2021 and My Word For The Year

“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that there was in me, an invincible summer.”

— Albert Camus

January Forest

It’s early January, 2021, and it looks like another typical winter month here in Vancouver… rain!

So off I go on my daily walk with my gumboots on…

I’ve finally had a few days of quiet (just me, my brush and I), and after a lovely walk sloshing through rain puddles and mud, I’ve decided on my Word For The Year!

For the past ten years or so I’ve come up with a word for the year ahead. It isn’t a resolution, but rather, more of an intention... Something to move towards, or something I want to bring into my life. The interesting thing is, there’s always something unexpected that comes from it. So I create my word with no expectations of outcome...

Last year my word for the year was Transformation. And a transformative year it has been! In fact, I feel like I’ve been in a cocoon all year… With two trips cancelled, and “stay home, stay apart, wear a mask”… there’s been no other option but to go through changes. Fortunately I have my studio… It’s been my sanctuary. My cocoon.

Right now the whole world is in major transformation, and who knows what will emerge?

But I’ve decided… When I emerge, it will be as a butterfly. So that’s my word for the year. Butterfly.

I love butterflies… to me they symbolize freedom, beauty, creativity (some of my essence words), and although butterflies are delicate, they are amazingly strong and can fly great distances. They’re also a symbol of hope.

Hope For The Flowers, 36” x 36”, oil on canvas

“Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops at all”

— Emily Dickinson

If you were to choose a word for this year, what would it be?…

Creating space for transformation...

Lilies of the Woods, oil on canvas, 36” x 36”

“The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak. ”

— Hans Hofmann

The world is a little quieter these days (at least, my world is). There's still a steady buzz of traffic outside (but much less!), and more cyclists and pedestrians everywhere it seems... But the drive from A to B is less focused on the A and B, and more on the drive itself. Even standing in a line-up to get into a store has become a new activity. Like going for a walk... It's more about the walk and less about the destination. (You know you'll get there eventually).

In some ways life is changing at an incredible speed... Yet ironically, day to day life feels slower. 

Feeling impatient won't get us there sooner, so we might as well enjoy the walk.

I'm using this time to clean up, clear out, and simplify.

“The harder you chase something, the faster you go and the less you’re able to let life meet life. If you’re having difficulty coming up with new ideas, then slow down …Creativity exists in the present moment. You can’t find it anywhere else.”

— Natalie Goldberg

Every year I choose a "Word for the Year" and this year it took me some time to choose my word. I had a feeling early on (since last Fall) that this year would be different (but I had no idea how much!). I eventually chose the word 'transformation'. I don't really know why, other than it felt right for this upcoming, big year of change.

So now that I've cleared space (in my mind and my surroundings), I'm going to take the opportunity to create some Soul Art®!

Soul Art® is a unique creative process that acts as a bridge to your spirit, revealing your inner truth and providing clarity, insight and deep transformation.

(You can read more about how Soul Art helps me as an artist here).