I spent New Year’s eve in Providence with my soulsister, Elizabeth. Alas, jet lag and a sinus infection meant my usual intention setting gave way to an early night, which is why today’s new moon feels like my new new year. This morning the sun is shining and I sense the antibiotics are starting to do their thing. I’ve spent the last hour trimming the borders off a deck of tarot cards to help the imagery sing (I talk about making the cards your own in my Daily Guidance class which I’m OBSESSED with right now) and I have an afternoon of reading stretching ahead of me #benefitsofbeingsick.
My word for 2015 was NOURISH and what a deeply powerful word choice that was. NOURISH got me through open surgery, a 100-hour yoga immersion, a summer of dating, the birth of a new website and massive new course, and the need to retreat these last few months. “Does this feel nourishing?” was my constant companion last year. “Does this feed my soul? Does this feel good?”
NOURISH is informing how I spend today and is helping me get my health back. I learned that nourish is giving myself plenty of breathing space when creating new projects. Nourish is drinking more water. Nourish is taking a break from dating when I need it. Nourish is audiobooks and podcasts and sheepskin rugs and a new sofa. Nourish is white lined Moleskines and a Nespresso machine, incense and homemade soup. Nourish is drawings by my nephew arriving through my letterbox. Nourish is impromptu plane ticket purchases and new friendships — and quiet time alone in my own bed. Nourish is meditation and it is not meditation. Nourish is frankincense essential oil. Nourish is conversations with my neighbours and ignoring text messages when I feel overwhelmed.
NOURISH has been my favourite Word of the Year to date and rather than let it go in favour of a new word (though I have one of those) NOURISH is coming with me as I step into this new year and beyond. It’s a soul word, that’s for sure.
So what about 2016?
My new word chose me a long time ago but I have been reluctant to use it. Every year I dance with it, and every year I back away from it, choosing other words that in hindsight were definitely what I needed more. And still this word calls to me…. And now I am ready to step into it.
I know this is going to be a year of LOVE because it’s already begun. While staying with Elizabeth I fell madly in love with her dog, Ollie, and ohmystars, the feeling was mutual. Apart from our family dog, Sadie — who I still dream about — I have never felt such an immediate connection to an animal before. I honestly can’t stop thinking about him with his sweet face and soft ears and gentle demeanour. Elizabeth’s “Daily Ollie” emails to me are helping with the transition :)
I’d been pondering how funny — and maybe silly — it is to fall for a dog and declare him your #dogsoulmate but then it hit me on the plane ride home — of COURSE this would happen now! This is my year of LOVE and I’ve started it exactly as I mean to go on — with a thumping heart and fluttery eyelids, broken wide open to serendipity.
So yes, 2016 is my Year of LOVE. Love for my family as we welcome my new nephew into the world in May. Love for my friends as connections ripen and deepen. Love for myself as I recommit, over and over, to looking after myself on every level: heart, body and soul. Love for my community as I share new courses and bring people together to explore their innate creativity. And the blossoming of romantic Love in my life again. I am so ready to meet my guy, so ready to write this next chapter of my story and (re)learn all the blessed lessons that come when you share your life with another human being. I have been on my own for 11 years and I am whole and complete. And I am ready to find another soul who is also whole and complete and up for walking this path with me, side by side.
May it be so.
What’s your word for 2016?
[Photo of Ollie by Forrest | photo of me and Ollie by Elizabeth]
My Word’s ANSWER (the verb)… I want to answer the tappings on my heart, to answer the call to serve, to learn, to bless…
May 2016 bring you all your heart wants and all your soul needs, dear Susannah :)
Just saw this and thought of you xx
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/224217756/25-off-love-monogram-tumblers-plain?ref=shop_home_active_1
I can feel your lovely energy as you declare your word and intention. I’m sure it will be so and look forward to hearing all about it (when you are ready to share!). My word is also LOVE…You state my intention so well: “Love for myself as I recommit, over and over, to looking after myself on every level: heart, body and soul. ” I will ask myself “What would Love do? What would love say?” in every interaction.
Thank you so much for this love letter. It is sweet and honest just like you. Good vibes going your way to helo you find all the love you deserve… Your guy is somewhere too trying to find you ??.
My word for 2016 is Faith. I have faith in humanity, good people, faith in God and the universe, i have Faith that my sister and dear cusin will get better . I have Faith in being a better person for my husband dauthers, dear friends and family.
I totally get the love for an animal, you should get yourself a dog! I sense a lot of calm and grounding in your words and have a feeling that 2016 will show you love in a most surprising way. My word is FLOW and oh my, I’ve never felt such a strong connection to a word before. And then someone pointed out that it reads WOLF backwards! I’m on an amazing weight loss journey, shedding so much more than lbs and gaining a new relationship with myself and food, and these two words are already helping so much. I have a good feeling about this year and wish you lots of love for sure xo
All about the #dogsoulmate and OH that little face! <3
I wish for you ALL that you wish for your self this year, and more besides. You deserve every last little bit of it.
xx
My word this year is NATURE. A reminder that in order for me to be balanced and happy, I need to be out there in nature loads. Also a reminder to live more in tune with my true nature and also that natural things are best for me. I want to invite as much of nature into my life as is good and healthy for me.
Beautiful, Susannah.
My word: BALANCED. It’s both intention and statement of fact. By year’s end, optimally, it’ll be one and the same. And so it is.
This is the first time I have done this process and my word for the year is UNCURL. I learned very young to curl into myself and let the pain and sadness roll off me, as far as possible. Except all kinds of good stuff rolls off and away, too. So now it’s time to uncurl and receive as well as to uncurl and set some boundaries on what I definitely don’t want to receive, thank you so much! And, occasionally, to curl up and rest peacefully, knowing that I can uncurl when it’s time.
Totally get the dog-love – my miniature schnauzer, Barty, died about 15 months ago and he was absolutely my best friend.
My word this year is ‘release’. I’m in a phase of transition, and there’s a lot that needs to fall away…. From the clutter in my home, to relationships that I’ve been holding onto despite the fact it’s become clear that holding on isn’t to anybody’s benefit anymore, to control over just about everything… It’s just time to release it all in 2016.
My word for the year is Glow. I didn’t want it. I wanted something more imperative, but nothing else felt right.
So my intention this year is to be a steady source of warmth and light for myself and others. Just that.
Last year I chose Thrive, and I feel like I did that. It was an intense action-packed year. So it makes sense I am now gravitating to something gentler, as an integrating/stabilizing influence. I hope you find all the love you are looking for and more. That is my wish for you.
Oh, I love this so much and can totally relate to your precarious dance with your new word. Last year my word was “effervescent.” It was unusual, but I surrendered and discovered it was the perfect word to remind me how to come back to life after working through grief.
This year I’m working with elegance, and already have discovered it’s power when I was faced with a difficult situation last week and had to ask myself, “What would Elegance do in this case?” I was very surprised with what Elegance had to say, and most pleased with the outcome of following her guidance.
This is wonderful! I have had that experience with certain dogs before and it is so amazing. A good dog is like a big hug over and over. Hopefully there will be more soul dogs in your future closer to home.
My word this year was Shine. I knew it was right because I didn’t want it- it made me nervous and excited like a teenager meeting a cute boy for the first time. Last year’s word was Replenish, which I loved and I think I will keep it as a soul word- great idea. But now, as I make sure to keep the replenish meter on, I feel ready to step out into the world and Shine Shine Shine. It feels good and scary all at once.
Many hugs to you.
Thank you so much Susannah, for doing what you do, and for sharing your journey and your soul! What a gift it is for us all! I look forward to reading your future posts and hearing about the LOVE that will be blooming in your life as you open your heart to experience it’s many riches.
I have been picking a word for the past few years now, and this year I was torn between two very similar words; Nourish and Nurture. Both are from the same Latin root of nutritus/nutritura. I have thus decided to claim them both and see where they lead me. Nurture feels like an ‘active’ word, whereas nourish sparks the energy of receiving, within me. I am pleased to hear you had such wonderful experiences with the word yourself, and that you are carrying it over into this New Year, as well. I look to the future ready to nurture projects, goals, and opportunities, and nourish myself as needed along the way!
Nameste!
How beautiful. Wishing you all the best for this year. Your posts are always such a pleasure to read.
After much thought my word is KINDNESS, to others and more importantly to myself. Being kind to others is something that I have always tried to do anyway, so it just seemed natural to progress into being kind to myself. I can’t imagine my life without a dog in it. The relationship between a girl and her pup is a beautiful thing. They feed my soul and calm my nerves, they are always there loving you where you stand.
Thank you for all you do to help me along on this journey. Peace.
A beautiful post Susannah – one of my favourites for sure! I’m crossing all my fingers and toes for you to meet that special man soon xxx
beautiful susannah! and I am wishing you and your LOVE year, so much LOVE :)
Ollie looks like my sister’s beloved dog who went by Rusty. he was THEEE best dog evah!! so loving, so peaceful, and loyal! so happy to meet you soul dog :) xo
My word is “self-sovereignty.” I wish you all the love you truly deserve, Susannah!
My word for 2016 is ‘shine.’ Yesterday I made a new sticky note for my desk at the office & my word showed up later that night at home in a big way. Choosing a word is so powerful. I find that when I look back on my former words, I see how there is both a light & dark element that makes up each word I’ve chosen. Good luck on the dating adventures & finding your person! I’m not sure I’m quite ready to jump back into that (how weird it is to be dating in your 40’s right?) … I think I have some last remaining stuff to work through.
Thanks for sharing this! My word this is year is “awareness.” I felt like it encompassed so many things – my desire to pay attention to what my body needs, a reminder to slow down and breathe, an subtle encouragement to be more mindful. I love how you make sure to carry over your previous words into the next year. I will have to do the same!
Once you revealed your word all I hear in my head is The Beatles “All you need is Love”, and that is the truth isn’t it. My word is Transcend, I even made a poem about it with a picture I took of the Full Christmas Moon, it’s on my side bar on my blog if you want to check it out, it also involves love.
SHINE is my Word for 2016.
Letting my inner light SHINE bright
like the stars
in the darkness and silence
of the night.
Happy New Year Susannah!
Been loving and enjoying your beautiful December gifts to us, thank you!
Beautiful photo of you and Ollie together… i get your mutual love bond, My word for 2016 is INTEGRATE as suddenly, miraculously, all the learnings and yearnings of my life so far have started to come together and melded to make me whole and it feels so amazing and new…. Integrated. Thank you for helping me to journal my way to this point and for guiding me to my word x
LOVE is a beautiful word. But what does it really mean? What is love? I live every day without love, true love, THE one, THE ONLY one. A lifetime without love it’s long… I haven’t chosen any word. I’m not in the mood.
Many years ago when my lads were wee, we had dogs. One of them was very bonded to me. Oh, he was my special love. Followed me everywhere, even into the loo, lol. Now we have cats. And one of them is very bonded to me. Ginger Baker is definitely mama’s boy. Animals are special, can be soulmates, it’s not silly at all.
Wishing you many blessings on your journey towards LOVE.
My word … DISSONANCE.
LOVE. LOVE. this idea! Gave me a whole new perspective on new years rituals. My word is… CREATE.