Monday On My Mind

When I shared my One Little Word for 2021 with you I didn’t say much about why I chose it. Today I’m going to fill in the blanks on this decision.

My word, Create, came to me back in the fall. I was reflecting on my journey with Open in 2020 and thinking that it had been very meaningful, totally surprising, and pretty abstract. Open served me well, helping me to embrace vulnerability and expand my self awareness. Thinking about moving forward, though, I knew I wanted a word that would feel more tangible. A word that would inspire action. A word that would ground me but still allow me the freedom to express myself.

Create is that word. While I’m sure at times it will be a word that inspires me to knit and sew and write, what I’m mostly interested in focusing on is creating feelings and experiences. I want to use this word as a daily reminder that I am making choices about the life I am living. I want to enforce that even when I can’t control the things that are happening around me I can create my response to those things. Create is the perfect word to build on the things I discovered last year when I was Open. The bottom line is this: I want to create a life that’s authentic and purposeful.

I’m really looking forward to sharing the journey here. I hope it’s full of surprises (good ones, anyway) and insights and lessons that will be good not only for me but for all of you as well.

Related Posts

This Post Has 16 Comments

  1. I like the fact that you want to create responses, not react. I’m struggling w that when someone is displaying unacceptable behavior to me.

  4. Your post today is so like an insight that came to me this past weekend. As a painter I often think in terms of art. I was guided to think of this year as a 2021 life painting, each day representing a thoughtful brush stroke. I cannot think of a more important creation. I so appreciate your life expression Carol.

  5. Creating a response is such an interesting and powerful thought for the year. I’ve always felt the word “creative” is used in a too -imited and dumbed-down way. I am looking forward to following along this year!

  6. Of course my mind went first to making things, but I love that through create you’re seeking to do things with your life. Things are all well and good, and we can get pleasure from making them, but I think we’ve all learned from the past year that what we crave the most and value most are other people and experiences with them. I hope that before too long you’re able to create meaningful experiences with more loved ones!

  7. Given what 2020 handed all of us, I think it’s wonderful that you want to create responses and create your life purposefully.

  9. I love this. This is the concept in my favorite little book that I frequently quote and it has always helped me to step back and think about what I can do and what I don’t have the control to do because at the end of the day we really can only control the way we react and what we do. Am I always successful? Nope, but it’s a journey I have long followed with this little book by my side.

    I look forward to seeing where your word brings you in 2021. ?

  11. I was having a hard time settling on a word when I realized ‘create’ was the verb that worked with so many of the nouns I was considering. I know it was the right choice for me as I feel like I’m already on the right path to some of my goals. It sounds like you are applying ‘create’ in a different direction – Very Exciting!

  12. I think this word will be the perfect follower to open! I like how you are plotting out some hopes for this word! 🙂

  13. Spot on with how we respond to what happens around us that we can’t control. Here’s to a life that is authentic and purposeful.

  14. You have a wonderful way of incorporating your word into your daily life AND of allowing your word to shape your view. I look forward to your journey with Create!

Comments are closed.

Back To Top