2012 Word

So, plenty of people have, in the past few years or so, came up with one word to summarize how they're going to define their next calendar year.

Cute... But I've always thought it was a bunch of hooey. Then I got an unexpected Christmas gift in the mail that at first, was benign.... But then the actual gift itself presented itself in such a profound way, I've actually been sitting this past week trying to figure out how to articulate the meaning of this gift TO ME.

If you're a reader of this blog (and I apologize if you are, since I've been so quiet the past few months) you know I'm self employed, as a graphic designer. I do mainly print work, for the medical/pharmaceutical field, but at the end of 2009, I acquired a client in the VA field (VA= virtual assistant)

Over the course of time since acquiring this client, many other VA's have employed my services. Most of my work for VA'S is artwork for *their* clients, many of which are life/professional coaches. As time went on, apparently my work hit the radar of some of the biggest names in the industry. I was thrilled... And a little overwhelmed. Currently, I get 2-10 blind requests from people who use these coaches, asking for help to make their products look their very best (ebooks, DVDs, CDs, hardcover books, audio recordings, websites, etc). I'm blessed, albeit a bit meloncholy having to start telling potential clients "no, sorry... Too busy"

One of my life-coach clients sent over a box of chocolates from a local chocolatier to her (Ashville, NC) It had one dozen high quality chocolates in the box.

Looking at it, at first, I was upset.... because I wasn't going to be eating them. They don't fit in my current weight-loss/healthy scheme.

Then I thought about it....... and decided that perhaps some of my struggles lately with foods, are because I haven't been letting myself have anything that I've decided is outside of my healthy eating regime. So I thought, what if I let myself have one small food item each day, that I want.... regardless of where it falls on the nutritional table? BUT...... there's a catch. I have to take my time, I need to stop, breathe, and slowly eat that item.

At the same time, that life coach sent out her weekly ezine, and with it, came a free download to her "Word of the Year" ebook, that included worksheets, and insight to a word of the year.

Over the course of the week.... one word kept coming back to me. With thoughts of the chocolates, what a kind gift it was, her ebook...... this word came back over and over.

So...... my word for 2012 is:

SAVOR