each year I choose a word that encompasses the ideas/emotions/actions I want/need to work on.
My 1st word, many years ago, was “anger.” I had a problem with controlling anger, with unexpected anger. I used that word for 2 years and about half way thru the second I realized concentrating on a negative word held me back. I changed it to “understanding” and within a few months came to understand my anger stemmed from fear. As I faced the core of the fear I no longer reacted by becoming angry.
From that time on I have carefully chosen a word with a positive connotation. It was difficult to choose this year’s word. My issues are:
I have the attention span of a gnat, flitting from one craft to another, one “great idea” to another, starting projects but going to another before finishing any.
I collect things, tools, baskets, yarn, fabric – all of it is useful but I seem to fear using it up, that I won’t be able to afford to buy more fabulous yarn if I actually make a sweater from what I have.
I have too much stuff (besides all the craft materials) tables, kitchen equipment, clothes, and on and on.
In discussing it with friends the most common suggestion was “Simplify” but, to me, it would be easy to simplify by cramming the extra stuff into my huge storage unit and ignoring it. That’s not what I had in mind.
Finally, ABUNDANCE came to me. I have an abundance of curiosity, I’m allowed to be fascinated by a new subject BUT I don’t need to act on it by buying all the tools & equipment to experience it. If, at some later date, I come back to it and continue to be fascinated, I can explore it more thoroughly. After all, I have an abundance of curiosity. It isn’t likely to run out. I don’t need to prove I’m interested by buying more stuff.
I have an abundance of beautiful objects. By sharing them with friends and Goodwill I spread abundance.
I have an abundance of yarn. Using it up to make sweaters for charity spreads more abundance. By resisting buying more right now I will begin to have an abundance of money to reduce our debts insuring that I will be able to afford more yarn if I ever run out of my current stock.
So far:
I have given away several beautiful teapots, tart plates, salad plate sets, & sake sets to friends who will enjoy them.
I have taken 18 shopping bags of “stuff” to Goodwill.
I have completed and given away a baby sweater.
I have recycled about a zillion glass bottles and jars that “would come in handy” for dyes, paints, vinegars, etc.
I have sorted thru several hundred magazines containing great ideas and torn out the very few articles that pertain to something I think I’d really like to see or do rather than just dream about.
I’ve filed those articles so I can find them again if I need to refer to them.
I just keep reminding myself I have an abundance of life. Who knows, I could be hit by a bus tomorrow but in the meantime the life I have is abundantly full of the truly important things, love, laughter, friends, family.
