Word for the Year: Nurture

My word for 2014 was “self-care”. Didn’t do too well on that one. I meant to be saying goodbye to my self-destructive tendencies, including eating disorder issues. Didn’t work out. In fact, my binge eating spiraled even more out of control than it already was and I had some bad self-harming episodes. On the up side, however, I did start art therapy, which has been a good experience. Let’s hope for an even better one this year.

This year, I’m choosing a similar but broader theme for the year, which is “nurture”. It refers to both better self-care and nurturing my creativity. I do hope art therapy proves to be a good medium for this. My first art therapy session this year, yesterday, wasn’t too great, but my creative endeavors in recreational therapy have been fruitful. I plan on carrying one of the media I use there, polymer clay, over to art therapy next week. Below I finally show you the polymer clay frog I made a few weeks ago. I’ve made many more things out of polymer clay and hope to keep up the work.

In addition, I hope the year will be one where I can nurture my relaltionship with God. I hope my faith will both be strengthened and strengthen me this year. I have made a good start by joining a Bible journaling community on Facebook, and plan on writing more faith-based posts here on the blog. Of course, I know some of my relatives and readers hold different beliefs to mine, and that’s okay.

Besides “nurture”, I have several other words spinning through my head that might be additional themes for the year. “Perspective” comes to mind, as I do hope to finally gain some perspective on where and how I’m going to live after leaving the psychiatric institution. It is, however, also important to keep having a perspective when nurturing myself. I didn’t have one back last year. Now, at least in the eating department, I have the goal of losing weight, and I have a target weight in mind. I am not too good with setting such targets in the creatvity department, but this goal is hope-motivated too.

“Hope” iis another possible theme. Most of my goals for this year are worded in a way to formulate what I want to reach, not what I want to avoid. This is much more positive than last year’s acrostic, which started out by naming all the negatives in which I wasn’t caring for myself. I truly hope to make this year a year with a positive outlook.

11 thoughts on “Word for the Year: Nurture”

Nurture is a beautiful word Astrid. I am loving your clay frog, he is so cute. Nice to meet you via Mama Kat 🙂

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I am so happy to hear about your positive outlook for this new year! Art is very therapeutic and you did an awesome job with your clay frog. Keep up the good work and keep nurturing yourself and your faith!

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Art therapy sounds wonderful! I think we all could use a little art therapy. What great plans you have for this year! I’m excited to keep reading your blog to see how you nurture your creativity. 🙂

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Nurture is a great word. We must first take care of ourselves to take care of others and to be creative.

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Being positive; looking at the glass half full rather than half empty is going to get your New Year off to a great start! I love the word nurture. We all need to take the time to nurture ourselves, whether it be physical, emotional, mental, creative, or other. Good luck in your endeavors!

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Self Care is so important and I’m glad you are making it a priority this year! I know it’s hard, I struggle with it myself.

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I commend your efforts and hope that this time next year you will truly feel nurtured. Wishing you a peaceful heart and wonderful new year.

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“Nurture” is a great word for the year. I like how you applied it to both self-care and nurturing your artistic side. May I recommend a book to go along with your art and your faith journey? It’s called The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron. It’s basically a 12-week program that helps you discover the creative nature God gave you.

Good health and happiness to you in this new year!

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