Friday, January 01, 2010

Happy New Year!

Every year on New Year's Day I decide on one word to guide me through the coming year. This year's word is "stretch". It has suddenly dawned on me that I am 50 years old, and there are still a lot of things that I want to do. This year will be filled with seizing new opportunities, especially the ones that are out of my comfort zone. I plan to take classes to learn things that I've always wanted to learn; I plan to travel to see sights that I've always wanted to see; and I plan to be open to the world of possibilities that surrounds me every day. Most of all, I plan to cross a few things off my "bucket list". What is your word for 2010?

10 comments:

M said...

Karen, I really like this idea of having a word for the coming year. It makes the resolve so much simpler when you can put it under one umbrella. I've never done this but off the top of my head I'm going to say Create. I plan to create new work, opportunities, connections and time for myself.

MollyBee said...

I guess my word would be "Learn". I want to continually learn new things. Whether it is take a better photo, cook a better dish, or learn a new technique. Like you, sometimes it may be out of my comfort zone. But that just makes it more fun when I accomplish it.

Unknown said...

You only look 35 years old!! I am 51 years old. I have a short bucket list.. someday I want a hot air balloon ride.

Karen Stiehl Osborn said...

LOL, thanks Lorraine! And for the record, a hot air balloon ride is one of the things on my bucket list as well.

The Idaho Beauty said...

I chose "calm" for 2009 because I realized I was getting derailed by letting myself get all wound up about things. It worked really well - maybe too well. I was so calm sometimes that I got little done! So this year I am choosing "focus" because I think that's what I need to couple with staying calm so that I don't just sit.

Karen Stiehl Osborn said...

"Focus" is a great word! For me, choosing one word to guide me in the new year works much better than making a list of resolutions that I promptly forget. If you choose a new word each year, and build on the prior years (as you are doing), I think you get much more out of it. Thanks for sharing!

Karen Stiehl Osborn said...

Molly Bee, I would say that you are well on your way to learning new camera skills and cooking new recipes!

Rebecca said...

My word, for the second year in a row, is "clarity." I like focus, but it seems to rigid to me, so I chose clarity.
My grandmother had always wanted to ride in a hot air balloon. She did it, for her 80th birthday! She was one of a kind, my grandma.

layers said...

I like your word 'stretch'
mine is going to be 'guts'

Vivien Zepf said...

I chose the word "create" for the year -- as in, create art, create time for other important parts of my life (such as family, friends, reading, photography....), create simple monthly goals, and create space (a polite way of saying "clean up the studio!").

I'll be looking forward to watching you pursue your bucket list. I just finished one of mine: doing the coursework for scuba certification. Next up: diving in Costa Rica in February! I'm very excited!