On December 29, author/blogger Joan Rough published a post declaring her optimistic intentions for 2015 and pondering a single word to characterize this new year while contemplating words of wisdom used other years. Some choices she suggested: Believe, Dare, Trust, Patience, Forward. Even the word Intention would be a good star to steer by, she mused.
Other commenters suggested words like Flow and Connection. Thus, Purple Passages for January is constructed from 3 of these words: Dare, Intention, Flow
DARE
“Daring ideas are like chessmen moved forward. They may be beaten, but they may start a winning game.”
― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
“Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue, and the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true.”
― E.Y. Harburg
INTENTION
Any time women come together with a collective intention, it’s a powerful thing. Whether it’s sitting down making a quilt, in a kitchen preparing a meal, in a club reading the same book, or around the table playing cards, or planning a birthday party, when women come together with a collective intention, magic happens.
― Phylicia Rashad, the valiant wife in The Cosby Show
Artist Cliff’s intention turning to action, recycling old technology
FLOW
“Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.”
― Louis L’Amour
“I am rooted, but I flow.”
― Virginia Woolf
ADVANCE: My word for 2015
I learned this, at least, by my experiment; that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. Henry David Thoreau, Walden
What do you think?
“Just go with the flow” is an expression offered sometimes as advice for tough times. How do you experience “flow” in your life now? How about daring, ― or intending?
Have you picked a guide word for 2015?
I haven\’t picked a guide word or inspirational word. I guess I\’m more of a \”go with the flow\” person. 🙂 I like yours–the combination of making yourself do something, having some purpose, and then seeing what happens–a great way to start projects or to live life!
This has been my modus operandi for some time now. Thank you for chunking it into those three parts – makes sense. \”Going with the flow\” obviously works for you, so no need to change that.
Always happy to see your smiling here on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, Merril.
🙂
Your words are perfect. My word this year is accept. Accept new ways of doing things, accept a new culture, accept what happens even if it is not exactly what I thought. A very good Proverb. Thanks!
I think accept and advance could be twins, Darlene. That way the process and the expectations mesh better. I know you love Spain, but certainly there are some adjustments to a culture so different from your Canadian roots. One thing I know for sure, you\’ll keep writing those tantalizing books for children.
Thanks so much Marion. I am working on book 5 right now.
I\’m so proud of you, Darlene – book # 5! I\’m working on # 1, a memoir in a course with writing coaches. Teachers don\’t instantly become writers. 😉
Marian, I enjoyed your quotes and love how they crystalize thoughts and directions. I find selecting an intention for the upcoming year to be a clarifying process. \”Advance\” is a powerful word that no doubt will propel you forward. I chose \”simplify\” and will blog about this on Monday. I wish you joy with your advancement in 2015. Onward!
Can one advance and simplify at the same time, I wonder. That\’s what I\’d like to do, make them parallel goals.
Onward is an energizing word too: Onward – and northward – in anticipation of our writers\’ retreat coming up soon. Thanks for your consistent encouragement here, Kathy.
Wonderful words of encouragement. Being optimistic will always bring you through your darkest moments. I remember Mom saying, And this too shall pass.\” A pastor once told me,\”Believe in your belief and it shall become a fact.\” I was eighteen when he said that to me and it is true. God is so good and has blessed me with so many great people to help shape me to be who I am today. To who much has been given much is expected. I pray everyday to help all who come my way to give them the gift that was given me. Thank again Marian for your great post
Gloria
Words have great power and your illustrate that with remembrances from Mother and a pastor. You are off to a good start in 2015. A year or two ago I would never have imagined that you and I would be meeting here reminiscing about the same Mother, Gloria!
I have some personal goals for the year, but I don\’t share them. Then I don\’t have to explain why I never got there if I never do. I\’m more a go with the flow….and the flow is constantly changing.
You flow in many different directions if your writing is any indication. I am amazed that you can create in more than one genre and keep up your blog at the same time. Your husband is Rocket Scientist (you say) and you, my friend, are Wonder Woman. Ha!
Flow. It\’s my word/our word for 2015.
I love to sing, \”My life flows on in endless song, above earth\’s lamentations\” # 580 in the Hymnal a worship book.
I recently discovered that flow and flower/flowing and flowering are closely related. I love having a whole year with a word. Often the word appears in my dream life at least once during the year.
Thank you for the wonderful quotes on Flow.
Thank you for noting the connection between flow and flower, Dolores. I see so many parallels now. I have an old Mennonite Hymnal from 1953; yours must be a later edition.
Here\’s to more \”flowing/flowering\” dreams for both of us.
My words for 2015 are borrowed from a Louie Schwartzberg TED talk that I\’ve had on my favorites\’ list for about 2 or 3 years: \’gratitude, nature and a sense of wonder.\” In that video, Benedictine monk Brother David Steindl-Rast urges us to \”let everyone you meet be blessed by you … just by your presence.\” That\’s a beautiful thought and I\’d like to fulfill it.
Thank you, Marian, for your thoughtful and inspiring words. I especially liked Louis L\’Amour\’s comment: “Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.”
😉
Another friend sent me a link to one of Brother David\’s talks. I believe it was \”Want to be happy? Be grateful.\” This wise man always makes the complex sound simple – but not necessarily easy.
I had to include the Louis L\’Amour quote simply because it\’s way too easy to get up off my writing chair if the words don\’t seem to flow. Thanks for prompting me to practice what I preach, Judy!
Louis L\’Amour\’s quote is motivating for me as well. 😉 I will look for that Brother David video. If you have the link, please post it. He is delightful. 😉
I found Brother David\’s TED talk on \”Want to be happy?\” http://www.ted.com/talks/david_steindl_rast_want_to_be_happy_be_grateful?language=en
The children used to sing a song at Sunday school…\”Are you humbly grateful or grumbly hateful? What\’s your attitude? \”
Thank you – I\’m sure other readers will enjoy having a link to click on!
Marian — I shared over on Tuesdays With Laurie that my focus word for 2015 is FLOW. Not as in “Go with (or against) the flow,\” but as being a vessel for zenergy that is positive, uplifting, constructive, and healing; a channel for peace, joy, kindness, encouragement, compassion, creativity, and Light.
I love your focus word — ADVANCE — for 2015. Not passive in the least, it exudes forward motion; getting from Point A to Points B, C, and D. Yes indeed, it suits you well.
You have put the highest possible construction on the meaning of FLOW, Laurie. So that readers can benefit from the full context, here is the link to the post: http://tuesdayswithlaurie.com/2015/01/06/zenergistic-flow/
Thank you for cheering us on with your own forward motion!
For the last several days Marian since reading this post, I\’ve been trying to figure out a word that will characterise how I see my year unfolding. I\’m still stuck. I loved your quotes under FLOW … my word WILL come .. and thank you for the quotation from Proverbs.
Actually, the word Will would be a good choice – It\’s both a noun and verb, very nuanced. Let us know here when you decide on that special word, Susan.
I love the wisdom of Proverbs 3:5. It\’s my life verse, I believe.
Yes, I thought of WILL as my word; but this is in contradiction to e.g. Proverbs 3 – mind you, as I think a bit more, it could directly refer to the Lord\’s will … thank you Marian … I promise I will ponder greatly.
😉
🙂
My word is Relationship this year because I want to spend time building a relationship with the important people in my life . Last year I was getting to know myself and those people allowed me the time . It\’s their turn now and they \’so \’deserve it .
Cherry
Relationship is a very unselfish choice. May you find connections to cherish in your life this year, Cherry.
Marian, I\’m thrilled that I inspired you with my intention list. It really works for me. This year I\’ve printed out my intention words and am hanging above my desk where I can be reminded on a daily basis!
The word Advance is a great choice!
Thanks again, Joan. You have sparked a conversation outside of your own blog post already this year. I hope you got some extra clicks on your blog as a result. Brava!
Marian, I always love your quotes–they make me stop and ponder their wisdom. And I like your choice of word for 2015–advance. Advancing is what we\’ve been watching and experiencing since you started Plain and Fancy, and I look to more forward movement with 2015. Looking forward also to hearing more about St. Simone.
Thank you for the kind strokes today, Sherry. Yes, we have known each other in the virtual world since spring of 2013. The St. Simons Island post will air on January 21, I think. You\’d love the cute shops and historic venues.
I haven\’t found my word yet, but I sure did enjoy reading words of wisdom from others. That in itself was inspiring! 🙂
One day the word will call to you – or maybe it will come to you in a dream, who knows!
Is \”Be\” a choice? Yes, it is a choice, always! I need more of the ability to not worry about the next thing, to enjoy those around me, to take the minute to absorb and rest. English teachers don\’t like forms of \”to be\” but there are times it is what we need. Right? Thanks for the thoughts. A \”be\” moment for today.
This is a most original choice, Melodie. We girls with checklists and schedules need this reminder. To be or not to be – that is the question – (Couldn\’t resist that.)
Here\’s to more being and a little less doing!
Inspiring words indeed!
I love the words you mingle with your awesome photographs – pure poetry!
Great choice of words to provide encouragement through the year!
How about you — A guiding word or phrase for 2015? Nice to see your smiling face here again, Christy.
Going with the flow is one of my mottos. It never seems a good idea to swim against the tide.
Sensible advice, Marie. Thanks for adding your point of view.
Very inspiring. Guess my guide word for this year is Refire!
That\’s great – and it rhymes with inspire!