Word of Intent

by Leigh

Connect

verb

     bring together or into contact so that a real or notional link is established

     join together so as to provide access and communication

     to establish communication between

     to join, link or fasten together; unite or bind

And so it begins....another year....a fresh 365.  For the last few years I have chosen a word of intent rather than setting myself up for failure by setting a resolution.  I use my word to guide my daily photo meditations that I post on Instagram (#loveleeokc_connect2017)  

My words in past years:

2014 BE

2015 FOCUS

2016 SIMPLIFY

I take some time to think about what intention I would like to set for the new year.  Sometimes it comes to me right away while other times it needs to mull around in my brain and on my heart before my intuition kicks me and says...that's it! that's your word!

This is one of the years that I'm going with the first word that came to me.  And that word is connect.

There are so many ways for me to apply it in my life.  I want to connect with others.  I want to connect with my body, mind and spirit. I want to connect with my camera.  I want to connect with nature.

I intend to connect with others by putting down the devices and listening earnestly to what they are saying.  I want to have genuine conversations. I want to invite a friend for coffee to talk about what's on our hearts and minds.  I want to cook a meal together with my children without the distraction of iphone or television.  I want to go to dinner with my husband on a regular basis so we can have real conversation and not just a "hello, how was your day?" in passing.

I intend to connect with my body, mind and spirit through meditation, movement and giving my body whole and natural foods.  

I intend to connect with my camera by continuing my one little word instagrams, taking some online classes, and working to build up my Stocksy port. 

I intend to connect with nature by getting outside everyday and engaging all five senses to keep me grounded.

How about you?  Have you chosen a word for the new year?  I invite you to share your word with us in the comments, on Instagram or on our Facebook page or by posting your photo in our Flickr pool.

A Brand New Year

by Leigh

Simplify
verb
     make (something) simpler or easier to do or understand.
     to make less complex or complicated;
     to simplify a problem

"Ditch the resolutions. 

To resolve means to find a solution to a problem.

You are not a problem.

The way you showed up for your life the past year

was necessary for your growth.

Now is a time to reflect.  To learn.

To create an intention, a positive call to shift,

a spark of magic + manifestation

rooted in self-love

and backed with action."

The quote above really spoke to me as I was contemplating my word for the new year.  I have never been one for resolutions preferring instead a single word.  Sometimes my word comes to me quickly and other times I have to meditate on it for awhile before the word finds me.  And I do believe that the word finds me.  Last year I had a difficult time making up my mind as I tossed around a few different words, but one kept popping up in books I was reading or quotes in a magazine.  But it wasn't until I was sitting in a movie theater when suddenly during the previews on the big black screen popped up one word in huge white letters-FOCUS.  And that settled it.  That was the sign I needed.  So 2015 was all about focus.

Last month the internal debate for my 2016 word began.  Just like the previous year there were a few words floating through my mind, but one kept popping up when I least expected it. As I  stumble upon quotes in books, magazines, Facebook or Instagram…I write down or screen grab the ones that catch my eye.  As I browsed through my recently saved quotes I started to see a theme and it was all about simplifying.  

"Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated." ~Confucius 

What does simplify mean to me?  It means stripping away the unnecessary clutter both physically and emotionally.  It means to connect with myself and follow my heart.  I want to simplify the way I approach photography and get back to my feel good roots and trusting my instincts.  It means less multi tasking and more experiencing.  It means making myself a cup of coffee and settling down with a new book.  It means taking time in the morning to myself to meditate, stretch and set an intention for the day.  And most importantly it means spending time with my family without the distraction of technology and simply enjoying their company.  I hope that by simplifying my life I can feel an even deeper connection with myself and others.  How about you?  Do you have a word for the new year?  

"The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary 

so that the necessary may speak."

 ~Hans Hofmann

krēˈāt

by Judy

When Carol handed this small ceramic star to me during our Focusing on Life Galveston retreat, I thought it was the perfect gift to give to a group of photographers and artists.  I don't know what words were on my sister's stars that they received, but I felt a connection with this word right away.

It has sat on my desk at home since returning from Galveston in October.  I see it every day. Sometimes I pick it up and run my fingers over it.  I feel the smoothness.  I feel the little dimple. And I feel the letters  C  R  E  A  T  E.  

For some reason, I haven't had much luck with the "one little word" concept in the past.  I've tried, I really have, but I just haven't been able to embrace it, and follow it, or rather, let the word lead me. But there seems to be something different about this word. When Carol placed this in my hand and I saw the word 'create,' my brain said, "yes, of course,  C R E A T E,  it couldn't be anything but this." 

For almost a year now I have had a creative idea floating around in my head.  I've been mulling it over, taking notes, scribbling things out, starting over.  Trying to figure out how I can get what's in my head to work, and to become a reality.  One of my goals for this year is to take the time to really work on this project and bring it to fruition.
Yes,  C  R  E  A  T  E

As I think about my creative idea there is one thought that really brings a smile to my face....There is no right or wrong way to be an "artist."  Think about that for a minute.  There is no right or wrong way to be an artist.  There is such freedom in that fact.  When we create art we are being authentic. There is no competition.  It's just 'us', delving deep and taking risks. We only need to find what resonates with us and then create what we feel.  

So, here's to creativity!  It doesn't matter where you find your "thing," or what your "thing" is.

Pick up your cameras, your pens, your paintbrushes, your metals, your clay, your yarn, your shovels.

Now,  go be happy and   C   R   E   A   T   E!!

1. • 
     

Surrender... my word for 2015

by Susan

photo courtesy of Dr. Holly Oxhandler

It's not 'surrender' in the 'defeat' sense of the definition... it's more of a... letting go. 

Life throws us challenges... some good... some great... and some... not-so-good.  Those challenges can be brought on by ourselves, family members, friends, co-workers... and people we don't even associate with. 

There are challenges that make us better people. 

There are challenges brought on by others... that test who we are. 

There are challenges we bring unto ourselves.

There are challenges to our well-being, our health and that of loved ones.

There are also those challenges that when we see people we love and care for, make poor choices. 

Now, back to my word for 2015.  Surrender.  It came about one day, last month or so ago, in a conversation with my daughter Holly.  She wanted to share her word for 2015, which was surrender and thought that maybe it would ring true with me too. She's got a lot on her plate... and she knows that I do, too... but the reality is, I think we both bring on a few more things than we can actually handle each day.  So she shared her word, surrender. And let me tell you the minute I heard it... it was like a weight had been lifted off of my shoulder.  Surrender became something I would repeat nightly, under my breath as I closed my eyes. I realized that there were some things in my life that I could control... and things that I could not. I realized that repeating this word... helped me sleep.  Repeating this word brought clarity and new found joy. 

To me, surrender isn't about giving up at all.  It's not about defeat.  It's a calming word during a challenging time. It helps make clear choices.

With that said, I'd like to thank all of my FOL sisters for the conversations, the joy, the time we had together in Galveston. You see, this is my last post here at FOL. So, thank you ladies... thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of this inspirational and creative group.  I've loved being a part of this group and wish I could stay, but due to an exhaustive growing work schedule and travel, and family members needing me more than ever at this time, I've had to let go of some things... and FOL contributing member is one of them.

Life brings challenges, the good... and the not-so-good.  When it gets overwhelming, maybe you too will find the clarity... the calm... the serenity of this one word, surrender... take a breath... and let... it... go...

*Special thank you to my daughter Holly for the image above. We both have this same mug that sits on our desks as a gentle reminder throughout the day.*

xo ~ susan

New Year, New Beginning, New Intentions

by Leigh

Sometimes I dread a new year.  I start thinking about all the things I did wrong the previous year and I assume that I will repeat those same mistakes.  I look back and see patterns in my behavior and wonder how I can change those….or if I will be able to change those.  But then I decided that I needed to change my perspective.  I needed to see the new year in a….well, in a new way.  I've always seen the new year as just a continuation of the old...like a loop in my mind.  I recently read an article from Dr. Wayne Dyer about resolutions in the new year.  And here's what he said, 

"Forget about deciding on the first day of January how you will be conducting your life in September, some nine months later.  Any resolution that involves making decisions about future behaviors is a waste of time.  It also reinforces the self defeating notion of living in the future. For 2015, wouldn't you rather live in the present moment?"

A-ha! light bulb moment for me!  Each day is a fresh new beginning unlike the one prior and unlike the next one.  I have a fresh set of 24 hours in which to live...the only day like this one.  I can make a resolution that I will spend less time on social media this year and I will get myself more organized and I will workout six days a week, etc…But as Dr. Dyer points out we still have to live our lives just like everyone else: one day at a time.  He went on to say that, 

"You can only live minute to minute.  You can certainly use up your present moments thinking about what you'll be doing in the future, but that doesn't change the fact that you can only live in the now.  The important question to ask yourself is: How am I going to live in the present moment this year?"

Instead of spending my days thinking about my patterns in the past, I want to make changes so that I can live life to it's fullest.  RIGHT NOW!  I am going to do this by setting an intention...by choosing a word to guide me daily and that word is focus.   Yesterday my focus was on organization as I packed away Christmas and decluttered the house.  Today my focus is on business as I get back into my work routine at the office.  Tomorrow morning I will let my early morning thoughts dictate my focus for the day.

"Always let the new you make the decision, and then you'll be living in the present moment."

Have you picked your word for this year?