Okay, this is strange. The word I chose last night on New Year’s Eve turned out not to be my word! Here’s what happened.
One word seemed to emerge in the last few days. I liked it. It seemed to resonate in my spirit. I stayed open to other words until the last hours of New Year’s Eve and then settled on that word. I started thinking about the post I would write today when I got back home from the cabin. It was taking shape in my mind just fine.
I woke up this morning and headed home just as the sky started getting light. The last few days have been very dark and rainy/snowy. As I drove down the mountain through forest and beautiful farmland, the sky cleared up, blue patches appeared, and the sun peeked above a ridge. As the rays lit up the sky, a word jumped into my mind – Shine. My heart jumped in excitement. I immediately recognized it as my word, but the timing was all wrong! I tried to go back to the first word, but now it felt flat.
Since my word for 2011 was Yield, it seemed wise to do so. And so I did. My word for 2012 is, much to my surprise, Shine.
When I got home, I didn’t write this post right away. It seemed prudent to pause and see if there were any more surprises. But no, it is clear to me that Shine is here to stay.
I’ve spent the last few hours just letting the word float around in my mind and spirit. The image that comes to me is of removing opaque blocks that hide my natural radiance, like wiping off mud, or polishing gold, or breaking off an outside shell or crust. The radiance thus revealed is the radiance that shines in all of us. We don’t have to do anything in order to shine – the light is already there, brilliant and glorious, as it always has been, is now, and ever will be. We have only to let the blocks fall away.
We are all meant to shine, as children do. ... And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
–Marianne Williamson
So I hope all y’all will shine along with me this year!
This little light of mine
I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine
Let it shine
Let it shine
–Harry Dixon Loes
By the time I was half way though your post I thought of that little song from my childhood,
ReplyDelete"This little light of mine." What a great word! When you mentioned this in your previous post, as I was reading, the word Guidance came through loud and clear, so that's my word.
Happy New Year.
Shine On!
I plan on adding lots of "spit and Polish" to my Soul this year sweet lady.
ReplyDeleteI'll be right beside you.
xo
Jo
I love your word of the year, mine will remain "gratitude" so that I never forget to live in it. Living in gratitude does something for me, it makes me shine! The two go hand in hand.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Galen, all the best to you in 2012 and your bet... let it shine, let it shine, let it shine! (I remember singing this song in Sunday school.)
Galen,
ReplyDeleteI loved this imagery: "The image that comes to me is of removing opaque blocks that hide my natural radiance, like wiping off mud, or polishing gold, or breaking off an outside shell or crust." You're so right, once the obscurations are removed, we naturally shine!
There seems to be a sense of auspicious to the way you discovered the word! Wishing you all the best this year.
That song came to my mind too as I pondered SHINE but CONNECT for me was the word that resonated the most. Sine on in 2012!
ReplyDeleteTeresa--Guidance. That's a great word. I look forward to seeing where it takes you this year. Thanks for your comment.
ReplyDeleteJo--I'm so please to have your company along the way! Thanks for commenting.
darlin--You can't go wrong with gratitude. I'm sure 2012 will bring us many blessings to be grateful for. Thanks for your comment.
Sandra--I hope it's auspicious! It was certainly an unexpected twist. I'm very curious to see where it leads. Thanks for your comment.
EVA--Connect is a great word. Let's see what you connect with in 2012. I hope you will share some connection stores. Thanks for your comment.
ReplyDeleteShine is a perfect Word for the New Year! Thank you for visiting and giving me some info on my Lovely new piece of Asian Art... the goddess of mercy & compassion certainly would be appropriate to be drawn to right now. Perhaps I was channeling my Gran-Gran when I was drawn to it? He was raised by a Chinese Family from a very young age after WWII when his Father was killed in the War and his Mom had too many children to raise alone, so the youngest 5 went to live in Chinatown with Family Friends & my Gran-Gran was raised Buddhist & with strong Eastern Influences, which he maintained the rest of his life. He would have known all about this Statuary and it makes me think of him, which is a pleasant Memory.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your encouragement also, raising the next generation has different challenges to be sure *LOL*... 2011 held a lot of stresses and sometimes they weighed heavily, so I'm Hopeful that 2012 will Shine brightly! *winks* Yep, Shine is a great Word to start the New Year with...
Blessings from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian
Hi Galen,
ReplyDeleteA very Happy New Year to you!!
Shine is a good word to choose. I am reminded of Viktor Frankl's saying, "What is to give light must endure the burning." I think the process of removing the things that obscure our light might require some effort. This is especially so if there are obstacles along the way. But it is a necessary and worthy effort to make for the light you give will serve as a beacon to others to guide them along their own journeys. Against all odds, we must maintain our inner light and let it shine brightly!
Thank you for sharing this lovely article! :)
Irving the Vizier
I am happy to know of your blog! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteDawn--Thanks for sharing something about your family. Clearly, Kwan Yin was "calling" to you. Thanks for commenting.
ReplyDeleteIrving--Thank you for the quote from Viktor Frankl. I'm adding that to my file! Thanks for your comment.
Carrie--Glad we connected!
My word is LAUGH - so keep shining my sweet friend for you have also did shine in 2011!
ReplyDeleteIn gratitude,
Nancy
Shine on me, Dear Lord, and through me. I like your word and the 10 steps.
ReplyDeleteYour word for 2011 may have been "yield", but you have always shone. Happy New Years!
ReplyDeleteThis little light of mine was the first solo I ever sang in church. I was 10 years old!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year and may your life shine ever so brightly in 2012!
I love your word for the year. I have been thinging about the word Iwould like for myself. Thanks for shine; I alwaya enjoy your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you as you shine forth in this new year.
I like it! And I agree with Kara - you always shine, my sweet friend! Can't wait to see how 2012 unfolds for you in the shiniest of ways! :)
ReplyDeleteShine on you crazy diamond. (Pink Floyd) Probably not what you were thinking but that is where my mind went. It is a great song anyway.
ReplyDeleteShine is perfect for you Galen because that is exactly what you do!
ReplyDeleteThis comment from Elizabeth--
ReplyDeleteMuch love the word SHINE!! Your life will surely SHINE with greatness...sending you sparkling sunshine, beautiful rainbows and fluttering butterflies..in other words peace, love and happiness.
I did try to post this comment on the blog comments however for whatever reason I was unable to select a profile to post it..but to me I wanted to still send my thoughts and gratitude to you. Have a most joyous day.
Nancy--Laugh is a great word! The Bible says, "A cheerful heart is good medicine." Laughter is good for you and for everyone around you. You are sure to have a happy year! Thanks for commenting.
ReplyDeleteBelinda Jo--I like the image of God's light shining in us and through us. Thanks for your comment.
Kara--You are so sweet! Thanks for your kind words. And Happy New Year to you!
Alida--Many of us remember this song from childhood, along with the hand gestures. I've been singing it in my head ever since the word came to me! Thanks for commenting.
LeAnn--You are welcome to use it for your word, too! Thanks for your comment.
Christina--Thank you for the sweeet words. Congratulations on the launch of your new blog. 2012 has some big blessings in store for us!
Nicole--Ha! That made me laugh. I don't know the song, but I'm definitely going to listen to it now! I think it's my new favorite song just from that line. Thanks for commenting.
Jonathan--Thank you!
Elizabeth--I'm so sorry you had trouble with the comment function. This has been a problem for some other folks, too, so I'm going to try to figure out what to do. Thanks for the good wishes.
The one word for me is probably "surrender".
ReplyDeleteLinda--Lovely word, very close to my 2011 word Yield, which served me well. Thanks for commenting.
ReplyDeleteGalen, I think this is awesome...though now I have that song in my head! I love the idea all the same. I think I have several words for 2012 or several concepts surrounding 2 words. Clean and Fresh. Fresh beginnings, clean starts, fresh and clean perspectives. We shall see how it all unfolds! xo
ReplyDeleteLove your word! Really love that little song too. We sing it in church frequently and everybody loves it. Just makes you want to "shine" out loud! Still working on my word/theme for 2012. Finally have some think time. Sandra
ReplyDeleteLeah--I know, I have the song in my head, too! Speaking of songs, there was a popular song a few years ago with the refrain "so fresh and so clean." It has some pretty offensive lyrics, so probably not your theme song for the year--ha! Thanks for commenting.
ReplyDeleteSandra--It is a perky song, isn't it? Eager to hear what your word is. Thanks for your comment.
Seem to have problems with comment function? I know I was here and read your wonderfully shiny piece!
ReplyDeleteI am starting out the year with no plan and no goals and now word is coming either....I woke up with a stuffed up head and just slept away 2 days trying to feel better or best....I think I needed sleep to get with the program...today trying to just get caught up...
I do not want discouraged to be my word, but it certainly is popping up a great deal during my day...
Great post...great word - shiny year ahead to you
Patricia--I don't know if I am having a problem with comments. I did see your comment on the last post about New Year's Eve ritual and you spoke of choosing a word in that comment. But this is the first comment from you I've seen on this post. At any rate, I'm glad you are here now, and I hope you are feeling better. If "discouraged" seems to be your word right now, remember that "everything is impermanent," and hopefully a more uplifting word will come to you soon!
ReplyDeleteVery inspiring post. I am looking forward to reading more about your thoughts on "shine"
ReplyDeleteWe all deserve to shine a little.