My 3 Words For 2010
I’ve been away for awhile. Holiday as it were.
My time away from this space has been good and refreshing and needed. As I jump back into the swing of things and into 2010 - a year filled with much anticipation (I turn 30 at the end of the month, for example), I’m finding that I need some direction.
Inspired by Clay Herbert, who was originally inspired by Chris Brogan, I’ve decided to declare 3 words that I hope to mark 2010 with. They aren’t resolutions so much as they are things I want to be about. Themes. Guides. You’ll see.
1. CONTEMPLATE Somewhere during the 16 months of working in one of the largest mega churches in North America, I lost my ability to contemplate. There are many reasons for this, not the least of which is the degree to which I produced products vs. contemplated experiences. I stopped writing. I stopped reading. I stopped stopping. My lack of contemplation has had other dire consequences: when I don’t think, read, dream, or sit for even just a moment, I start to panic. And when I panic, I steal, and copy, and things start coming out sideways. So, enough of that already. Contemplation, here we come.
2. CONNECT A sad but true residual effect of my lack of contemplation has been my lack of connection both with others and with myself. There are friendships that I long to reconnect with. I want to connect more with my wife. I want to connect more with myself. Simply stated. Harder to do. I know there is much work to be done in this area. Therapy is certainly helping and a great many phone calls might as well.
3. CREATE My job is to make things - experiences, videos, open spaces. However, I find myself often asking, “what am I creating that isn’t for my job?”. And so in 2010, I want to make more meals. Paint more walls. Draw more drawings. Design more things. Write more words. And yet I don’t want to these acts to be solely solitary. I’m excited to curate partnerships with people to collaborate with this year. So, with pen in hand, here we go.
Why am I sharing these with you? For a few reasons actually…
- To begin with, I need to declare these for myself. If you don’t say these kinds of things out loud or write them down, they tend not to really exist.
- In declaring them publicly I’m asking for you, the readers of this blog, to hold me accountable. I give you full freedom to check up on me. Call me out if you see something you don’t like, or are not seeing something you think you should be.
- I’m sharing with the hope that you might also be inspired to join me in naming the 3 or 4 words you will choose to be about this year.
HERE’S HOW
Below are a few thoughts that might be helpful for those of you willing to take me up on this little challenge:
- Don’t think of your words as resolutions, think of them more as aspirations. Joshua Blankeship expands on this here.
- Imagine your words as your lighthouse, something that can actually guide you. Chris Brogan expands here.
- Ultimately these words must move you to action and purpose.
The task of developing your words might come very easily or it might take some time. (It took me a few weeks). If you’d be so kind, please share your words below to inspire the rest of the gang. Onward friends! Onward!
Come my tan-faced children,
Follow well in order, get your weapons ready,
Have you your pistols? have you your sharp-edged axes?
Pioneers! O pioneers!
For we cannot tarry here,
We must march my darlings, we must bear the brunt of danger,
We the youthful sinewy races, all the rest on us depend,
Pioneers! O pioneers!
O you youths, Western youths,
So impatient, full of action, full of manly pride and friendship,
Plain I see you Western youths, see you tramping with the foremost,
Pioneers! O pioneers!
All the past we leave behind,
We debouch upon a newer mightier world, varied world,
Fresh and strong the world we seize, world of labor and the march,
Pioneers! O pioneers!
We detachments steady throwing,
Down the edges, through the passes, up the mountains steep,
Conquering, holding, daring, venturing as we go the unknown ways,
Pioneers! O pioneers!
