One Word for 2013: Renewal

 

While thinking about how to write a New Year post and to celebrate one year of blogging, I came across the One-Word Challenge.

 

The challenge is to choose just one word to describe what you want this year to be. So here is my word for 2013:

Image by Melanie at Only a Breath

After five difficult years that began with my brother’s death and culminated in the loss of my mother in August, I feel the need to renew my life, my spirit, my peace of mind, my health, you name it. I’ve been looking forward to this year to do that, but until now I hadn’t wrapped it up in a single word. I think this one is perfect.

 

At the most stressful times during caregiving for my mother, I found strength in knowing that it couldn’t last forever, that someday I would be able to breathe easily again, to be free from worry about her; at the time I felt a little guilty and selfish about those feelings. But I knew I would need to find renewal and new purpose once my life was no longer entwined with hers. In the days after she passed, I had a sense of calm and peace in knowing that she was safe now and that I had done well by her. Now that the months since have given me some solace and perspective, my hope for this year is to extend that sense of peace and to return to finding the core of loves, interests, and maybe even talents that define me to myself.

 

I’ll write more about this tomorrow. In the meantime, I invite you to visit the link given above and consider choosing one word to define the year 2013 for yourself! When you find one, visit  Melanie, and she will generously make you a beautiful button like mine with your very own word on it!

 

And please feel free to share your words here.

A happy and successful New Year to you all!