the word

so, last year there was a prompt at a blog that i read - ali edwards's - she asked that we all think of an insipiring word for the year. have this word encapsulate everything you do, touch, feel, act on, breath .. you get the picture. so last year's word was enjoy for me.

in all, i believe that i worked that word into many things during 2007. it did enjoy the year, and felt it was a good word to inspire me to move forward and successfully find a way to like what i was doing .... there were times of course that i didn't enjoy, or even remember that i was supposed to enjoy the things i was doing. and that makes me rather disappointed. but human, i suppose.
i don't think i posted my word anywhere as a reminder that i even had a word, to be honest. i should have posted it right next to my "suggestions" for myself. each year, i type them (my suggestions) and tape them to the wall near the computer and my desk. i have several past years taped together to remind me of the lists i have completed (you know, lists make me happy) over the years, and of course, feel rather successful when they are completed. last year, i *did* hear the suggestions i made for myself all year, and i will report a very successful year for those suggestions (they include but are not limited to: more couple time {check}, save $$ {check}, stay more focused on tasks at hand {smaller check, but check}, more cooking in {big check!}, stick with exercise program and eating better {check}, and land in a better finish position with work {check, but will comfirm once i get to the nat'l sales mtg in feb}) so to that end, i tried to stick close to the suggestions, and for the most part did stick close.
in any event, i was enjoying many, many things throughout the year.

but, i digress .... this year, along with the suggestions i have made (taped to the wall beside my desk) i am posting my word for the year.

gratitude

for some reason that word is speaking to me.

loudly.

i began a gratitude journal three months ago, and have been writing in it each night. i have layed out a 2008 gratitude journal plan for myself, and will stick with it, certainly throughout the year. i find myself feeling thankful for so many things lately that in recent years i have taken so for granted. for insatnce, the health of my children, the health and presence of my husband, the ability to be so flexible with my job to be where i need to be for the kids and family, the ability to provide for the family, spending time with my extended family ..... so many things, and each of them giving me pause, deep pause, lately.
along the way, there have been incidences of other folks NOT being so fortunate (a friend's 5 year old daughter diagnosis of cancer, people losing their jobs unexpectedly, and thus their homes, sudden deaths of friends parents, and spouses, families being separated through military and other things forcing it .. etc) and these are the things that get me to thinking "gee, karin, you are so lucky ... so fortunate to have all that you have .... have you said thanks?"

and with this reflection, i find myself, for whatever reason, deepening the questions of my faith. it has been a journey for sure, and one that i haven't shared here, as it's on a level so personal i don't want to necessarily reveal that. sean and i continue the journey, and the discovery, and the place for us. for our family. but i hear the stirring in my soul that being grateful runs very deep with me. and i often wonder if it is tipping into that arena and asking me to seek beyond what i am seeing right in front of me.
i don't know the answer to that. but i intend to discover it through feeling thankful, and revealing my gratitude. and maybe, just maybe, discovering some things i have been keeping asleep somewhere else.