The Year of Passion

Never underestimate the Power Of Passion.
Eve Sawyer

image by Wendi Kelly

Last year(2010) was the year of Inspired, as in: a full year of Living Inspired. And inspiring it was too, helping me to write, finish and publish the first in a series of novels that I am privileged to co-author with my business partner and friend Deb Dorchak.

The year before that(2009) was the year of living Wide Awake, a term reverently lifted from the title of a song by the same name, written by my coach, Christine Kane. Living Wide Awake turned out to be more challenging than I had thought possible. It’s taken two years of working on this word for me to realize how much we glide through our lives on auto-pilot, not really engaging, not really experiencing the full force and impact of our thoughts, emotions and most importantly, our dreams. Living Wide Awake takes courage and an enormous amount of commitment and energy. To be frank- it’s an exhausting word, and not one to be chosen lightly. But if you dare- I promise- it’s a word that will change your life.

The year 2008 was the first time I had chosen a word of the year as a theme for the year. The idea was a fuzzy concept in my head and the word was vaguely mixed in with four pages of resolutions and goals I had charted out for the year. I didn’t even have my word clearly formed in my mind for a good part of the first quarter, but when it hit me, it hit me like an anvil, smacking clarity into who it was I was trying to become and what it was I wanted to focus on.

2008 was the year of the Artist.

That one singular word changed my life.

When I look back on the decision to choose and embrace that one word, there was no way I could peer into a crystal ball and see the impact that word would have. I had lit a match to a stick of dynamite that exploded into the incredible life and friends and business I have today. Because I named myself as an artist, I asked myself what I wanted to DO as an artist. The first answer I got back was that I wanted to write. So I wrote. I wrote, but I had no audience. So…I started looking around at blogs. One crazy day the ARTIST pressed a button and created a little blog called Life’s Little Inspirations. The Artist was a blogger. The Blogger met other writers, she got encouragement, she felt braver. She wrote more, she picked up a paint brush, she got a camera…she started writing dramas, she wrote a full length play. She directed it…and the list goes on and on.

All from one word.

At the end of the year I didn’t put down the word ARTIST. It had become a part of who I am. I simply added the new words WIDE AWAKE  to the mix. I became an Artist who was trying to live her life Wide Awake. Then last year when I chose the word INSPIRED, I became an Artist who is trying to live her life Wide Awake and Inspired every day.

I have learned that there is powerful energy and magic in these words. Not the kind of Samantha Stevens nose-twitching kind of magic, but a deeper, purer kind of magic that we all have within us that comes when we focus our intention on anything for very long.

There is a saying: “Where your Focus goes, your Future goes.” I absolutely believe its true. If you want to improve or change your life, pick a word and focus on it. Every day. Then watch the amazing things that can happen.

I’ve thought very carefully before choosing my word this year. I know I am adding a very powerful word to an already stacked deck of fire-driven, energetic words. Since I don’t get rid of my old words, this new one will bring a Wide-Awake, Inspired Artist  new PASSION.

This year will be 2011- The Year of Passion

I want a passionate life. A life that feels on fire with enthusiasm, love and excitement for the things and people I am around. I want to jump out of bed excited to start my day and kick the doldrums of life to the curb and let them run down the drain.

I also see Passion as a sorting rod. A way to help me make some very necessary choices this year.  As I face the never-ending clutter of life, passion can help me answer the question, “Does this fill me with passion? Does this touch my spirit and make it sing? ” If not, then I have my answer.  Bulging schedules and over-promised obligations can be sorted the same way. Enough of the shoulds…what feeds my spirit?

Life’s too short to live without pasta or passion.

That’s my new motto for 2011!

So, to recap:  I am the Artist who lives Wide Awake, Inspired and filled with Passion– to the best of my daily ability.

What about you? How is 2011 shaping up? Who are you going to be this year?