Monday, January 7, 2013

2013 word of the year....

I have been seeing the "Word of the Year" all over blog land and Facebook since mid-December and it wasn't until last week that I started giving it some considerable thought.

In the past, I have tried to make goals for myself for a single year and failed remarkably. I don't know if I get overambitious with everything that I imagine I can do or if I just do not remain focused enough to spread my time out amongst all of the different areas that I know needed my attention over the year.

In the past few months, I feel like I have had an epiphany. I have realized that I should not think about my creativity in terms of goals with long term deadlines. I do much better with deadlines that are looming and in my face. Things that are screaming, "Work on me NOW!"

Of course, I also enjoy being able to work on things that don't have deadlines and that are more fun to work on because I can take my time on the process and thoroughly enjoy each aspect of it.

During the last weekend of 2012, I felt like doing so much! I wanted to work on the Easy Street mystery, knit on my sock, knit on a scarf, quilt what was on the frame... You name it and it probably crossed my mind as something that I should do. Regina calls it Quilter's Deficit Disorder or QDD. Whatever it was, I just let myself go and eagerly jumped between everything that was on my mind and I feel like I got so much accomplished.
I think it was New Year's Eve that the word of the year concept came back to me and I just kept thinking one word and I figured that it just had to be my Word of the Year...
Do quilting!

Do piecing!

Do knitting!

Do crochet!

Do UFOs!

Do FUN!

Just DO something! And enjoy it. My hobbies are supposed to be enjoyable and relaxing and rewarding for me. I don't want to stress myself out about what I should be doing when I am just being. I don't want to feel guilty if I want to work on one thing and I should be working on something else. I don't want to feel guilty if I need a night or two off from quilting or piecing.

I just want to savor the time that I can spend being creative.

I did it this past weekend and it was wonderful!

I think it is going to work for me.

Do you have a word for the year?

10 comments:

MaryAnn said...

My word is accomplish! I might have to piece the word and hang it so that I can visit it often. You seem to get so much stuff done, that I think the word "do" will work for you.

Teri said...

"FINISH" - not just quilting and household projects either. I have so many loose ends. With 79+ UFOs, I think I might have some finishing issues. I plan to cut it out of vinyl and post it in my studio. I think "Do" is an excellent word.

InfinityQuilter/Knitter said...

Just DO it! I initially chose minimize as my word, but instead I chose "intensity".

Jean(ie) said...

Mine is MORE... that includes more chocolate...LOL!

thea said...

Mine is intentional, but it was a rather impulsive word so we'll have to see! Love yours!

Regina said...

Love your new "Do..." - mine is 'stretch'

Kara {me and elna} said...

I like it!!! :D

Michele said...

Mine is PROGRESS.

Kristie said...

that is great. I think my word is...relax. Lol
Kristie

Jennifer said...

Great word for you and I bet the pups like it too ;) My goal/word for the year is Balance...guess I could do a blog post to explain that...