Welcome to the OLW Blog Hop hosted by the lovely Margie, which is based on the BPS class led by the amazing Ali Edwards. If you are here from the hop then you have arrived from Cheri’s blog, Scrap Dreams. If not, I am so glad you are here!
My One Little Word for 2012 is Invite. I have written about my word here and here. The month of February has been another instrumental month with respect to my word. I continue to be amazed how life changing focusing on One Little Word can be. What I thought my focus would be at the beginning of February was certainly not how my month ended up.
Our project this month was to create a mosaic based on our word. And we had the option of an 8.5×11 photo of something which speaks to us or was special in our interpretation of our word.
The photos left to right, top to bottom:
1.knitting 2.supplements 3.Bailiewick 4.beans/pantry 5.grasses 6.bath 7.scrapbooking 8.chicken soup 9.runners
These were not the photos I started out with at the beginning of the month.
I have continued to work on eating well, being aware of inviting good emotions and calmness, being present, taking photos and managing the challenges that came this month (i.e. my laptop crashed and was out of commission for a week or so, my menopause symptoms continue to cause me severe debilitation) when suddenly I had this huge epiphany about my word.
My life has long been dominated with the language of ‘I have to’, ‘I need to’, ‘I should’, and so on.
This was particularly so after I got sick such a long time ago. My chronic illness and my guilt associated with it has always left me feeling less than, feeling left behind, feeling unaccomplished, feeling I need to do more in order to make up for what I felt I lacked, feeling huge levels of inadequacy, feeling the need to be more.
These words and phrases are so pressured filled, bound to disappoint and on so many levels belittling.
At the same time, I felt that if I did this, or took care of that, my illnesses (Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, Lead Poisoning) would go away. And of course that hasn’t happened. I have had periods of improvement but all in all not much has changed. I have done all kinds of alternative therapies, different food programs, herbal remedies, all with no huge, lasting change. And, I always put things off, waiting for the cure.
The funny thing about being engaged with One Little Word is that it is with me all the time. I think about it without thinking about it. I wear it like an invisible cloak. I think about what I want to invite.
And then, one day this month, I started to think about what invite could also mean. Other than just asking to bring qualities or aspects into my life. How I could invite.
A choice. An option. Not ‘have to’, ‘need to’, ‘should’, but that I can decide to RSVP yes or no. And while I realize this is a simple concept it just felt huge. One of those AHA moments.
I can invite myself to be in a place where I do what I can, when I can and be okay with what is. It’s not a choice of giving up or giving in or feeling like I have quit fighting for health, but rather it is an invitation to acceptance. And being okay with that. And not worrying about what others think. And not feeling that in not doing the needs, shoulds and musts I am somehow less.
It has been liberating.
So the photos.
I invite healthy eating and taking my prescribed supplements because they help me to function the best I can, not because they will cure me. I invite mustard baths with candles because they relax my muscles, help the pain and because it feels good. I invite photography because I see so much around me and I have something to say. I invite knitting and scrapbooking because they allow me to create and feel empowered. I invite the runners because I will move when I can. I invite my dogs because they love me with so much passion and get me outside which makes me feel alive.
And finally, I invite the open road below because I still have places to go, things to do and life to experience. And where I am on the road right now is enough. I am enough. Right now.
I love the concept of One Little Word.
Ali’s class gives structure and focus to the word I have chosen in her ever humble, graceful and accepting manner, while Margie’s blog hop is helping me to consolidate my thoughts and experiences each month. To both of you I send a HUGE thank you!
I am really excited about March. I am so stoked about the revelation I had this month. I feel it inside me … deeply. Enjoy your March! And enjoy the blog hop!
OLW March Blog Hop List:
Margie
Melissa S
Sharyn
Kimberlee
Jill
Cheri
Cindy {that’s me!}
Jenn
Monica
Catherine
Naomi
Jamie
Coley
Melissa C
Donna
Monica B
Veronica
Heidi D
Lisa
Nikki
Devon
Amanda
Brooklyn
Kristina
Jen R
Kara
Eydie
Ruth
Missus W
Marilee
Cindy
Kaylea
Dawn G
Rebekah
Becky
Orange Gearle
Katrina
Jo
Nicky
Beth
Kelly
Tere
{ 26 comments }
I love your perspective on this word…..
“A choice. An option. Not ‘have to’, ‘need to’, ‘should’, but that I can decide to RSVP yes or no. And while I realize this is a simple concept it just felt huge. One of those AHA moments…..I can invite myself to be in a place where I do what I can, when I can and be okay with what is. It’s not a choice of giving up or giving in or feeling like I have quit fighting…..but rather it is an invitation to acceptance. And being okay with that. And not worrying about what others think. And not feeling that in not doing the needs, shoulds and musts I am somehow less.”
This really made me think.
Thank you.
what a beautiful post, cynthia. i, too, struggle with chronic illness and your epiphany brought a smile to my face and hope to my heart. i often feel those same inadequacies and i also know that a subtle shift in attitude can bring huge peace in my life. i think your photos were a perfect match to these thoughts. sorry it took me so long to comment, i’ve been out of town since the hop went live. see you next month. xoxo
Just visiting via the blog hop and I really love your post. It seems to me that you have also invited peace into your life and your situation. Really feel your images and words have summed it up well. All the best to you.
i love how you took the word invite and flipped it. that is definitely something i need to do to shift my perspective!
amazing post – looking forward to following what choices you invite this year!
Positive thinking is truly powerful. So inspired to hear of your journey to INVITE …
your writing is beautiful.
i resonated with so much that you said.
the ‘i have to’s’ of life can drain me as well.
learning to turn those into joys in order to enjoy the simple moments.
i don’t remember you having participated with the blog hop before.
but i am glad to have visited and learn from you.
~j
WOW….I am so moved by your post and think I’ll need to read it a time or two again to let it all sink in. In awe.
There is so much power in just . . . One.Little.Word. Beautiful post, Cynthia. Insightful and inspirational, too. Your “RSVP” concept actually sent a little shiver down my spine. I’ll be thinking about that all weekend long! Hugs to you.
Wonderful post. You soul searching is very inspiring. Inviting acceptance is a grand thing to do. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
An invitation to acceptance. I love that! You are accepting your efforts and thoughts just as they are, which I don’t do much but totally want to! Thank you for being an inspiration.
Cindy, your words touched me more than you can possibly know. Thank you for sharing these insights. You are enough. Right now.
hugs,
~Marilee
you’ve had what I call a BFO – a blinding flash of the obvious – when ‘it’ suddenly clicks – its amazing isn’t it. The power of OLW. Brilliant blog post – so full of enthusiasm to see where the word can take you – enjoy your journey – and I look forward to catching you again in another month xxx
wow beautiful! congrats on your realizations. So inspiring to see OLW working in such great ways!
Beautiful post. Congratulations on your epiphany. Sometimes you have to stop looking in order to “see.”
I love how your OLW is helping you. Doing what you can is a wonderful thing to invite and I look forward to hearing about your progress! Keep moving forward one day at a time, one step at a time. Keeping a positive attitude will keep you motivated. TFS with us.
Oh my. I love your post. Thank you for sharing your journey with your word Invite. Beautiful. I’m looking forward to seeing where the road takes you.
I stumbled across your blog today for the first time and was really taken by the words in this post. I too have CFS and have what you wrote really resonated with me – I too filled my life the pressures of the ‘needs’ and ‘shoulds’ with the perpetual feeling of trying to catch up, and the continual hunt for ‘the cure’. I am only now coming to understand that what I am is okay, and the pressures that are placed upon me are put there by me alone. So I thank you for your heartfelt post, and for putting into words something that I’ve been trying to explain to myself for a very long time
Beautiful post! I’m glad you are finding the path to accepting where you are and doing what you can without waiting for “the cure.” I’m on that journey right beside you and discovering some of the same things along the way.
Absolutely moving! Thank you for sharing.
WOW! Powerful stuff! Thank you for sharing this journey with us, it’s inspirational!
wow cynthia, this is just beautiful – “I think about it without thinking about it. I wear it like an invisible cloak.” – that gave me goosebumps. i think that’s just exactly what an intention is – a silent prayer of the heart rather than a spoken mantra. i am so glad your word is bringing you peace. i look forward to seeing where your journey takes you. love, kelly
Lovely post and such a great realization – you can indeed invite whatever you want and yet accept where you are now. Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to your next hop post and seeing where March took you.
A very beautiful and moving post Cynthia. As someone who battles her own health issues, your post touched me deeply. I look forward to seeing where the road leds you, the invites you have yet to encounter, and all the blessing I know are headed your way! Thank you.
What a lovely post and such hearfelt words filled with honesty. Thank you for sharing your journey.
Also luv your blog header…
Catherine
Big congrats on your “aha” moment.
Isn’t it great when those come along and surprise us. You are stronger than you know and you will find your way. 
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