One Word 2012

I'm joining Alece and many, many others again this year in choosing a word that will give shape and form to the 365 days ahead.

Two years ago, my word was Story.  It was an informally chosen word, but by the end of the year I knew it was a word that would shape all of the years to come with the desire to tell a truly great story with my life, even if it was a story that only seemed truly great to me, a story that is never noticed by the rest of the world.

In 2011 I had chosen a word, and was pondering it on December 31, 2010, as I walked to the passport office to renew my passport.  As I walked, a different word than I had chosen appeared, and made itself at home in my heart, settling in, and choosing itself for me.  That word was Heal.  It didn't look the way I thought it might, that day it made itself at home within me, but it was ultimately a challenging, moving, and deeply true journey.  It was a year for healing.

As December 2011 came, I began pondering what word I would choose to shape 2012, trying different words on for size, inviting them into my heart, and seeing if they would make themselves at home there. I tried words like "grow," "learn," "nurse," "study," "maintain," and "pursue" on for size.  All of them spoke to parts of me, but none settled in for a long stay.

And so I waited for a word to arrive, to make itself at home within me.  I wondered if this would be the year that was wordless, and I constantly reminded myself that 2011's word arrived at the last moment to take up residence.  I thought and pondered, played word games inside my head, and waited.  I needed a word that fit with that life-shaping word of story.  I needed a word that continued the work of "heal" within me - a word that moved story and heal forward into new places and chapters.

Early last week a word appeared, and as I checked the definitions for clarity, it began the process of unpacking and settling itself in for a long stay.

My word for 2012?

                                            Source: weheartit.com via Lisa on Pinterest

Still.

I chose it for these definitions:

1. remaining in place or at rest; motionless; stationary: to stand still.
2. free from sound or noise, as a place or persons; silent: to keep still about a matter.
3. subdued or low in sound; hushed: a still, small voice.
4. free from turbulence or commotion; peaceful; tranquil;calm: the still air.
5. in the future as in the past: Objections will still be made.
6. even; in addition; yet (used to emphasize a comparative):still more complaints; still greater riches.
7. even then; yet; nevertheless: to be rich and still crave more.
8. to silence or hush (sounds, voices, etc.).
9. to calm, appease, or allay: to still a craving.
10. to quiet, subdue, or cause to subside (waves, winds,commotion, tumult, passion, pain, etc.).

Ten definitions. 

Still is a word that speaks to my soul.  It's a word that speaks to me of the life I've found in the times when I can embrace quiet and creativity.  It's a word that calls me to find time for balance, to embrace those moments, to truly stop and rest, and care for myself.  It's a word that speaks to me of my growing awareness of myself, and my needs, and how to best meet or have those needs met.

It's also a word that speaks to me of action, and continuation.  Of still telling a great story with my life.  Of still healing and carrying healing within me.  Of carrying forward the things that have meant so much to me over the last years.

My word for 2012 is Still, and I'm curious and excited to see what it holds as it builds itself a home in my heart.

(p.s.  I'll be back later today, or sometime tomorrow with some thoughts and dreams that go with this word for the next year.  I'm looking forward to sharing those here, and then beginning the journey of living them.)