Wednesday, December 30, 2015

My Word For 2016

Welcome To My Year Of Mindfulness

The year is almost over and I am so very happy with what I have learned from choosing the word mindful as my guidepost for 2016. I mapped out the year in January and mostly stayed with the subjects I picked. I have a word in mind for 2017 and will tell about it next Wednesday. 





 The word "mindful" chose me this year. On December 15, I almost caused an accident. After processing what didn't really happen, but could have, I wandered into a Barnes and Noble bookstore and found this magazine staring me in the face. 



It was issuing me an invitation. Won't you consider becoming more aware? Would you like to learn more single-tasking? Could you benefit from seeing, hearing and feeling more? Hello?

  
 I knew. This is the year I learn to be more mindful. 


Would you like to learn to be more mindful, too? I'll share! Check back on this page every Mindful Monday to see more posts all throughout the year. Look for the mindfulness image along the side bar to come back here. I'll start by asking 12 questions about my own need to be more mindful.

1- January-Do I pay attention to what I'm eating?

2- February-Can I stay focused on one task at a time?


3- March- Is my breath full and steady?

4. April- Am I mindful about how I talk to myself?

5. May- Am I a good listener?


6. June- Am I mindful in my relationship to God?


7. July- Am I mindful of my spirit essence?

8. August- Do I see and hear my husband?


9. Do I seize the moment?

10. Do I love the place I live?




11. Do I feel gratitude?


12. Is my center on Jesus Christ?



                                                            Mindful by Mary Oliver
Every day
I see or hear
something
that more or less
kills me
with delight, 
that leaves me
like a needle
in the haystack
of light.
It was what I was born for -
to look, to listen, 
to lose myself
inside this soft world -
to instruct myself
over and over
in joy, 
and acclamation.
Nor am I talking
about the exceptional, 
the fearful, the dreadful, 
the very extravagant - 
but of the ordinary, 
the common, the very drab, 
the daily presentations.
Oh, good scholar, 
I say to myself, 
how can you help
but grow wise
with such teachings
as these -
the untrimmable light
of the world, 
the ocean's shine, 
the prayers that are made
out of grass?

10 comments:

  1. I like your choice of word. Look forward to hearing what you learn about being mindful.

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  2. I need this word for the next season of my life.

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  3. Perfect word for this year...& you were mindful of the "invitations" directing you to that state of awareness. Life will be a series of revelations as you become more mindful this year. I'm anxious to see you grow in this direction. Thank you for sharing your Genesis.

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  4. It is so easy to get distracted. My word is writer. I'm going to fully embrace that identity. I can't wait to check in during 2016.

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    1. Hurray for you in your pursuits as a writer. I'll be a faithful reader.

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  5. i subscribe to a magazine Mindful and their website Mindful.org has great information. I also took a 8 week course of Mindfulness for Stress Reduction at UC Irvine's integrative medicine department and it has been a life changer. My word for the year is much like yours: Presence:)

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    Replies
    1. Susan,
      Nice to meet you and thank-you for your great suggestions.

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  6. a truly worthy word to live by for 2016. Wishing you a year ahead crammed full with love, laughter, and mindfulness.

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