Grow: My One Little Word for 2016
16 Feb 2016
Words come to us in funny ways. I think this is the furthest in advance I have ever come upon one, sometime around the summer of 2015. I so distinctly remember the moment. I was strolling down a shady sidewalk with Micah, enjoying a quiet moment and thinking about my life. Thinking about where I was, what I was hoping for, what was coming next. I felt so happy. I am so happy. And so grateful for that! And what I most wanted and hoped for was to just keep growing, as a person, as a mom, as a wife. I wanted to keep learning and experiencing new things. I wanted to keep traveling to new places. I wanted to become kinder, more generous, more compassionate, more patient, more good.
One of the ideas I got from doing Ali Edwards’ One Little Word class a few years ago was to look up the synonyms and definitions of your word. I love the ones for grow so much. Advance. Become. (Ohhh, I love that one!) Build, cultivate, develop, flourish, mature, rise, thrive. I want all of those things for myself. And for all of you! This is my favorite definition of grow: “to increase by natural development, as any living organism or part by assimilation of nutriment; increase in size or substance.” I love that connection with the natural world. I want to turn my face to the sun and soak up every good thing like roots draw water. I want to work at growing every day, even and especially in infinitesimal, undetectable increments that somehow add up to a sturdy green stem and a riotously colorful bloom.
It doesn’t surprise me at all that learning new things is a big happiness booster. It expands our conception of our selves. It makes the world seem full of possibility. It gives us new tools, whether they are languages or skills or insights. And it doesn’t require much from us–not necessarily any money at all, just a bit of time and maybe a library card (and, okay, maybe a bit of planning). I have always been the kind of person who thinks nothing sounds more fun than learning a new language, and lately I am endeavoring to learn more of the names of the birds and trees and flowers and succulents that make up the moving wallpaper of my daily walks with Micah. The world is truly so full of splendors.
Of course, not all of this growing is going to be joyful. There’s also the growth that comes from pruning, which will definitely be painful. I don’t know yet what sort of pruning will come my way this year, but I hope that I can meet it with grace. And humor. And the memory of all the basil I lost a few summers ago when it went to seed due to…lack of pruning. It is my great hope that at the end of this year, I will look back and think, “Yes, I grew, and I learned, and I gave, and it was good.”
(Words from previous years, just for fun: grateful, open, nurture, savor.)
Feb 16, 2016 @ 11:58:02
Yessssssssssss!! So, I don’t know how you’re supposed to do these things, and I’m a little … addlepated? … at present, so I think I might just slide into a word that works for me at this moment, then stick with it for the year. Is that ‘against the rules’, as such?
Feb 16, 2016 @ 12:02:44
Also, on the topic of pruning: growth is impossible without loss, change, and (some sorts of) death. It’s good to recognize that up front…becoming more of what you already are is great, and it can be growth, but more often, it’s about letting go of who/what you are to become who/what you will be, want to be, can be. The old saw about caterpillars and butterflies comes to mind.
Feb 16, 2016 @ 13:35:49
Yay, so happy to see your name in my inbox! Thank you for these great comments! The best part about all of this is there are no rules:) You can start late, start early, change words a dozen times, or stick with the same one for as long as it feels right. Excited to hear what yours will be! I have been so appreciative lately of the different seasons of life, and I love so much what you said about change. I have been thinking about how we often have to let go of something to let something else in. I hope a lot of caterpillars turn into butterflies around here this year, even if it isn’t always a fun process! PS: one million points for using the word “addlepated,” which I have instantly added to my favorite word list! PS2: I think my friend and I are going to tentatively try to read some Petrushevskaia? Will update if we land on the specifics soon:)
Feb 16, 2016 @ 19:19:05
Addlepated is a wonderful word that I don’t get to use often enough. As for Petrushevskaia, I haven’t even thought about her since Oberlin! Sounds good. I’ll be waiting to hear more.
Feb 17, 2016 @ 20:37:25
Oh, ha, slight change of plans–we are actually going to start with Noch’ by Tatiana Tol’staia. Do you have it? If not, I think I can probably direct you to a reliable place to read it online. Sorry for the change of plans! We have no formal plan but to start with the first story (Sonia) and see how it goes:)
Feb 17, 2016 @ 08:58:29
Grow is such a great word. I love your list of synonyms and the need for pruning. You do things so thoughtfully. Enjoy your year of growth! (my OLW is ENJOY)
Feb 17, 2016 @ 20:35:37
Thank you so much, Sandi! Enjoy is SUCH a great word! I bet you are going to have one fantastic year! Excited to see it all play out in the DLP:)
Feb 18, 2016 @ 06:29:07
grow is a great word and I love all the words associated with the word grow. You are a joy to visit, so happy and so content 🙂
Feb 23, 2016 @ 11:27:40
great choice of word.