2017 One Little Word

Hello! Today marks our first Spiritual Journey Thursday of 2017, hosted by Carol at Beyond Literacy Link. Thank you, Carol! We'll all be posting about our One Little Word. Want to sign up to host? We still have one slot left!

This year marks my 10th year of practicing One Little Word. (!) It's been such an enriching experience that I really can't imagine NOT choosing one little word to guide and inspire my year.

Here are the words I've selected in the past:
<!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } </style> <br />--> <div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://irenelatham.blogspot.com/2008/... joy</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://irenelatham.blogspot.com/2009/... listen</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://irenelatham.blogspot.com/2010/... celebrate</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://irenelatham.blogspot.com/2011/... deeper</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://irenelatham.blogspot.com/2012/... fierce</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://irenelatham.blogspot.com/2013/... sky</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://irenelatham.blogspot.com/2014/... mystery</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://irenelatham.blogspot.com/2015/... wild</a></div><a href="http://irenelatham.blogspot.com/2016/... delight </a><br /><br />For 2017, the word I've selected is ABUNDANCE.<br /><br /><style type="text/css"> <!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } </style> <br />--> <div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"<i>Abundance</i> is not a state of finances or wealth, it is a state of inner health. Wherever there is joy, appreciation, gratitude, giving, caring, creativity, vision, inspiration, love, patience and playfulness, there is abundance."</span> <i>- unknown</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">The word makes me think of the sky or the ocean, how there is enough for everyone. It makes me think of love and forgiveness -- also enough for everyone. It pulls me away from thoughts of comparison or feelings of lack -- I am enough. I am exactly where I am meant to be.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KSLCzxBk-8..." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KSLCzxBk-8..." width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">This year I want to love from a place of abundance, and write from a place of abundance. There are more than enough words and ideas for everyone! I want to focus on ways I can create abundance. Instead of asking, <i>what can I get out this experience</i>? (which has many times been the way I've decided whether to do this thing or that thing), I want to focus on <i><b><span style="font-size: large;">what can I give?</span></b></i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222;">Consider this quote from Lao Tzu:</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="background-color: white;"></span><br /><div style="font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">"The sage never tries to store things up. The more he does for others, the more he has. The more he gives to others, the greater his abundance."</span></div><span style="background-color: white;"><div style="font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I think I've done a lot of "storing up" in my life. Choosing this word makes me want to let go of things -- things in my basement and closet, mementos, even photographs. Somehow I think abundance is related to simplicity. In the way that a flower only takes the water it needs. And the ant carries only the amount of food it can eat. Having more, storing up is a byproduct of fear -- fear of future loss.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And so it seems abundance is also a way to live in the present, to be fully present in one's own life. And the time to give is always, always NOW.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qLjx6cHF5h..." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qLjx6cHF5h..." width="285" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/people/LifeAndSt... Life & Style on Etsy!</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thank you for reading... I'm excited to see where this word takes me! Please share your thoughts below!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>