My intentions last December were:

to nourish my body.

I have developed a more loving relationship with my body and started paying better attention to what it needs.  I was already eating pretty healthy food, but I’ve taken it to a different level with eating more intuitively and eating more frequent, smaller meals.  I no longer feel hungry all the time or develop strong cravings very often.  A couple of weeks ago, I did have some strong cravings – for salad!  I didn’t used to enjoy salads at all and now they are a treat.  That’s a huge step for me.

I get much more sleep than I used to, and more regular sleep.  It’s easier for me to get up before dawn that it was before.   I take walks at lunchtime by myself and enjoy the solitude and the feel of my legs moving me along.  I enjoy accomplishing physical tasks.

to nourish my mind.

I created a beautiful home office in which I feel safe, comfortable, and inspired.  All of the tools I need are there  – my instruments, notebooks, computer, and art supplies.  I have art and gifts from friends on display and lots of natural light.  I have read more books in 2010 than I did the year before, and spend less time with Google Reader (as much as I enjoy it!).  I’ve taken two “technology detox” weeks which I realize now are absolutely necessary to my mental and creative well-being.  I have taken some interesting seminars and classes and delved deeper into subjects that interest me.  I canceled my television service.  I’ve made a conscious effort to ingest more information of quality rather than quantity. 

to nourish my relationships.

This year definitely brought more rewarding experiences with my family than any before.  I relate to them on a totally different level now and have enjoyed a lot of quality time with my immediate and extended families.  I became an aunt! I went to fewer big parties, but spent more time in small groups or one-on-one outings with friends, which allowed for deeper conversation and less reliance on alcohol to create “fun”. I felt I got to know my friends better.   I deepened my own capacity for love on many levels.   I’m learning what it is to grow in a deeply committed relationship and that has changed me for the better.

to nourish my spirit.

I took up the practice of morning pages again this year and it has been such a gift.  On days when I miss it, I definitely feel less centered and in tune with myself. I have also started meditating, though I’m not very “good at it” yet (I tend to nod off, even when I’m sitting instead of lying down!)  My daily walks are also a time for contemplation and “me-time”, and they’ve been great for my spirit as well as my body.  I’ve made some peace with the religion of my upbringing and gotten clearer about my own spiritual path.  I feel more spiritually healthy than I have in the past.

Overall, 2010 was a year of tremendous growth for me and I definitely feel that I chose the “right” word to hold close these past months.   Did you have a word this year?   If so, how has it served you?

Now is the time to start thinking about your word for next year!  I’m still contemplating mine, and just like last year, I’m sure mine will choose me rather than me choosing it.

[update: I just joined up with Reverb10 and am happy to see that this topic was the first day's prompt! I don't feel quite so behind now...]

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?