For me, heart came after a culmination of past words, such as nurture, simplify, and breathe. Self-care and making time for it is a big issue for me, as is being present for my children and making sure I give them the love they need and deserve. Often I find myself wrapped up in household management, work or volunteer projects and then don't have enough patience left over for them or myself, and that motherly kindness (and self-kindness) just goes right out the window. I also have issues with frustration and anger, and at times go through periods of darkness and hopelessness. It often happens around my very busy times (mid-semester, for example!), and the only way to dig myself out of it is to just keep moving forward through my to-do lists, daily, not giving up until the deadlines have passed. It's not like I can just quit my job or my life.
The HEART-related sayings are not part of Ali's class, though they were at one time. I continue to make pages like this, and I always hang the page up in my kitchen so I can see it every time I am preparing snacks or meals, cleaning up, etc. It's a daily reminder of my OLW.
In order to have some daily reminders, I made a kind of logo of my word and used it as my background photo for my Facebook page. This is important because I use FB a lot. I also had a couple postcard versions printed up so I could keep them up around the house.
One more thing, I asked Erinn at Off on a Whim to create a key chain with the theme colors using power stones and a metal pendant with “Heart 2017” stamped on it. You can see it in the photo below. I wasn’t sure what to do with this keychain, but I ended up hanging it by my calendar in the kitchen. I intend to have her make more, one for each year of OLW, and then maybe keep them together on one chain somewhere.
February
One task in February was to choose three action steps and try make them in to habits. I did okay, but later in the year, I found an app called Habitat, and this has helped me keep better track of my goals rather than doing them on paper. We also had to fill out this form about how we feel regarding our word so far.
March
For the past few years, an early assignment takes on a collage format, using old magazines. It’s hard to stop at just one collage, and this time, I made several to cover the various aspects of HEART. I liked how they turned out. I didn’t have a lot of space to display these 8.5x11” collages at home, so I scanned them and put the collages themselves into 2 digital collages. I used these collages as my background image for my iPhone. I also printed color copies and hung them by my desk at work. Daily reminders really do help.
Action Steps and Reflection
At the beginning of each month, we are supposed to write down some action steps or goals for the month, and then reflect on the month at the end. I’ve never been good at doing this before but I made a special effort to do so this year, at least for the first 9 months. I did find that it helped. Even just expressing a few goals for each month helped to keep me on track.
April's assignment had something to do with taping up Post-it notes around the house to remind me of my word. I still find these post-it notes around the house. I did not make a layout to go with this month.
May
Making photo collages out of the photos in my collection that have arrived there somehow, either from my camera, phone, my husband's phone, etc. are a great way to see how my OLW is playing a part in my life, however big or small.
June
In June, we had to fill out another form about how the OLW was going so far. By mid-semester, I start to find less time for my own personal life as I am bogged down at work. Frustration starts to fester.
July
July was a really dark month for me. I was feeling so down that I just wanted to sleep whenever I had the chance...which, unfortunately was not often enough. It’s a busy time of the semester with three family birthdays, planning for the trip to the USA, final projects in classes, grades, etc. It sometimes leaves me so bitter and irritated. I dreaded doing this “creative” type of layout as my tank was empty, but when I finally sat down to do it, I felt it was good therapy for me. Making good choices on a daily basis, even if I don’t always get it right, and focusing on the good things in my life were two ways I could start to see my way out of the darkness.
August
August is a halfway point for OLW, so it’s a good opportunity to reflect on what you’re struggle with, what you can celebrate, and how you feel right now in your journey. Anyone who has made it this far with their word will feel very proud to have made at least a little progress. In the thick of it and while visiting the USA, my homeland, I was coming to realize that patience was a big part of having HEART. Also, love and friendships were what would carry me through to the end, even when my parents can no longer be there for me. And finally, that self-care is ever-important.
September
This was a good chance to reflect back on the summer break and consider some discoveries I had made. I shouldn’t feel guilty about needing time to rest my brain or my body. Taking a much-needed nap on the weekend, or getting in some no-brainer TV time at night - these rewards were well-deserved. I also noticed how much I enjoy cooking for my family, as that is one way to show my love for them. It’s not always about cooking healthy for myself or providing the easiest meal I can muster, but about making things we like and enjoying the time together.
There is often one assignment related to music and lyrics, which I really like. Usually, throughout the first six months of the year, I compile an album of songs that stand out to me. They don't have to use my OLW or be about my OLW, but they just have to be songs that speak to me for some reason. When I do the assignment, I take a look at the lyrics and try to figure out why I like the song so much. Usually there is something related to my word in there.
November
A letter to myself. It turned out to be long. There were a lot of things I wanted to remind myself of, especially since I didn't feel like that HEART was that great of a word for me. Maybe in the end, it was a perfect word to help me get through what I needed to get through this year.
December
It's always good to go over the reality of the year (what did happen and what did not happen) and how you feel about it. In the end, I felt okay with my OLW, made my peace with it, and was ready to say goodbye as I welcomed in my new OLW for 2018.
Last Actions and Reflections of the year
Most of the pages in this album were completed using Photoshop Elements, and the following digital kits, all which can be purchased at Sweet Shoppe Designs:
A Beautiful Mess - Crimson by Libby Pritchett
A Beautiful Mess - Razzmatazz by Libby Pritchett
Splendiferous by Libby Pritchett
All class-related materials and digital products are from Ali Edwards. The digital kit can be purchased in her shop. Her online class is a live class that starts in January each year. This is my 7th year of being part of this wonderful community.
No comments:
Post a Comment