I’m EMBRACE-ing 2015!

Word-of-the-Year-2015 Embrace

Each January, I choose a word of the year. This year, my word, my theme, is EMBRACE! I plan to try to embrace my writing life. If I can’t embrace it, I’m going to try to ditch it–either not do it (and quit feeling guilty about not doing it), outsource it…something. I love picture books, particularly poetry and nonfiction. I’m going to embrace this by focusing my reading on picture books and not feeling guilty about not keeping up with novels and older nf. I love writing, and I’m going to embrace it by ruthlessly cutting some non-writing tasks from my should-do list. I don’t always love promotion, but I’m going to continue to embrace it as a way to show love for books and thankfulness to my publishers. By purposely embracing the things I think are most valuable, I hope to have an even more positive, less stressed life.

 

 

62 Responses

  1. Great new year practice. It last all year through. I like your word choice for this year and the way you plan to make it a part of your decision making.

  2. Great new year practice. It last all year through. I like your word choice for this year and the way you plan to make it a part of your decision making.

  3. I like the way you chose a word that works for choosing what fits you, Laura. The OLW is important to so many in their lives. I wrote about mine too-loved hearing about yours!

    1. Thanks, Linda. Yeah, it’s kind of a technique for me to try rather than any specific item. That way I can adapt as necessary:>)

  4. I like the way you chose a word that works for choosing what fits you, Laura. The OLW is important to so many in their lives. I wrote about mine too-loved hearing about yours!

    1. Thanks, Linda. Yeah, it’s kind of a technique for me to try rather than any specific item. That way I can adapt as necessary:>)

  5. Lot’s of luck on the stress. I keep trying to lighten my responsibilities but for each thing I get rid of I add two more. Connie

  6. Lot’s of luck on the stress. I keep trying to lighten my responsibilities but for each thing I get rid of I add two more. Connie

  7. I have never thought of choosing one word to “embrace” for a year. What a challenge. For me the word would be problematic in that if I did declare something un-embraceable, I would still have trouble letting go. 😉

    1. Hehehe. Past words for me have included Focus, No (whittling down non-essential crap), Say Yes (taking risks), and Do Nothing (giving myself 10 minutes of sitting/dreaming time each day). I try to really choose something that is flexible, and I feel free to change its interpretation any time I want!

      1. Flexibility and change sound like two words upon which I need to focus and then to embrace all three. Thanks!

  8. I have never thought of choosing one word to “embrace” for a year. What a challenge. For me the word would be problematic in that if I did declare something un-embraceable, I would still have trouble letting go. 😉

    1. Hehehe. Past words for me have included Focus, No (whittling down non-essential crap), Say Yes (taking risks), and Do Nothing (giving myself 10 minutes of sitting/dreaming time each day). I try to really choose something that is flexible, and I feel free to change its interpretation any time I want!

      1. Flexibility and change sound like two words upon which I need to focus and then to embrace all three. Thanks!

    1. It’s so hard to do, because there are way too many worthwhile tasks and only so few hours…

    1. It’s so hard to do, because there are way too many worthwhile tasks and only so few hours…

  9. I love this word and concept! Maybe I will steal it! The word “embrace” has such a positive feeling for me. It makes me smile. It makes me feel like skipping. It brings up great memories. It spurts good chemicals around in my brain. Yes, I am going to steal this word! Thanks, Laura!

    1. You are welcome, Julie! Happy to share–I totally agree. It does make me feel like skipping. I’m working on a revision that I’m totally exasperated with today (that I don’t really feel like I should have to do). But I’m committed to and have already been paid for the project, so it’s not a choice. Even just saying, “I’m embracing this revision. I’m going to give it my very best shot in the X hours I have,” makes me feel better. For a few minutes, at least:>)

  10. I love this word and concept! Maybe I will steal it! The word “embrace” has such a positive feeling for me. It makes me smile. It makes me feel like skipping. It brings up great memories. It spurts good chemicals around in my brain. Yes, I am going to steal this word! Thanks, Laura!

    1. You are welcome, Julie! Happy to share–I totally agree. It does make me feel like skipping. I’m working on a revision that I’m totally exasperated with today (that I don’t really feel like I should have to do). But I’m committed to and have already been paid for the project, so it’s not a choice. Even just saying, “I’m embracing this revision. I’m going to give it my very best shot in the X hours I have,” makes me feel better. For a few minutes, at least:>)

  11. Great word, Laura. I read that it’s good to stop doing unproductive things, and my word was momentum but I changed it to discipline. I might be greedy and have both. Happy New Year!

  12. Great word, Laura. I read that it’s good to stop doing unproductive things, and my word was momentum but I changed it to discipline. I might be greedy and have both. Happy New Year!

  13. A great word to use to help yourself find direction and stay on course! Have a happy and success-filled 2015, Laura. By the way, this reminded me…I’ve been wondering whatever happened to that poetry-teaching book you were putting together?. Any news?

  14. A great word to use to help yourself find direction and stay on course! Have a happy and success-filled 2015, Laura. By the way, this reminded me…I’ve been wondering whatever happened to that poetry-teaching book you were putting together?. Any news?

  15. Laura,

    I am enjoying your site and your poems. I like that they are concrete, simple, yet explain BIG concepts to young children. These poems are happy, colorful and would be very, very interesting to children.

    I also love your choice of the word embrace for 2015.

    I am a teacher and an author. My most recent children’s book is called Imagine That!, a book of meditation stories and activities for children at YouthLight, Inc. I,too, like to use nature in my writing.

    What you are doing, and I hope I am also contributing to this, is to help children understand their world.

    Congratulations on your achievements, Laura!

    1. Thanks, Janis, and congratulations on your book! Yes! That is my overarching goal–help kids understand and love our amazing world. That’s why my blog tagline (even though I don’t use this enough anywhere else) is Writing the World for Kids. I want to write about the world, especially but not always the natural world, and I also think books can Right the World, so it’s a subtle double-meaning, too. (Of course, sometimes I just write stuff I think is funny or silly or interesting, too.) Lovely to be on this journey with you and other writers and teachers!

  16. Laura,

    I am enjoying your site and your poems. I like that they are concrete, simple, yet explain BIG concepts to young children. These poems are happy, colorful and would be very, very interesting to children.

    I also love your choice of the word embrace for 2015.

    I am a teacher and an author. My most recent children’s book is called Imagine That!, a book of meditation stories and activities for children at YouthLight, Inc. I,too, like to use nature in my writing.

    What you are doing, and I hope I am also contributing to this, is to help children understand their world.

    Congratulations on your achievements, Laura!

    1. Thanks, Janis, and congratulations on your book! Yes! That is my overarching goal–help kids understand and love our amazing world. That’s why my blog tagline (even though I don’t use this enough anywhere else) is Writing the World for Kids. I want to write about the world, especially but not always the natural world, and I also think books can Right the World, so it’s a subtle double-meaning, too. (Of course, sometimes I just write stuff I think is funny or silly or interesting, too.) Lovely to be on this journey with you and other writers and teachers!

    1. Thank you, Margaret! It was so wonderful to meet you in person–will you be at IRA or NCTE this year?

    1. Thank you, Margaret! It was so wonderful to meet you in person–will you be at IRA or NCTE this year?

    1. Thanks, Diana, and happy 2015! Embracing the writing itself is usually not my problem…it’s all those other things that go along with career-building. But they’re a package deal. So, I need to prioritize, ditch some, and embrace the rest!

    1. Thanks, Diana, and happy 2015! Embracing the writing itself is usually not my problem…it’s all those other things that go along with career-building. But they’re a package deal. So, I need to prioritize, ditch some, and embrace the rest!

  17. What a terrific word. You’ve built in discernment right there! Mine is Clarity. Last year it was Patience, the year before Fiat! I’ve found this a great way to work on the qualities I need to develop. Thanks for your lovely post. Happy New Year, Laura!

    1. Happy New Year, Vijaya! Good to hear from you:>) Ah, Clarity. That is a wonderful word and something I am constantly looking for:>)

  18. What a terrific word. You’ve built in discernment right there! Mine is Clarity. Last year it was Patience, the year before Fiat! I’ve found this a great way to work on the qualities I need to develop. Thanks for your lovely post. Happy New Year, Laura!

    1. Happy New Year, Vijaya! Good to hear from you:>) Ah, Clarity. That is a wonderful word and something I am constantly looking for:>)

  19. Laura,
    Would you be willing to share how you created this poster? I’d like to create some of my own. If you’d like, email me offline.

      1. Laura,
        I appreciate you sending the links. I tried one site out and quickly created a poster. It was easy and user friendly. The poster is for an upcoming post. I’m learning more and more and more technology “tricks,” thanks to people like you who are willing to share!

  20. Laura,
    Would you be willing to share how you created this poster? I’d like to create some of my own. If you’d like, email me offline.

      1. Laura,
        I appreciate you sending the links. I tried one site out and quickly created a poster. It was easy and user friendly. The poster is for an upcoming post. I’m learning more and more and more technology “tricks,” thanks to people like you who are willing to share!

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