And a new day, and a new moment, every moment. I love reminding myself that every moment is an opportunity for a fresh start. The end of the calendar year is a time of reflection, what I've done, where I'm going, where I want to go. It reminds me of the list I write when I go grocery shopping or do errands; the things I need to do/buy/remember in the present moment to allow me to do the activities I plan in the future, like cooking, household projects, creating art, etc. That list is extremely helpful for that present moment/moments but may not be exactly what is needed for the following day. That is how I feel now about New Years resolutions - they are wonderful for the days they are appropriate for, when they cease to bring me joy and move me in the direction of growth, then their usefulness to me has expired.
I think that reasoning is why when I read this quote by Aisha Elderwyn I felt a resonance with it:
"Every new year people make resolutions to change aspects of themselves they believe are negative. A majority of people revert back to how they were before and feel like failures. This year I challenge you to a new resolution. I challenge you to just be yourself."
There is a fairly new tradition I've witnessed others do but haven't done myself where you choose a word instead of a resolution. I wasn't planning on doing it, but little beknownst to me, the universe was. Yesterday a word came sailing in and landed smack dab in my lap of my consciousness, whispering in my ear "choose me, choose me". The word was flow......... I thought about it awhile and decided yes, I choose you too flow, to be my word for 2010. Makes perfect sense as i think about it - I do live on a river after all.
I leave you with pages from my 2010 journal...
This resonates perfectly with my being right now. Thanks for sharing. xo
Posted by: Tonia Davenport | January 03, 2010 at 02:19 PM
I love the direction you're going, Katie...and I'm printing that quote out and displaying it in multiple places around my house. I, too, have noticed many choosing one word to focus on for the year. I've picked mine and will hopefully be blogging about it yet tonight.
Your journal pages...loving the walnut ink/dye.
Posted by: Jennifer White | January 03, 2010 at 03:03 PM
Beautiful journal pages! Happy New Year!
Posted by: Judi | January 03, 2010 at 03:42 PM
so beautiful...wow. amazing!
Posted by: jen | January 03, 2010 at 04:31 PM
Breathtaking pages Katie; makes we want to dive for the transparent inks. And what if ... (we stopped striving?) I've been thinking about Wu Wei (inactiion). My word for 2010 is Unity. I picked it at midnight, New Years Eve and like yours it simply descended on me.
Posted by: judy Wise | January 03, 2010 at 05:25 PM
Katie, thank you so much for sharing your personal journal pages with us...I love them...they are so rich and full of textures and meaning. You have really inspired me to pick up my journal, and get some images, words and paint together, and get my thoughts out on paper. Thank you so much!
Posted by: Roberta | January 03, 2010 at 05:25 PM
Beautiful, thoughtful - thank you!
Happiness in 2010.
Cindy
Posted by: Cindy Eagan | January 03, 2010 at 05:27 PM
Happy New Year Katie! I hope our paths will cross again in 2010!
Posted by: Maija Lepore | January 03, 2010 at 08:21 PM
I love it when a word chooses you vs. having to seek out and try them on like clothes on a rack. Flow is perfect as it is not static and infinite. Your journal work is breathtaking as always. It makes me just want to dive in and paint! Thank you for the holiday wishes, my friend. xoxoxoxo
Posted by: pilar | January 03, 2010 at 09:27 PM
Your pages are amazing and they flow flow flow.
The universe is so good to us when we listen.
I found your blog through Judy Wise and I am so glad I did.
Posted by: Corrine | January 04, 2010 at 07:11 AM
These pagaes are luscious--and so inspiring! Thank you for sharing, Katie. What kind of white-ink pen do you use?
Posted by: Ramona | January 04, 2010 at 08:09 AM
Love your ruminations.If you have a moment check out:
http://www.awildpatience.blogspot.com
it is about resolutions.
Joan T
Posted by: Awildpatience.blogspot.com | January 04, 2010 at 03:52 PM
beautiful, flow is a perfect mantra to start a new decade.
Posted by: Judy Coates Perez | January 04, 2010 at 04:12 PM
this pieces of you are hauntingly beautiful, they make me miss you even more... xo
Posted by: misty | January 04, 2010 at 07:51 PM
Flow is an amazing, gracious, and graceful word. Perfect! Thanks for sharing your wonderful pages with us.
Posted by: Judy Merrill-Smith | January 04, 2010 at 09:41 PM
Hi Katie just to let you know I am inspired by you. Flow suits you:-) Happy Flow day.
You gave me the courage to use my face in my January Journalling because I am turning 53 soon. I like the way you use your face in your art.
I hope you will come and visit my art for January Journalling week one. You can click on my name.
Posted by: Colette | January 05, 2010 at 02:22 AM
Happy New Year to you!....
I love what you are saying, and going with the flow is something I try to do, but rarely succeed...I love your "What if?"journaling, is it alright if I use the "what if?"...question for a journal I would like to do about my hopes for this next big step in my life?...xxx...Julia
Posted by: Julia Dean | January 05, 2010 at 04:07 PM
but of course julia, the "what if" belongs to every heart.
Posted by: katie | January 05, 2010 at 04:43 PM
in answer to your question about the white pen, ramona, it's a uniball signo UM-153. www.jetpens.com sells them and i'm sure you can find other sources if you do a google search.
Posted by: katie | January 05, 2010 at 04:49 PM
Your journal pages are so rich with color, texture, and depth - it must be amazing to see them up close. Such a wonderful word you chose, flow, and lovely thought, too "What if..." Just breathe the experience and let it take you, serenely...
Posted by: lulu | January 05, 2010 at 07:13 PM
I love these pages...beautiful.....and I love the message....I am pondering about it..."what if....I decided to give up striving...." thank you for sharing these...
Posted by: Steph | January 06, 2010 at 03:46 PM
I have seen others write about the one word 'resolution' also... I'm thinking the word change may well be my word in 2010. It is time.
Beautiful journal pages by the way. It's the first time I have visited - but I will be adding you to my blog roll and will return.
Happy 2010.
Posted by: Jacinta | January 07, 2010 at 01:17 PM
Awesome journal pages!!! I love them! :)
Posted by: Apple | January 08, 2010 at 11:18 AM
images and words
like the surface
of a pond reflecting
a soul imposed
on the sky. (lm)
Giving up on seeking, several years ago I decided to work on experiencing "found." It produces the most wonderful shivers.
Posted by: Laura | January 08, 2010 at 03:33 PM
these are beautiful, katie!
Posted by: annie | January 10, 2010 at 09:48 PM
Your art is so beautiful. I’m enthralled with it, very artistic.
Posted by: asthma fabrics | January 14, 2010 at 03:22 AM
Nice pieces of art. I love it. the journal looks fantastic.
Posted by: work from home | January 14, 2010 at 03:24 AM
katie,
i gave you a kreative blogger award on my blog. you can pass it on to 7 others if you would like to. you just copy the award and then choose seven other people and write several unknown facts about yourself. for all that you share, thank you. warmly, s
Posted by: sperlygirl | January 17, 2010 at 05:32 AM
thank you for sharing these lovely pages with us Katie.....love the word that chose you - FLOW.....how perfect. You are such an inspiration!
Love, Violette
Posted by: violette | January 18, 2010 at 04:03 PM
Under the circumstances, it's perfect-not only for me, but for many. As I checked out of the hospital on New YEARS Eve, I knew there wouldn't be an resolution of sorts, but the phrase "I,m going to LIVE, really LIVE, from here on out, just kept resonating. ! week earlier I was more dead than alive, so YES, it's time we all live in whatever manner suits us best. And thanks for keeping in touch during that tough time, it meant a lot to both me and my family! HOPE YOUR NEW YEAR IS GREAT!
Posted by: sue pieper | January 20, 2010 at 06:22 PM
Very awesome pages!! :)
Posted by: Apple | January 27, 2010 at 11:29 AM