2011: The year for Witness

We will open the book. Its pages are blank.
We are going to put words on them ourselves.
The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.
~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

 

In 2009, Grace led me up Life’s highest peaks and guided me through its narrows. Then in 2010, I chose Joy as my traveling companion. [On a related note, I changed my blog name from Front Pages to A Joyful Noise.]  And now that we’ve turned the page on yet another year, I’ve got a new one-word mantra. Behold, that word is Witness.


Witness:  perceive, watch, mark, notice, observe, testify. See also: proof, confirmation, evidence.
 
Here’s what Witness looks like, at least for me: 


  1. Approach life with a sense of wide-eyed wonderment (my natural tendency).
  2. Actively observe the world and its inhabitants (as is my  wont).
  3. Find creative ways to record my observations. (Note to self: Keep writing implements, DSLR camera, and art supplies closeby.)
  4. Look for new opportunities to be of service.
  5. Deepen my meditation practice, including the art of mindfulness & being an inner witness.
  6. Produce tangible evidence of my writerly aspirations. My publishing dreams were first realized when my essay, "Luz," got accepted for inclusion in DEAR BULLY (Harper Collins, summer/fall 2011). And over the course of this past year, I’ve approached CAN I GET A WITNESS with increasing confidence. I realize that I don’t have any control over the reception it might receive in the publishing industry, nor in the larger world beyond that. But I’ve been nudged forward by my Nancy Drew adventures, and I’ve strengthened my storytelling abilities along the way. Also: visual person that I am, I’m inspired on a daily basis by this mock book cover (thanks again, Emjae). I can’t predict what any of this might mean — beyond the personal satisfaction that comes of finding my voice, of putting my story into words– but I believe with all my might that this will be the year for WITNESS.

Congregation of canaries (photo) via Getty Images


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38 Comments

  2. That is Definitely YOUR WORD!

    What a great and wonder-filled word for you!

    I like how you put in the dictionary definitions along with YOUR definition / Action Plan!

    Have a wonderful and enlightening year, dear friend =)

    • Re: That is Definitely YOUR WORD!

      “wonder-filled”

      Oooh, I like the sounds of that! Thanks for sharing my enthusiasm…What one-word mantra is calling out to you (if any)?

      • My word is Glide

        I made up a poem today using the word that called into to me for my word for this year – Glide

        I will not succumb to the humdrum
        I will look for and find poetry
        While enjoying life’s laughter & levity
        And always decide to glide.

    • “Nourish” is such an amazing words, on so many levels. I don’t know if you saw my entry (2010)about visiting the restaurant that belonged to Stephen Spielberg’s mom. When she said, “You nourish me,” I had to choke back tears. It’s one of the most loving, accepting things you could ever say to someone else. Or about yourself, for that matter.

  9. perfect word for you. I know this will be your year therefore I will call it the year of “Witness”.
    I really haven’t found the word for me but I would guess it just might be “Hamburger”. LOL. not really but I guess I would have to choose retirement as I hope to retire next year. Wishing you and your family the best in this new year.

    • PapaDan, I truly love all the pictures you post. You’re a wonderful witness (and ambassador) for your area. Still, “retirement” is good. And while hamburgers aren’t my cuppa tea, I’m sure they’re a food staple for you Texans. 🙂

      Wishing you a wonderful 2011!

    • Happy New Year, Patty! I’m glad to see you online again (I’ve missed you), and I look forward to sharing good news with you in 2011–whatever that might mean for each of us…

    • Thank you, Anabel! Such a wonderful wish–I really appreciate your good vibes. And of course, I’m also wishing you much success and joy in the year ahead.

      • Yes, I read Simple Abundance years ago and you’re right, it’s a good time to reread it. It was from that book that I got the original idea to keep a gratitude journal and I tell you, it helped me keep it together during the really rough spots of my time in New Orleans.

        I also just finished the book 365 Thank Yous, which goes along with the same idea and I liked it a lot.

    • I’m not the first, by any means, but I’ve found the one-word mantra helps me focus — it’s a positive, gentle way of guiding me toward my intentions.

      Happy New Year!

  17. Witness is the purrfect word for you, Melodye!! I know that 2011 will see Witness getting that YES from a publisher.

    My word for 2011 is FORWARD!! It’s to remind myself that it doesn’t matter if I write 1,000 words a day or just 20, as long as I’m moving forward in my journey to becoming published.

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