3 S.R. Johannes: My 2009 Word of the Year!

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

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.

(PS Stings hot! Can i get a woot woot!)

11 comments:

Katie Anderson said...

Wow! G R E A T post!!!!!!!

Breathe.... aahhhhh

Vivian Mahoney said...

Love your word! I've linked to it in my post.

Here's to a great New Year!

L.C. Gant said...

Hello, Shelli! What a great post! How many of us would be a lot more sane if we could just learn to breathe...

I love the concept of this blog. I'm pretty clueless when it comes to marketing, so I look forward to learning from a true expert. Best of luck on learning to breathe in the new year!

Shelli (srjohannes) said...

Thx Katie - I know you love this one - yoga girl :)
shelli

Shelli (srjohannes) said...

thx Vivian - i love the other words you linked to.

Shelli (srjohannes) said...

thx LC - glad to have you!

Anonymous said...

I'm so impressed that two of your books got to acquisitions meetings. Very cool. I understand how frustrating it must be to make it that far and not go all the way, though. The idea of it makes me want to bang my head against my desk.

Good luck with the agents.

Shelli (srjohannes) said...

Lisa - better so close than so far - right?

Carrie Harris said...

Sting IS hot. My friend and I saw him in concert about two years ago, and it was beyond fabulous!

I like your word for the year. I didn't pick one, but I suppose that if I had to, it would be "snarf." The Year of the Snarf has a nice ring to it, I think.

Anonymous said...

I agree, Sting is hot. My brother met him at some fancy fundraiser. Sting was there to auction off his guitar. Bidding wasn't going so well so they asked him to play a song on it. Bidding still was a little low. Some lady yelled "Take off your shirt!" He did. Played his song. And the bids went thru the roof!

Unknown said...

I can't believe I am just seeing this post now. Sting... my first love. He is a sex GOD!!!

Ok. yes. back to the important part of this post. Are you breathing?

Oh- one more thing-

WOOT! WOOT!!!!!!!!