Day Four of Advent

Tradition #2: Pulling out the Christmas drinkware
Hot beverages not necessary!
 

 

one word to sum up 2010

One word to sum up the year. That’s the challenge of reverb‘s Day One prompt: “Encapsulate the year 2010 in one word. Explain why you’re choosing that word. Now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2011 for you?” Each year in January, my constant inspiration Ali Edwards posts the same challenge for the year ahead, but I rarely consider that same word when looking back. In fact, I realize that I’ve rarely considered my one little word(s) at all since I began participating. Sure, it comes to mind from time to time. I have passing thoughts about how little I’m reflecting on it throughout the busyness of the weeks and months within the year. But I’ve never truly reflected. The truth is, I don’t enjoy the reflection because it brings with it a guilt of how another year has passed without any action on my part. And I find myself here again, at the end of yet another year, with nothing good to report.

I initially chose SAIL as my word for 2010. But as I reflect back upon the months since then I realize I’ve done nothing of the sort. I’m sure an argument could be made that I have sailed through the difficulties and unexpected circumstances, but as I ponder it I’m more apt to say “docked.” In fact, I’m more inclined to say “shipwrecked” than anything else along the nautical line of thought. I’ve felt stuck, stagnant, still for quite some time. Yes, much of my own doing, but stagnant nonetheless. But what an ugly word to sum up a year!

It could be worse, I suppose. The thesaurus suggests “moribund” as an alternative: dying, expiring, not long for this world. Sheesh. I certainly don’t want to take it that far! But “lethargic” rings true. “Stationary” is appropriate, as well. And “dormant.” Dormant seems the best word. And dormant brings with it a HOPE. It brings to mind that beloved caterpillar, lying still and lifeless in its warm cocoon, just waiting for spring’s breezes to crack open the outer layer so it can break through with its butterfly wings. Yes… I like dormant. 2010 has been dormant. And looking forward, one year from now, what word do I hope to use in describing 2011? I think it could be as simple as “Walk” or “Move” or even “Persevere.” Some sort of action is all I’m hoping for, all I’m planning to do. That alone will vastly improve upon this difficult 2010.
 

Capturing the Holidays

Last year I participated in a Christmas blogging experiment with great inspiration from Ali Edwards, who records the holidays each year in her December Daily scrap project. Once again I am setting forth to follow suit, and this year I plan to put those daily notations into an actual scrapbook format myself. I opted to begin just before the first of the month, capturing the first day of the Advent season on which my church presents their annual ringing in of the holidays. Some days will be overflowing with inspiration, as was that first day, while others will simply be reflections on the holidays and on my traditions (both personal and familial). It is my way of remembering to find the joy in every single day, whether the world around me sees it or not. And so I begin this first day of December with my first pages about the season at hand. Not that exciting, but this is my life as it is right now.

DAY ONE: Ushering in the Advent

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DAY TWO: Recovering from Thanksgiving Week
DAY THREE: Christmasizing the Cell Phone

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