Hello there beautiful soul. I’m Liz Lamoreux, and I am filled with anticipation and delight as I take my spot in the Roots of She tribe for the next few months.
I host the Be Present Retreats, teach writing and creative self-care workshops in person and online, and write on my blog Be Present, Be Here.
I am also the author of Inner Excavation: Explore Your Self Through Photography, Poetry, and Mixed Media and the artist behind the Etsy shop Soul Mantras and Other Stories.
My journey to this moment has invited me to believe that:
Seeking joy heals our hearts.
Unpacking the past enables us to be present to this moment and all that is to come.
Creating reminds us of our soul’s deepest truths.
Recognizing the self-care we need helps us remember who we are.
Unearthing our stories and sharing them in community invites us to know we are not alone.
and
Pumpkin cake with brown butter icing can cure almost anything.
A pot of tea shared is the perfect afternoon.
Poetry is a lifeline (and it can be one for you and you and yes even you).
Mumford and Sons turned up louder than it should be playing in my ears is like wearing a favorite sweater.
My daughter’s laughter heals my heart every single day.
As I share my stories here for the next few months, I hope to shine a light on truth, love, joy, and what is real so we can all remember that we are walking our paths side by side.
Living from wholeness
For the last few years, I have worked with the practice of choosing a word to focus on throughout the year. I choose my word in December and then spend time thinking about it and journaling about it in early January. And I create a necklace with my word that I wear as a reminder throughout the year. This year, I also followed along with Ali Edwards and her “One Little Word” class.
I love how choosing a word invites me to let go of having resolutions I might or might not keep, and instead gently pushes me to look forward with self-kindness and think about how I most want the next year to unfold. As I think about all that could happen in a year, I want my word to be a companion that brings me back to center amidst whatever beauty and uncertainty await.
My word for 2012 appeared during a conversation with my friend (and incredible coach) Nona Jordan. As we talked, the word that kept appearing was “whole.” We talked about how, through my work, I invite others to shine a light on their paths and their stories, and how I believe that in any given moment we can hold all that is real and honor it. We can hold the truth, courage, beauty, fear, and sadness that one moment can bring and still see the joy that surrounds us. This is living with an open heart. This is living with your whole self.
Yes.
And then Nona asked me a question that has deepened my experience with choosing my word: “What would this time next year look like if you leaned into living from a place of whole(ness)?”
As I thought about this question, I felt those pinpricking tears on the back of my eyes and began to breathe deeply as the answer settled around me, inside me. Here is a glimpse into some of the journaling I did after our conversation:
2012 was the year…
I showed up as me and shed how or who they think I should be.
I gave myself the gift of yoga several days a week.
I said “thank you” more.
I started fewer emails with variations on “I’m sorry it has taken me so long to reply…”
I trusted the answers I heard within.
I said “no” when my gut told me to.
I created stronger boundaries.
I shared the truth more.
I spent more time breathing than reacting.
I stood tall in the beauty and the shit that is each day, that is living, and I stayed true to me.
I gave myself the gift of knowing I am enough and believing it.
I learned to have more patience with my husband and remembered each day that he too is enough.
I spent more time nurturing relationships with my family and friends than I spent online.
I continued to let go of the expectations of others.
I opened my heart to love in ways I never thought possible.
As I read through this list again, I think I might stand in front of my bathroom mirror on the morning of January 1 and say, “As I focus on living with a whole heart in 2012, this will be the year I will show up as me and shed how or who they think I should be. I will give myself the gift of yoga…” and so on. I will say these words out loud and let these intentions sink into my cells.
An Invitation
As you look to 2012, consider choosing a word to focus on as a practice throughout the year. This word could represent what you hope to manifest or the light you want to feel as you experience all that is to come or the companion you feel you most need right now. Maybe you already have a soul mantra or phrase or quote that you use as you navigate your life.
After you choose your word or phrase, I invite you to think about what this time next year might look like if you gave yourself the gift of really living your word or phrase. Consider making a list that begins with “2012 was the year I…”
Thank you. I love the idea of choosing a word instead of resolutions. I have so many: trust! Expand! Softness. Thank you for giving me something to think about and to connect with. I also love choosing a symbol to represent what you want to invoke. Like a Phoenix, or a root.
My experience is that once I choose a word, the universe affirms it for me, almost immediately. That comes in the form of the word showing up everywhere-in emails, in coversation, in a piece of artwork from a friend, in the lyrics of a song…. I think in truth, I am not picking the word so much as the word is picking me.
I’m keeping my heart and mind open to whatever word 2012 sees fit to bring into my consciousness. I know it will be a good one. I will be posting about 2011′s word before the end of the week. 2011 was SYNERGY.
And again, THANK YOU for the “Luminary” pendant. While this was an old word of the year, I feel its resonance throughout my life. When I wear it, it reminds me that my life’s purpose is to strengthen and enrich the lives of those around me. I am my best self when I am helping and serving others.
Usually a word comes to mind quickly as I do this process. This year I find myself dancing between a few words. I’m letting that be ok for now as I’m pretty sure one will take the lead as I continue to dance.
Happy to be in the Winter Tribe with you!
[...] from the sky, as i held my big fat mug of joe and i hopped over to roots of she to read my friend liz’s featured post. and the swirling of words began funneling down into my head. this year i have a clear view of that [...]
[...] tried it before, consider doing so this year. Here are some thoughts and guidelines from Liz Lamoreux at RootsofShe.com and Sandra Pawula of [...]
Liz, this is as beautiful as you.
2012 will be the year I support ever more gorgeous souls like you to bloom fully in your absolute brilliance and light.
Thank you for sharing your gifts and your light with the world.
xoxo.nona
I chose LESS as my word for 2012, inspired by Liz Tamanaha’s word this year and the fact that I have so much crap (junk, weight, anger) that I need to get rid of. Thinking ahead, this will be a perfect word to talk about next year. All the possibilities of accomplishment and success-I can’t wait for Jan 1!
What an amazing idea to write from next year’s perspective. I’m going to write one right now. Thank you for your beautiful writing and being vulnerable. I’m excited to be joining you this summer for the Story retreat.
My word is intentional. After a battle with cancer, I know that life is short. I finally got my head out of my ass, and decided to live with intention and accomplish all the items on my life list. Life is good when you decide to actually live.
Blessings.
Firstly, I think I’m in love with you. I was smitten, then the Mumford and Sons comment made me swoon. Hard. I hope you’re ok with that
Secondly, I am meditating on my word and will be committing my focus on it this year. Thank you for your words and inspiration. You are lovely.
Deanna
I love those lists, and the idea of choosing a word for the year is perfect.
Mine is ‘kindness’. Kindness towards others without judgement, but mainly kindness towards myself. I will start listening to the wants and needs of my soul, and begin treating myself the way I wish to be treated by others. I will take more time to get to know myself and pursue my creative interests, and I will put the things I truly love first in my life.
I look forward to reading more from you!
[...] when I saw this post from Liz, I knew that I needed to take the time and look “back” on this next [...]
[...] discovered the idea of choosing a word from a blog which later led me to an online course taught by Ali Edwards. I signed up for the course (of [...]