Breathe. It's my word for the year. I think it's been calling me for years now. Nine actually. It's sat there humming in the background, drawing me in to learn a little, then letting me adventure elsewhere.
But now it seems breathe is in my every moment.
To me, breathe is about creating space. That's space within me. And space in my days for more of what matters most.
Breathe is a reminder to pause in stillness {to breathe and just be}.
And to be mindful {of my words, thoughts, actions}.
It's about creating space within {and for} myself {so I have more to give}.
It's pausing to give thanks {breathing in grace, breathing out gratitude}.
It's about letting go of fear, and replacing the gaps with love {so much love}.
A breath is just a moment, but {to me} a breath savoured feels like so much more than that.
xx
Breathe is a naturally extension of my last year's word, surrender, and it seems that's the way this word caper pans out for me. One leads into the other effortlessly, with stirrings of it mentioned here and there {in writing and conversation} until it's impossible to ignore or call a coincidence.
So, "breathe" will be my guide. A focus word to set the rhythm for my heart's year; to steer me as I live, learn, grow, thrive.
xx
Do you choose a guiding word each year? Do you set intentions? I'd love to know. Elisa x
~ I have a bundle of free mindfulness prints ready to send out at the end of the month, and a meditation mini-ebook coming out mid year. If this interests you, please do sign up for them here xx
I stewed over my guiding word for 2014. At first I thought it would be intention. But out of nowhere, and then appearing seemingly everywhere, came the word honour.
And then I realised to honour {my heart, my body, my emotions, my creativity, my soul} was my intention.
I want a year that's filled with more slow, more savouring and more leading from my heart. More finding the rhythm of nurture that works best for me, making that my days, and moving with intention from there. Which really is more of this year, minus the moments where I came a little unstuck...
But honour tells me it was in those moments I learnt my greatest lessons, and walked away a stronger version of me.
Honour is where I want to lead from {a sense of honouring what's right at any given time for me}, follow from {honouring my heart's direction} and from where I will connect with all the parts of a happy and whole me {honouring my body, heart and mind with my choices, activities and time}.
My word is most definitely inspired by my reading of the book, The Way of the Happy Woman. Every word of Sara's resonates with me.
But it also stems from a lesson I know well. Honour {and witness} are a big part of the yoga I practise. Perhaps even the part of yoga I am called to the most right now. In my weekly classes, our teacher reminds us to honour our bodies, and honour where we're at and what we can do on this given day - remembering that our limits {needs, flexibility/balance, emotions, desires} change from day to day.
And so as I move through a sequence and after, I honour and witness my body, thoughts and emotions. And with that comes acceptance, sometimes insight, always presence. But first comes honour.
So this honouring - keeping it as my guide in all I set out to do and achieve - it feels most right for me now. And it feels as though I chose it as much as it chose me.
xx
~ Sharing my one word with Maxabella Loves here xx
Have you chosen one word to guide your 2014? x
I'm not sure about new year resolutions this time round... but I am confident on the power of intention.
This year we decided on making choices to create more family time, more fun, more memory making. We made a list of 25 things to do as a family, and we've ticked our way through it, and created more memories along the way.
So with that intention in mind, I decided to make this last day of 2013 the essence of the best of our year. With a healthy dose of gratitude, sunshine, reflection and nurture added in.
Tomorrow we will step into our day slowly. I will be gentle on myself, and honour where I'm at on this day. I will give thanks for new beginnings, lessons learnt and memories waiting to be created. I will savour the day's moments and embrace our time together.
xx
Do you do new year resolutions? And will you set an intention for the first day of the new year?
{I've chosen "one word" to focus on this year - and look forward to linking it up with Maxabella tomorrow x}
I've missed so many moments this week.
Instead of savouring them, I've rushed them and willed hours to pass.
Not mindful {and not very me} at all.
I've felt exhausted and most days looked forward to two moments in particular {when I have finished cooking dinner and when my head first rests on the pillow}.
But yesterday I woke and felt so grateful for a new day.
I looked to the sky all cloudy and grey but still the day felt bright and new.
And wondrous too. Worth celebrating. And so we did.
We {intentionally} filled our day with laughter, loads of play time and dancing. We read books chosen by miss one at the library {one of our favorite places} and went on a coffee date {make that a chai latte plus two babycinos}.
I made both my girls laugh hysterically {more than twice} and got caught up in that moment where you can't help but laugh too.
That night I went to bed hearing these words from my little miss three: "Mummy, I love you so much every day."
And I gave thanks for a day that was wonder-full.
xx
{Just like last week I'm grateful I turned this week around. But mostly I'm grateful for the power of intention and our ability and freedom to choose to create wonder-filled days. And spontaneous I love yous. Elisa x}
~ Linking with Maxabella for Kidspot's 52 Weeks of Grateful.
What are you most grateful for this week?
