a lovely word, a token for a thousand more: a l i v e n e s s.
i was pretty pleased with myself because i thought i made up this word (this is not unusual for me, the making up of my own words). the word enters my mind now and then when i work to describe a moment or feeling, bright and shiny and safe and vibrating. and even though it felt a bit silly using a concocted word, it also felt very very right.
alas, it's a real word, official, in the dictionary and all. who knew? and its definition is almost precisely how i was using it. it's my spirit word for twenty-fourteen.
a l i v e n e s s of spirit: present, aware, mindful, recognition, conscious, connection, bodhi, sentience, enlightenment, adventure, diversity, equanimity, daring, creating and loving art and story.
a l i v e n e s s of body: movement, breath, groundedness, yoga, ease, lightness, being rested, energy, fingers in paint and glue, feet on forest floor and in pacific tidepools, clean and beautiful food.
a l i v e n e s s of mind: intuition, knowledge, discernment, curiosity, reading, attention, experience, writing and hearing stories, focus, learning learning learning.
these are the things that make me come alive. i'm ready to have/do/live more of them.
i painted a wee reminder of my word on a wood block and it's hanging right next to my bathroom mirror.
do you have a word for the year? i'd love to hear it. whenever i read/hear someone's word, i whisper it aloud and envision them being/having/experiencing it. i love the idea of a million little whispered words floating through space like tiny white downy baby bird feathers.
