I started reading Christine Kane’s blog about a year ago. Earlier this decade I took a songwriting workshop from her that was wonderful and since that time, she’s developed wildly successful coaching programs and retreats, in addition to keeping an excellent blog about creating the life you want to live.

One of the most enjoyable parts of the blog lately has been reading the guest posts of people who, instead of making long lists of New Year’s Resolutions, chose a single word to hold with them through the year. One word to remind them of their intentions, to create new possibilities, and remind them of who they want to become. I absolutely love this idea, and so I’ve chosen a word for myself for 2010.

Have you ever taken one of those questionnaires online that asks you things like, “If you were stranded on a desert island, which three records would you take with you?” One of the questions is inevitably, “If you could choose one word to describe yourself, what would it be?” Several years ago, I was convinced I had my word: Hungry.

I was hungry for experience, for knowledge, for sounds, textures, words… and of course, food. I felt like that one word covered it all. (If you are familiar with the Enneagram, I am a classic 7.) Now I know that the word ‘hungry’ conveys not just a lust for life, but lack. Hunger comes from a place of not having enough, of never being satisfied. This year I am releasing that hunger.

My word for 2010 is…

Nourish.

I love this word because in many ways it is the opposite of ‘hungry’. It’s also a verb, which implies and creates action.

Instead of hungering, I choose to use my present experiences to really give back to myself, to heal my body and grow my spirit.

Instead of looking for new experiences, I choose to be fully present and aware of how my current experience is feeding me.

This word applies to many aspects of my life, from my interactions with food and my body to the things I want to surround myself with to my relationships with friends and family.

In 2010, I choose to nourish my body.

I want to be more aware of the nutrients I’m putting into my body, of how to create healthy and satisfying meals. I want to take more time to myself to go on walks, to do yoga, and to explore what my muscles are capable of.

In 2010, I choose to nourish my mind.

I want to spend more time reading things that interest me, and less time being overloaded with information online. I want to create a home office that inspires me and allows me to write comfortably at home. I want to take classes in subjects I haven’t been brave enough to study before.

In 2010, I choose to nourish my relationships.

I want to spend more quality time talking to my family, and less time defending myself. I want to have more real, one-on-one interactions with my friends rather than only seeing them at parties. I want to continue to learn what it is to be a partner to someone in every sense of the word.

In 2010, I choose to nourish my spirit.

I have spent a lot of time trying to find out what I love. Now that I have a better idea, I want to explore those things in-depth and go out of my way to be in touch with the divine in everyday life. I want to create more moments of real joy rather than instant gratification. I want to become aware of the times I need to take care of myself so that I can be more available to others.

A well-nourished person looks, feels, and acts much differently from a hungry person. By asking myself every day whether my choices and actions are nourishing me, I hope to reach the point where I can not only nourish myself, but extend that gift to everyone around me.

Do you think have discovered your word for 2010? What is it?

Alisha

Love this post. I’ll have to run a few things around in my head and find my word for 2010. 🙂
- jules
  
  Thanks Alisha! I think the best thing is just to let it come to you. The word popped into my head about a week ago and wouldn’t let me go. Let it choose you. 🙂
Will

Beautiful post, Juliana. I’m getting to the same place (partly by necessity – I have two little ones to nourish!). I think it has to do with getting older…or, to put it a better way, growing up.
- jules
  
  Hey Will! Sorry for the late reply, this one slipped past my radar at first. 🙂
  
  Growing up is great. I’ve finally made peace with it instead of thinking about it as “becoming stagnant”… and just focusing on the “Growing” part.
Sara Crawford

Wow, what a great post! (Thanks Alisha for posting a link on Facebook.)

I really like this idea of having one word for the year, though. I think my word would have to be acceptance, for a variety of reasons.
- jules
  
  Thanks Sara,
  
  Acceptance is a great guiding word. Congratulations on all the great music stuff you’ve got happening lately, too!
Rhett

Picking a word for the year is certainly an interesting exercise. I’m really struggling to find a single word, largely because me and Amy and a number of friends have declared this “year of the Rock Star,” a year when we all have agreed to do whatever it takes to achieve great things.

For me, that’s the 545 mile bike ride in June, the AIDS/Lifecycle. For Amy, that’s writing a book. For others, it’s their first web shows. But, of course “Rock Star” is two years.

I understand the whole transitioning out of “hungry” thing, as it’s something that I’ve recently experienced firsthand. I think that most people who have known me would call me “hungry.” I’ve generally been the one who insists on things that should be out of my grasp, and I’ve been ready for quixotic struggles to achieve them. After years in my field of demanding that I be heard when I speak, I’ve battled my way to a point where I’m respected and my opinion is requested all the time. Suddenly, I have the things that have defined me and it’s left me scrambling for a new “person” to “perform.”

After a decade of “I Want It All” being my anthem, I find myself needing a new one.
- jules
  
  f you really felt like you had to break it down into a word for the year, maybe think about what “Rock Star” means to you? Achievement? Shine? Push?
  
  Personally, I think “Rock Star” can definitely count as your word, even if it spans two years!
  
  Great comment, as usual. Thanks for your thoughts.
Timmy Riordan

Nourish has such a lush sound too it. It’s great. The word that popped into my head immediately for this year for myself is create. Create because I’m busy in the planning stages of an album. Create because I’m writing 32 songs over 32 days around February (and encouraging 32 other songwriters to write a song each. Create because I’m busy hand-drawing covers for albums. Create because I’m actively in the process of creating so many of things I’ve been working towards for years. That said, they’ll need to be some nourishing as well. No creation without the proper nourishment.
- jules
  
  Timmy, the 32 days project sounds incredible! Congratulations for taking on such a cool challenge. It seems like you’re off to a really productive and wonderful start to your “Create” year!
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write. play. repeat.

Nourish.

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