It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new year…
The end of anything is always full of reflection and the end of a year is particularly a time to think back. Taking some time in the last week of the year to do so can only help you decide the things you may want out of the next year. If we don’t learn from our pasts, both personally and collectively, well, I think we all know that never ends well. It is time to grow, to learn, to expand our horizons, however that may look in our own lives.
Like last year, I have been searching for my word for 2012. There have been many things leading me to my word of the year lately, it just took just an opening of my mind to name it.
All things taken one step at a time.
One of the all-time best folk artists ever – his work allowing for the emergence of more amazing musicians – Woody Guthrie would have been 100 this year, had he the chance to live so long. Did you know that Guthrie spent time out here in the Pacific Northwest in 1941, particularly in the Columbia River Gorge? Unfortunately, the dam that he had come out to support had some devastating environmental and social impacts on the people and river ecosystem, but I still can’t imagine what he would think about Nestlé moving in to what he described as a “vision of paradise.”
But as we begin 2012, he reminds me of something in his own 1943 “New Years Rulin’s.”
What he meant for himself in the year 1943 I can only guess, but I knew that these struck a chord with me.
Then I watched this:
And I wonder why it has become primarily the youth contingent that is willing to stand up for what they know to be true, what they know to be right? I know that they are often the ones (not always, but they often seem to become the largest group forcing change) that can bring about the catalyst for change, but doesn’t the fight against climate change belong to us all?
We have only 5 years until we reach a critical point of irreversible damage from climate change. 2011 was a big year, but it certainly wasn’t enough to make anyone involved in climate change science, research, or activism feel like we can become complacent. We have a ways to go and it shouldn’t be just the youth that carry us all there.
Yet, there have been plenty of good things to happen in 2011 on the green and eco-friendly front, yet I would dare say all of those were because somebody started fighting for them.
So, my word of the year this year is: fight.
I will fight for what is right.
I will fight for what is true.
I will fight for myself and my family.
I will fight for things to get better.
I will fight.
What about you?
Musical Inspiration: Song To Woody
I did not do a new year’s resolution, as I feel that self-improvement does not have a start and stop date. However . . . I am going to do a project where I set aside all my found change and then add it up on December 31st for something fun.
I wrote about it here:
http://thenonconsumeradvocate.com/2012/01/self-improvement-is-not-all-or-nothing/
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”
Katy @ The Non-Consumer Advocate recently posted..Self Improvement is Not All or Nothing
And by the way, I just finished reading Woody Guthrie’s resolutions somewhere else, and my favorite is “change socks.”
Katy
Katy @ The Non-Consumer Advocate recently posted..Self Improvement is Not All or Nothing
That is a good one. I really enjoyed the simplicity of most of them and the honesty about all of them.
“Send money to Mary and kids” was sad though.
Katy
Yes, he really had a sad life in many respects.
Fight is a powerful goal for 2012! I love it.
Thanks, Paige!
Great post. I love how life sometimes seems to coalesce around certain words at certain times, so that the events and people I encounter lend new meaning to the word or idea.
I generally try to avoid the word “fight,” but I think it’s really brave of you to adopt it for the year. There are definitely times fighting is completely appropriate, I believe, and I think there are currently circumstances in the world that call for fighting back.
I used to name years for myself ahead of time, like one year I called “The Year of Living Dangerously,” which was probably not my best plan, but I made it through. ;)
I’ll have to ponder if 2012 has a name for me yet.
Elena Margo recently posted..Resolving to Make Friends With Change
I will say that I am surprised that this is the word for me this year, which is why I think my word needed so much context, but it suits. I would love to see what you come up with once you think on it!
Yes! I love this word and the way you’re choosing to apply it to your life. And thanks for hosting the link-up. =)
Amy @ Anktangle recently posted..It’s a new year.
Thanks, Amy! I love getting to see everyone’s words and the path they took to find them.
I love your word. It’s very inspirational and it motivated me to reflect on my own word. It’s so much better than a resolution – thanks for the post ;)
Nadia @ Red, White and GREEN Mom recently posted..My word for 2012
Thank you, Nadia! I am so happy to have inspired you to post about your word. :)
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Thanks for sharing this and inviting us all to join in with you. Wow! ‘fight’, that’s a powerful word and I admire you deeply. It feels kinda tiring to me, but I understand your perspective and recognise that there are times when we simply have to stand up and fight. All power to you and have a wonderful year!
Mrsgreen @ Littlegreenblog.com recently posted..What *really* happens when you recycle your mobile phone?
Thanks, Mrs. Green! I hope that my fight is not too tiring, but only helps and heals as I move forward. I truly feel that everything has brought me to this point and now I can choose to sit back or stand up. Here’s to a new year!
Really Inspirational to me! Yes I do agree with you. You can’t set right your past. Past is only for learning your mistakes. Thanks for your motivation.
I’ve been doing 3 words for the last couple of years because it seems to work better for me. I like your word, it embodies alot.
Ghada V recently posted..New year’s resolution or 3 words to live by
I love your video blog of the three words and 100 list! That is a great concept and I have to say that I love the accent. :)
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