst open and unopened boxes so I decided to revise my January 2021 Commitment Statement. 

with faith

I shall rise above

life's constant challenges,

blossom like a bud of spring,

celebrate new beginnings with positivity,

and begin a new walk on more solid ground.

©CV, 2021

I must admit since we moved, sometimes I felt like the wilting flowers in my new garden. They thirsted for a new beginning but I did not know how to nurture these new young plants.  I want to stand tall like the other blooms in my gardens. They offer their presence reminding me to sing the praises of nature's blessings. 

Like my young plantings, I journey onward despite changeable patterns of life. I will cast doubts aside and focus my thoughts on new beginnings now that I am left with only a dozen or more boxes to unpack on the first floor. As Meister Eckhart said, "Be willing to be a beginner every single morning." I shall make this quote a priority during the next few days, I will also, follow the wisdom of Proverbs 16-9: "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."

Finding Peace

mapping life's journey 

begins within heartstrings-

wander with hope

©CV, 2021

I thank Ruth Hersey, teacher-poet from Haiti, who as the June host of Spiritual Journey Thursday chose today's topic. Ruth reports that despite the challenges of life in Haiti, she is still flourishing. I will walk beside her as I begin a mid-year journey.

"Life Move" Tips-Day 2 SOLSC! #Sol2021

In the midst of a new life move, I need to slow down. There is so much to do; I rush around, jumping from small job to large one. Multitasking is no longer a plausible way to get to the bottom of my to-do list, nor is worrying about the move. What I need to do is seek balance when life becomes heavy. 

Balance was my guide word, my one word last year but you know what kind of year that was! I am ready for a small step plan. 

Tips for Today.

Breathe in. Exhale. - Pack with focus. - Find silver linings in what I do.

Pause intermittently. - Be grateful for small accomplishments.

Writing is a daily practice, an opening of my heart to the whispers of my soul. 

This post is the second in my March Musings 2021 series for Two Writing Teachers' March SOLSC! #SOL21. You can access the site here to read what the other slicers are saying as they begin Day 2 of their March Slice of Life writing journey. 

Proud Member of Two Writing Teachers Community

since 2015

Take Heart - SJT

For three weeks I searched for available COVID vaccine appointments for my family. Frustration mounted with each new search. I looked, wished for a canceled spot, and persevered. The search left me drained and frustrated. Availability was an issue being faced by so many across Long Island. What am I looking for? A needle in a haystack could be found easier than an appointment.

With faith, I continued the search on Long Island, NYC, and Virginia where I will be moving. I did find two single openings not together for my husband and me. One was in NYC and the other at Jones Beach. These appointments seemed like an answer to prayer but the dates were near the time we should be closing on our house. 

Moving on, I changed direction and confirmed my upcoming doctor appointment. With that final task for the day completed, I opened my email to find a message in my patient portal-Complete your COVID 19 Screening Questionnaire. I rushed to do this and to my surprise, I received a text a short time later. It was a gift, an appointment for the first dose of the COVID vaccine at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center near my home. Grateful, I paused to remember a scripture quote Karen Eastlund shared. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above." (James 1:17). 

What a beautiful surprise, a good gift from above. Being in remission from lymphoma for the past 18 years has been a miracle gift and a testament that "the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." (James 1:3) 

Fran Haley, host of Spiritual Journey Thursday this month chose "Take Heart" as our theme. I take heart that I can begin my new life in Virginia without the worry of feeling safe during trying times. Knowing that I can endure snags along the way that test my faith, will lead me to steadfastly continue my journey of celebrating life. 

Finding a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. solidified an idea for me. The following digital inspiration provides the reflective action step for me to take during the month of February. 

*Begin is my one word 2021.

💕

Thank you, Fran, for the theme for this month's Spiritual Journey Thursday here.

It gave me a spark of inspiration to finish this post and add a reflaction

(reflection with an action step) for this month.

Finding My #OneWord 2021

As winter settled in last year, a sense of newness brought anticipation. I entered 2020 with the commitment to search for peace, notice nature's harmony, and cease the attitude of being busy all the time. I wanted to slow down and savor evocative nature's moments. Hence, the word balance arose as a guide word at the crossroads of a new year in a new decade. A new grandbaby was born in January; balance was present. In February, we signed a contract to build a new house in Northern Virginia, a sign that a new path was opening. There was a newness evolving but then, by the end of March,  my world was jolted. A pandemic swept through the word, blindsiding everyone. My balance was knocked off-kilter. I tried to keep the balls juggling while balancing my work life with my personal life but there was a disconnect. Clearly, by the end of this year, I needed to re-evaluate and re-imagine a new pathway.  A focus word was needed to restore my balance and bring hope. 

So I pondered, mulled over numerous words, reviewed my previous #onewords: openness, listen, believe, joy, hope, embrace, and balance, and just waited for a 2021 word to appear.

 

New Year's Eve came and went and so did New Year's Day. One word hashtags were seen throughout social media; tweets and blogs shared. I was waiting for a word to appear, a divine sign. Then, I found a quote by Thomas Merton, 20th Century monk, author, theologian, poet, scholar, and social activist.  "We must make the choices that enable us to fulfill the deepest capacities of our real selves."  My word started to emerge. I was ready to renew my life, restore balance, and unfold into a better version of myself.

🥁

My 2021 Commitment Statement

(adapted from A.D. Posey's inspirational quote)

In faith, like a flower, I shall feel myself rise above, begin to open, and begin anew.

via GIPHY

A New Chapter BEGINS.

A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. (Lao Tzu)

I'M READY!

And You? When will you begin that long journey into yourself? (Rumi)

As the host of Spiritual Journey Thursday this month, I invite you to share your #OneWord2021 blog post.

And/Or

Leave your #oneword digital at the hastag, #WintersEmbrace 2021, on Twitter.

If interested, I will add it to the Winter's Embrace 2021 Gallery that I am creating. 

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