Farewell 2011...Hello 2012...

 As I bid farewell to 2011 I am reminded of all that transpired this past year.  All in all it was a pretty good year for me.  I am grateful for my husband who supports me in all my endeavors even when I don't follow through like I thought I would do.  I am grateful for my daughter and granddaughters who always keep me on my toes as a mother and grandmother...a lifelong challenge I wouldn't trade.  I am thankful for discovering this blogging medium that I embrace and the wonderful friends I have made and for all they share so generously of their talents and handmade treasures.  Life is good and I am blessed.  Even the trials of this past year have been weathered.  Getting sick on vacation and for the holidays is not fun but I will get well.  Saying goodbye to my beloved Sasha BooBoo kitty after 18 years was the hardest and worst experience and I still miss her every moment, however I know she is in a better place and not suffering.
So in my reflecting over this past year and preparing for the new year to come in a few short hours I was thinking of how I will grow and experience all that is possible.  In 2010 I chose to have a word that helped me be a better person..."FOCUS". I still use that as a learning tool and it has definitely made me aware of so much more each day.  In 2011 I chose the word..."NOW".  As in don't put off til later...do it now.  I can honestly say that this has really been extremely helpful to me this year.  Such a little word but so powerful!
Now as I enter into 2012 I wanted to select a word that would once again mean more to me and help me be that much better everyday.  Hmmm...

 Calm is one of the words I pondered.  I could really benefit from learning to remain calm in situations I cannot change.  Somehow this little word just wasn't what I was really looking for to guide me through an entire year. 

 Magic is a favorite word of mine.  I believe in all things (including Santa and such) and feel that if one has a touch of magic in their lives then they live with a sparkle of happiness over and above the normal.  After all I am a Disneyland child.

And then my word appeared...PLAY.  I am always so responsible and cautious and afraid of everything and mothering everyone to take care of them.  I need to give myself permission to PLAY.  When I looked in my dictionary...yes I still have a print dictionary that I refer to many times...my new word has quite the coverage in the pages of words.  Well!  I like this word and feel it will serve me well through 2012.   

Do you still have a printed actual dictionary in your home?  I was thrilled for my 13th birthday when I received my gift and opened it to find a real Webster's dictionary.  I would read it for hours on end at night when I should have been sleeping.  You see my mother would play Scrabble with me and my sisters and of course she would always win...we were only 8-13 years old after all.  So you can see why I was so happy to get my own dictionary and study it to learn words I could PLAY on that Scrabble board. 
Hmmm...FOCUS - NOW - PLAY.  Sounds like a reward after two years of learning to improve myself.  Hello 2012 and all that you offer for me to experience and learn and achieve.
On a global note...I wish for world peace...why can't people just get along and be happy!  Oops...sounds like my Disneyland fairy tale world I love.
Healthy and Happy and Blissful and Creative New Year to each and everyone...