Wednesday
Dec282011
And 2012's Guiding Word Is...
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
I really and truly dislike December every year. It would be a perfectly good month if it weren't infected throughout by Christmas, the pressure of the annual New Year's milestone, and my damnable birthday. All three must happen, though, every year, but this year I made the bold decision to take it in stride, aside from some complaining on Twitter, of course. I have to remain true to myself.
I decided that, while taking this whole end-of-the-year avalanche of milestones and meaningfulness in stride, I would go one step further and create my own little meaningful piece of it as a way to claim some of this for my own. Plus, winter is long and hard in Saskatchewan, and I need for things to suck less.
After giving it a bit of thought, I decided that the little meaningful piece I created for myself would be this: I would choose one word to use as a guide through 2012.
While I was thinking about what my word would be, I asked the people of Twitter what their words would be, and I received a number of answers: fun, joy, money, healthy, open, persistence, investment, dare, less, completion, wholehearted, patience, believe, tenacious, rehearse, onward, peace, fearless, tend, love, mindfulness, perspective, and acceptance. I also found out that Ali Edwards had already had the same idea with One Little Word 2012. I took this as a sign that it was a good idea to be having.
One word kept coming back to me, and I didn't like it, because it wasn't a particularly emotional or inspired sounding word, and it lacked a certain sexiness, but there it was, creeping back in among the much more interesting words I was trying to push it out with.
2012's "shift" is going to help me to remain mindful of when I need to shift in direction either in thought or in action. "Shift" will be my reminder to sidestep complacency and change paths when I feel stuck. "Shift" will help me to keep moving rather than allow myself to become mired in self-doubt and the safety of repetition.
The more I think about it, the more I realize that "shift" is already in action.
If you were to have a word to help guide you through 2012, what would it be? Are you surprised by what comes up for you?
I decided that, while taking this whole end-of-the-year avalanche of milestones and meaningfulness in stride, I would go one step further and create my own little meaningful piece of it as a way to claim some of this for my own. Plus, winter is long and hard in Saskatchewan, and I need for things to suck less.
After giving it a bit of thought, I decided that the little meaningful piece I created for myself would be this: I would choose one word to use as a guide through 2012.
While I was thinking about what my word would be, I asked the people of Twitter what their words would be, and I received a number of answers: fun, joy, money, healthy, open, persistence, investment, dare, less, completion, wholehearted, patience, believe, tenacious, rehearse, onward, peace, fearless, tend, love, mindfulness, perspective, and acceptance. I also found out that Ali Edwards had already had the same idea with One Little Word 2012. I took this as a sign that it was a good idea to be having.
One word kept coming back to me, and I didn't like it, because it wasn't a particularly emotional or inspired sounding word, and it lacked a certain sexiness, but there it was, creeping back in among the much more interesting words I was trying to push it out with.
shiftSee? "Shift" does not score very high on the sexy meter, but it's a pushy little syllable, so there it is.
verb (used without object)
5. to move from one place, position, direction, etc., to another.
6. to manage to get along or succeed by oneself.
2012's "shift" is going to help me to remain mindful of when I need to shift in direction either in thought or in action. "Shift" will be my reminder to sidestep complacency and change paths when I feel stuck. "Shift" will help me to keep moving rather than allow myself to become mired in self-doubt and the safety of repetition.
The more I think about it, the more I realize that "shift" is already in action.
If you were to have a word to help guide you through 2012, what would it be? Are you surprised by what comes up for you?
Reader Comments (21)
My word for 2012 is TRUST. I even went so far to order it on a key from TheGivingKeys site so I can wear it as a daily reminder. The last few years have been rough, between dealing with an infirm, anorexic, alcoholic mother who is (by the nature of her disease) completely emotionally withdrawn, and finding out that my live-in boyfriend had been cheating on me from the day I met him. I've become harsh and defensive, going the route of driving people away the minute they cross that line from acquaintence to friend. 2012 will be the year that I let go of that fear, and make myself accept that there are plenty of wonderful people out there who have no intention of hurting me.
mine would be "do." prosaic, i know, but there it is.
Cultivated. I am planning about blogging about it before the end of the year. I've been thinking about it a lot lately. I love shift. It may not be terribly sexy, but it's got ... something. And I like it.
Hmm. I really like your choice of "shift", and I'm going to go with "forward" for myself.
"Shift" could not be more perfect in it's perfection as a key
word for 2012!!!! Right on!!!!
Everything is shifting big time this year and its even written in the sky (astrologically). Remember not to fall into the negative fear trap over it: rather - F.E.A.R (feeling excited and ready). Happy trails to one and all.
I did a one word this year (it was "courage") and I'm going to do it again for 2012...but I haven't decided what it will be, yet. I'm still thinking on it.
I like "shift". It has great possibilities.
I really like your word and I'm super jealous because I don't think I could have come up with it myself.
My word is Commit.
My biggest problem for 2011 was that I would start a million projects and then end up not seeing them through to the end. For 2012 I want to commit to one thing at a time and follow it through to then end without looking back.
I like to think that my word is pretty damn sexy, but that's probably because I'm a serial monogamist. :P
My word for 2010 was "stretch" and I chose "momentum" for 2011, although it wasn't as fitting as I'd hoped. For 2012, I think "explore" would be a good one. I don't know that it's necessarily going to be a time for big changes, but I'd like to see what's out there.
@christy stole my word!
Shift would be a good one for me, too, as is forward (what I was thinking before I read the comments). But I think my word has to be "change", and I have to apply it positively in several aspects of my life. I need some sanity back.
Confrontation. I am distressed and afraid of confrontation, and in avoiding it I drop a lot of balls. So 2012 will be the year I face people and situations and resolve them to the best of my ability and good sense.
Shift is brilliant.
oh i love how you make me think. birthday lady :)
I prefer 'shit' to 'shift'.
My word for 2011 was "motion" and it didn't turn out to mean exactly what I thought it would, but still it was fitting. My word for 2012 is going to be "Connection". Great post. And I can't believe I'm going to say it, but here goes... Shift happens.
I get you. Got a little touch of Seasonal Affective Whatthefuckisthisshit myself... my birthday is in November, there's the whole Christmas stressball [don't get me wrong, my family is awesome, but still] compounded by being bludgeoned with Christmas music on a daily basis [working retail can suck like that...], the "It's a new year and what have I got to show for it" conundrum...and it's good that February is the shortest month of the year, because it's also the worst of all possible months. I'm thinking hibernation is the solution.
Also, my word for 2012 is going to be a word that pretty well sums up most of my life to this point, and will likely continue to define me for the forseeable future:
That word is, "Bwuuhh?"
Also, congrats on completing another trip 'round the sun.
I love this idea and I think shift is a great word to use as a guide for the year. Paradigms, perspectives, tectonic plates, dresses....all have shifts, which means that it's a flexible word, a word that makes sense in many contexts. And being at home in many contexts is a really good omen, don't you think? Happy birthday, of course, goes without saying, and thanks, as always for the food for thought. Shift happens, indeed.
Oh...I like this, picking a word for 2012. I like fearless. And tenacious. This is hard!
I think shift is a good word!
My word is going to be "breathe."
This keeps coming up all around me. I'm not sure. I'm a word person, but when it comes to choosing a single word for a whole year...I started a 365 project on my birthday (Dec. 10) to commemorate my 49th year. So far so good there. Maybe the idea of a word to cheer that one is a good one. Beauty comes to mind. But really? Not sure that's it exactly. Transformation is what keeps smacking me between the eyeballs. Maybe that is a fitting word for my last year before the big 5-0. Transformation. Transform. Might have to give that a bit more thought. Hmmmm.
And let me offer my belated birthday wishes to you. I read about your bday on Twitter while I was sick in bed, but I'm afraid I didn't have the energy to post anything on the day.
Courage in 2012.
A couple years ago I had a Year of Yes. I took last year off. I'm pondering a word this year. Might be Sing. Shift is pretty good, though. Tempting.
You may think 'shift' is unsexy, Schmutzie - but you'd be wrong! In parts of Ireland, shift is both a verb and a noun meaning french kiss. Generally among the young ones, but most people have fond(ish) memories of shifting in teenage discos. Hmm, perhaps I should rethink what I mean by sexy...