Cath Sheard Art

Tag: one little word

  • One Little Word for 2020

    Every year I join #olw – One Little Word with Ali Edwards. In 2019 my word was ‘deep’- you can read about why I chose it here. In previous years I’ve had prepared, intention, mapping, balance, calm, and determined. My word lives on the wall above my desk, as a reminder of what I want to do and who (how) I want to be. This year my word is TRUST.

    Did ‘deep’ work for me? Yes, mainly. It encouraged me think deeply about issues; not always easy when we’re accustomed to 140-character tweets as conversation. It reminded to dig deep personally so, despite physical pain, I have gone from 4,000 to 6,500 steps a day. I learned to dig deep emotionally, to understand the many things contributing to my addictive nature and unravel some of the (deep) pain that drives self-soothing with food.

    So, why ‘trust’? Last year I tested a few words, thinking about their meanings and what could work for me. Today I was doodling with a white pen in my new black Dylusions journal and, without thinking, grabbed my favourite alphabet stamps. Before I had time to realise what I was doing, I had stamped TRUST on the page. Ok then, that’s a pretty clear message from my subconscious!

    What do I think TRUST might mean for me in 2020? I will TRUST:

    • my artistic process
    • my instincts about people and situations
    • that everything will be ok whatever happens with Tony’s health
    • myself to eat properly to maintain my weight
    • in the process for building our new multi-use library
    • myself to balance work and leisure for my wellbeing
    • the universe to look after my best interests

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  • One Little Word for 2019

    Every year I join #olw – One Little Word with Ali Edwards. This year my word was ENOUGH. You can read about it here. As always happens, the word turned out to have more connections and meanings for me than I could have imagined. I ended up in counselling, getting to the heart of some issues, working towards a point where my heart – not just my head – knows I am enough. I’m a work in progress.

    I’ve put quite a lot of time into choosing my One Little Word for 2019 and tested four out by writing down what they would mean to me. Aware and connection were pretty good but, in the end, DEEP was a clear winner. As we get into 2019 I know, from previous years, more connections will become clear, but for now DEEP resonates for me because:

    • I want to understand myself at a deep level
    • I am prepared to dig deep emotionally
    • I seek friendships that connect at a deep level
    • I aim for a deep understanding of key issues at work
    • I aim for a deep understanding of national issues that are aligned with my interests
    • I am prepared to dig deep to get fitter, even when it hurts
    • I am willing to dig deep to reach my goals

    Normally I make an index card piece of art and put it in my office at work This year I’ve gone for a square format and made two, one for at work, and one for my home office, to keep me even more focussed on my word and what it means to me.

  • My One Little Word for 2018…

    My ‘One Little Word’ for 2018 was ENOUGH. You can read about it here. It’s been a good word for me this year, as I start to reflect on the year that’s been.
    One of the things I talked about in the original post was ‘Imposter Syndrome’. We held staff training this week and I talked a bit about imposter syndrome, without naming it – relating to something that happened when I was at Christchurch’s new library recently.

    This year I choose to go to counselling to sort a few issues that arose after I got past the 2 years of post-weight loss surgery psychology appointments. I’ve talked about it before, so won’t bore you with the details, but in thinking about this post I’ve realised part of what counselling was about was accepting that I *am* enough. Hmm.

    So, was ENOUGH the right word to guide me through this year? Absolutely. There’s something quite magic for me in choosing a word, writing about it, creating it on a postcard sized artwork to have in my office, and letting it guide me. Will I be choosing a word for 2019? Yes. But not just yet, I need to dwell on the possibilities a bit longer…

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  • One little word – enough

    Every year I join #olw – One Little Word with Ali Edwards. In 2017 my word was ‘prepared’ and it was perfect for me; you can read about why I chose it here. In previous years I have had intention, mapping, balance, calm, and determined. My word lives on the wall by my desk, as a reminder of what I want to do and who (how) I want to be.

    This year my word is ENOUGH.

    On Twitter, and as part of my word with Kotuku and LIANZA conference etc, I sometimes talk with people about Imposter Syndrome. I tell them they are good enough, smart enough, prepared enough – they *are* enough.

    I’ve been following The Aunties @whaeapower, mainly tweeted by Jackie Clark, for some time now. Recently Jackie has been in the media a lot, talking about giving what people they need, not what we want to give, about society’s desire for recipients to be seen to be ‘grateful’ for any old rubbish people hand out, and much more (very loose paraphrasing – please search for original articles if interested such as this one). Enough ties into this in a way I can’t yet articulate.

    So what does enough mean for me? I means tackling my own occasional Imposter Syndome, but a lot more besides. It means trying to change how I think about people – about being accepting of who they are and where they are at, because they too are enough (as with kindness, that doesn’t mean there are no rules, no expectations, that I live in some wishy washy woolly existence). It means:

    I am smart enough.

    I am prepared enough.

    I am good enough.

    I am slim enough.

    I am fit enough (but getting fitter).

    I am loved enough.

    I am loveable enough.

    I *am* ENOUGH!

    enough

  • One little word – prepared

    Every year I choose a word that is my keystone. In previous years I have had – mapping, balance, determined, calm and, in 2016, intention. Each has served its purpose, constantly bringing me back to what I want for myself for the year, both at work and at home.

    This year I mentioned ‘one little word’ on Twitter and people suggested hope, courage, and strength. They’re all good words, but the one I keep coming back to is “prepared”. It just feels right. So, in 2017, I will be PREPARED

    • to spend quality time with Tony
    • to devote time to my art
    • to ensure I eat properly
    • to use the tool of my weight loss surgery wisely
    • to make my lunches even when I don’t feel like it
    • to drink enough each day despite the nausea
    • to use the exercycle despite the pain
    • to put enough time into my own professional development
    • to say no to things that I don’t want in my life

    So often what we want is just out of reach, and what’s required is more effort or a deliberate action. In 2017 I believe being prepared will help me achieve more of my goals.I think it’s a good word for my professional life as well, and will write about that at on my KiwiLibrarian blog.

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