My 2009 Word of the Year!

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My 2009 Word of the Year!

Breathe!

2008 was kind of a weird year for me. A year of change. A year of anxiety. A year of passion. A year of ups and downs.

My hubby was recuperating from major back surgery. He had to go to Germany for 6 weeks, when my son was 6 months old, and have 2 discs replaced. It has been a long recovery, financially, physically, and mentally.

In addition, my dog died. Which I am sure happens a lot. But it was the first death I have experienced close to e since my grandmother dies when I was 13ish. So it scared me. It scared me about losing those people close to me.

My parents. My hubby. My kids. My other dog.

We decided not to have any more kids. Which sounds normal but it was a very sad process for me to come to terms with. Not that I was positive I wanted another one, but just the chance or possibility was enough for me.

2008 was also the year I finished my YA novel as well as a few other projects. In 2007, My first MG Fantasy made it all the way to 2 Acquisitions meetings with 2 editors (I didn't try for agents). I was so frustrated with the process and getting so close, I became discouraged and stopped writing for a long time. Until I met Jessica Dehart and joined our critique group. It was then that I pushed forward and finished my YA book as well as wrote a Nonfiction book that made it to the top 2 in Acquisitions with American Girl. (Again, so close!)

I also began subbing my YA book to a carefully-selected agents (Stay tuned.)

Finally, I ended 2008 with 3 months of sickness including this dang inner ear infection that won't go away. One whose only side effect was a massive case of Vertigo. This ear infection has prevented me from doing a lot. Yoga, enjoying the holidays, writing, and more. Its been frustrating and given me a lot of time to lay and think about where I am in my life. And where I want to be.

I am one to believe that energy manifests itself in our bodies and spirit.

Therefore, I've decided I am in my head too much.

So this year is about healing, about hope, about being grateful, about living in the moment, about having faith in the process.

This year is simply about breathing.

I find even though I am a yoga girl, sometimes I hold my breath especially when I write.

So I need to breathe more.

Not the shallow chest breathing that we tend to do automatically.

I'm talking about the deep, meaningful breaths “belly breaths.”

Did you know that deep, rhythmic breathing expands your diaphragm which stimulates your lymphatic system and massages your organs.? This helps get rid itself of toxins and leaves more room for your body to take in oxygen which keeps your cells alive.

A bit scientific.

But interesting.

After not feeling my best lately and knowing I'm getting older, I realize I take my body for granted. I don't' feed my body the same way I try so hard to feed my soul with writing or whatever else makes me happy and content.

I realize I don't spend one moment of silence with myself the way I used to when I was single. before kids.

I'm always busy.

Busy working, writing, running around with kids, cooking dinner, playdates, doing laundry, cleaning, doing dishes, paying bills, driving, eating, drinking.

There does not seem to be one moment in the day where I just breathe. Meditate. Sit still.

That is one of my 2009 New Years Resolutions.

To breathe.

Sounds easy, right?

There's a saying: "I write for the same reason I breathe -- because if I didn't, I would die."

Last year, my word was write.

I'm writing more.

This year, I just need to breath.

For "every breathe I take" helps me live a little more.

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