One of my new year's resolutions is to write more. For a few hours on New Year's Eve, I tried to respond to all 31 writing prompts from #reverb10 but only managed to finish a dozen before it was time to prepare our midnight meal and countdown to 2011. I accepted defeat and made a silent promise to take part in #reverb11... and to blog once again.
I think I spent too much time on the first prompt which read: Encapsulate the year 2010 in one word. Explain why you’re choosing that word. Now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2011 for you? (Author: Gwen Bell)
This was my answer:
My favorite line at Mass is “I may not be worthy to receive You, but only say The Word and I shall be healed.” I also wanted a word like Elizabeth Gilbert’s Attraversiamo so I started my one-word-per-year three years ago—and so I love that this is the first prompt. 2008 was Hawak, to hold; as in to hold my hand, a request I would often ask my dad as a toddler about to cross the street; it speaks of trust and faith in my God who will take care of me. 2009 was Bulaga, or Surprise; and there were plenty of pleasant surprises in 2009 (how I wish I had participated in #reverb09!). 2010’s word was Halika, an invitation to come over, to connect, to reconnect, to get closer to those who matter—and the year was blessed with lots of perfect moments with family, close friends and strangers-turned-friends. I am still choosing my word for 2011.
I was choosing between Yes and Thanks, but neither had the same oomph as my other words. Then it came to me so clearly: since I was looking for a 365-day project, why not blog about one encapsulating word each day for an entire year?
Nikki, I am so excited about this blog! Congrats! What a great idea to write about/reflect on a word a day. I love Gilbert's Attraversiamo too - the sound of it, the meaning. I think your "Halika" word for last year is great! I love how it connotes this sense of openness to invitation, to experience, to opportunity. About your "YES" word - funny, I have been thinking about that too. A new acquaintance I met told me something like "Just say YES. Life is good when you say YES." I loved that.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much. It has been a little over two weeks and I'm happy I've been able to keep it up. But I think I need all the encouragement I can get! :-)
ReplyDeleteLate last year, I saw an ad in KL: "Amazing things happen when you say yes." Have you chosen YES as your 2011 word? ;-)