creative Therapy: one word

Seriously, I'm having a blast with all this art making that I am doing.  I'm following creative Therapy's monthly prompts, and putting them in the same altered book I am working on for A Year in the Life of an Art Journal. 

The prompt:  one word or focus in 2011

I never seem to be able to follow the rules so I chose two words.  That's okay, right?  I first chose the word Adventure, because I wanted to throw myself into doing and living without overthinking or overplanning or worrying myself out of it.  Things don't need to be a "right way."  (I'm even fussing with this blog post because I'm not sure if this is "right" or "good"!)  I also found that the word shows up a lot when I'm thinking about something I loved doing, or something I'm looking forward to doing.  It makes good, fun sense.  And for some reason, saying Adventure! to myself seems to work. 

I've also chosen the word Hope because I have been struggling to hold on to it.  This week I realized that I was struggling with this when I said "I don't know why I even bother to be hopeful" - referring to my clients (and my office, and our resources, and our pay).  Nonetheless, shameful, and unacceptable.  I chastised myself as I sat with a client, and realized that sometimes I have nothing but hope to hold onto and I cling desperately to it, because he needs it.  And deserves it.  And, I realized I've given up hope for some things that are very important to me, but seem unattainable.  I don't think its time to let those go.

And the two feel like they go together.  They keep me balanced. 

*please excuse the tabs at the top!