Sandra Heska King

daring to open doors

  • Home
  • About
  • DISCLOSURES
    • Amazon Affiliate
    • Book Reviews
  • Published
  • Contact
  • Blog
    • Commit Poetry
    • Dared

A Most Shocking #OneWord for 2018

January 8, 2018 By Sandra Heska King

 

The man, wearing a burgundy Florida State University t-shirt emblazoned with the words, “Lethal Simplicity,” nodded as we approached each other on a recent walk around the neighborhood. “And how are we today?” he asked.

“Simply fine,” I responded and laughed as his golden retriever pulled him on past. I thought of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. “People come and go so quickly here.”

But it’s not entirely true. Sure, I’ve passed lots of people with plugs in their ears and glistening temples and sweet shoes. They nod, maybe grunt and are gone with the wind. Back in the day, I could walk miles down country roads and never lock eyes with someone on their feet. But here I get to pet dogs that are out walking their people and have lingered for long conversations with several. Several people, that is. Well, maybe I’ve talked to dogs, too. And maybe they actually did respond.

Also, we have great neighbors. One always pulls our trash can and recycling bins up to our garage after pickup, and the young man next door (possibly inspired by his father) power-washed our sidewalk and street gutter after we drew our second “go to HOA jail” card. The first involved washing our roof, but instead we replaced the flat concrete shingles with those terra cotta barrel tiles. That same young man and his brother helped my husband take down our window boards after Hurricane Irma blew through. Buying those and hanging them with a handyman’s help was an experience we’d prefer not to repeat. We’re now looking into shutters and hurricane glass.

Part of me was a little disappointed that we didn’t lose power for more than a few hours. We’d been told of street parties following Hurricane Matthew (or was it Andrew?) where neighbors pooled meal supplies and ate together.

Anyway, we’ve been riding quite the rollercoaster of new things and first experiences starting two years ago this month with a major remodel of the family farmhouse we planned to live in forever. (Or at least I did.) Now we live in a tropical climate a thousand miles away from snow and sub-zero temperatures and frozen water pipes. Now we live where women thrill to don sweaters and high fashion boots when the temperature approaches 60 degrees and where it rains iguanas when it plummets below 50.

But I digress. This post is supposed to be about my #OneWord. I’ve been operating in a stillness mode for years, and that, I think, is why you’ve come to visit–if you have. My tag line today still reads, “focusing. still,” and my mini-meet introduction reads, “I’m Sandra, a camera-toting, recovering doer who’s learning to be. still.” But all that is going to be changing, and the blog is going to morph over the next few weeks. I know. I said that a few months back. I hoped it’d be before now. That was the plan, but my blog whisperer’s and my schedules have been as colorful and crazy as a large spilled bag of M&M’s. And I’ve been trying to find my focus.

#o

Anyway… last year my #OneWord was “light” in all its many contexts. This year, though… are you ready for it? I’m going with DO. Shocking, yes?

And here is a beginning do list in no particular order:

Do… continue to dream.

Do… suck the marrow out of every day (or at least most days.)

Do… be intentional about my health and self-care.

Do… establish a daily routine and try to stick to it.

Do… not procrastinate on things that matter.

Do… dare to try new things and accept (most) dares.

Do… keep my camera battery charged.

Do… practice on my harp(s).

Do… make my bed every morning. First thing.

Do… commit more poetry.

Do… try to think of others more than myself, but don’t neglect me.

Do… be a wild(er) reader.

Do… become a better writer.

Do… be more grateful.

Do… make time to connect with friends face-to-face.

Do… mail gifts early.

Do… laugh more.

Do… be kinder.

Do… listen more.

Do… take time to be still.

Do… continue to say no–but also say yes without thinking too hard and too long.

Do… try to delete drama.

Do… look more on the bright side.

Do… pay attention and be astonished and tell about it as Mary Oliver instructs.

Oh, and…

Do… revamp the blog and actually post regularly on it.

Seriously. I’ve said this before, right? And yikes! I said that before here. Like nine months ago! Maybe that was another pregnancy of sorts

This year I’m going to try to actually DO it, though the content might be different from what you’re used to seeing here.

Seriously. Let’s do this thing. It should be a lethally simple thing to do.

So what is your #OneWord? Do you have one? What do you plan to do this year?

 

Share this:

  • Email
  • Print
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Filed Under: Blog

Comments

  1. Carol J. Garvin says

    January 8, 2018 at 1:16 pm

    I think the success of any endeavour depends on the desire not just to succeed, but to participate…to DO. So I like your One Word. I posted on FB yesterday about the ‘one word stars’ that were distributed in my church. I’m not feeling a lot of enthusiasm today for the one I received, so it may be back to the drawing board for me.

    My focus shifted from my blog to Facebook during 2017. I still posted on the blog, but less frequently, and that was less satisfying to the writer in me. I’m not big on making Resolutions (with a capital ‘R’) but my plan is to return attention to my blog. I might look to you for inspiration. 🙂

    • Sandra Heska King says

      January 8, 2018 at 3:12 pm

      I saw your star. I think you’re pretty generous, especially with encouragement and caring, all the time. 🙂

      What I need to “do” is write down a reminder to come back here to
      1. remind myself of my word and
      2. remind myself of the things I want to do and assess how I’m doing. 😉

      I hope we can inspire each other in 2018.

  2. Sharon O says

    January 8, 2018 at 2:15 pm

    Wonderful word. I love it, my word is simplify. I will follow the guidelines of purge and remove. I suppose DO could fit in my space too. :0)

    • Sandra Heska King says

      January 8, 2018 at 3:06 pm

      I guess “do” could fit in a lot of spaces. And you go with beating that stuff into submission. I’m still fighting…

  3. Colleen says

    January 9, 2018 at 12:19 am

    I love your word ‘Do’. It connotes activity. My word last year was ‘create’ – another word which brings to mind activity. This year my word is ‘Adventure’ – it’s about opening up to the experiences, beauty, and joy that life offers and living with passion, enthusiasm and excitement.

    I wish you well with your word for 2018.

    • Sandra Heska King says

      January 9, 2018 at 1:45 pm

      Hi, Colleen. I’ve just come from exploring your blog and was hooked right away by your Mary Oliver quote on your landing page. Thanks so much for coming by, and I love your word. It was one I toyed with as well. I think we might think along the same lines. 🙂

      Best wishes in your adventures and in finding your dream home.

  4. Martha Orlando says

    January 9, 2018 at 11:09 am

    Absolutely love your “do” list, Sandra! My word for the year? Breathe. You can read why I chose it here: http://marthaorlando.blogspot.com/2018/01/breathe-on-me-breath-of-god.html
    Blessings for the New Year!

    • Sandra Heska King says

      January 9, 2018 at 1:46 pm

      Heading there now. I could add Do… breathe on my list, too. 😀

  5. michelle ortega says

    January 9, 2018 at 11:20 am

    Happy New Year, Sandy! I am so glad to see this post in my mailbox. It sounds like an intentional start of “DO” for you~more focused on the activities you enjoy. My intention came a little differently this year, as INCREASE: well-being, stamina, adventure, peace. For me, that has begun with health and wellness and not letting a busy schedule get in the way of good nutrition, changing my nutrition (gluten-free, dairy free, nightshades free, caffeine free) and increasing yoga, which I already love. It has meant trying new foods (I’m a picky picky one) and cutting out non-essential activities/thoughts for the time being (maybe this first month or two so I can observe and learn more about what’s working for me). And I have a HUGE adventure coming mid-year (traveling). I mentally prepped for this change throughout December, and it’s going surprisingly well so far.:-)

    • Sandra Heska King says

      January 9, 2018 at 2:20 pm

      I love it. It’s super easy to let our schedules take over. I’m glad you are increasing time to devote to you. I think spending a couple months just observing what works and what doesn’t is good. That’s a huge step to cut all of that out of your diet at once–yes? Or maybe you were working toward that anyway. I can’t wait to hear about this new adventure. Are you taking Megan’s class next month? And is drinking more tea on your list?

  6. Linda Chontos says

    January 9, 2018 at 4:00 pm

    It’s a delight to read your words, Sandy. You’ver chosen a good word. It’s funny, I’ve been trying to get away from the “do” mentality, but you are making something good of it.
    It’s been a rough time for our family, but as the Lord so often does, He has surprised me with a word that seems ti be pursuing me. Joy! So unexpected.

    • Sandra Heska King says

      January 9, 2018 at 4:28 pm

      It’s good to be back. I was in that doing thing for so long, but it was a different kind of doing, I think, for different reasons. Before I think it was a matter of needing to feel needed or be seen or feel important or … ? Also, when I gave up calendars and pursued more of just being, I found myself procrastinating or neglecting things that needed doing. Now I want to do what needs to be done with a little more inner stillness–but not neglect the joy and adventure of a day. If that makes sense. There… I just said joy, too. I hope this year brings smoother sailing for your family. Your friendship brings me joy. Love you big.

      • Linda Chontos says

        January 9, 2018 at 8:45 pm

        Yes, Sandy. That’s exactly the kind of doing I’ve been doing all my life! Always wanting to earn approval and trying hard to be liked. Unfortunately, social media really feeds that in me. I love your idea of doing. I long to find that balance. So…here’s to doing with joy!
        Love you too!!

  7. Joanne Viola says

    January 18, 2018 at 7:05 am

    So glad you are going to “do” the blog thing more regularly as your words and photos bless me. My word this year is “focus” – I want to focus on running my race and doing what God would have me to do this year. Here’s to both our words and all that lies ahead in 2018! Blessings!

    • Sandra Heska King says

      January 23, 2018 at 8:38 am

      Hey there, Joanne. “Focus” is such a good word! And you will be “doing,” too. Let’s rock it this year. 😀

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Meet Sandra

I’m Sandra, a camera-toting, recovering doer who’s learning to be. still. Read more…

Get updates from the stillness by email

Your personal information is safe and will never be shared.

Archives

Categories

Instagram Inspiration

sandraheskaking

“Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous to “Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous to be understood. . . Let me keep company always with those who say “Look!” and laugh in astonishment and bow their heads.” ~ Mary Oliver in “Mysteries, Yes”
🌱
No way could anyone ever convince me that this world in all its beauty and creativity and mysteries is here by accident.
Food truck night with a newcomer—@crepstick. So Food truck night with a newcomer—@crepstick. So yummy! I hope they come back.  But maybe not too often or I’ll have to do double time on the exercise.
“Embrace this day knowing and showing the world “Embrace this day knowing and showing the world that your God is more than enough for you.”
🌿
@tamiheim @tonibirdsong 
In @stickyJesus: How to Live Out Your Faith Online
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the str My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion.” Psalm 73:26 (ESV)
🌿
I’d almost forgotten what quiet mornings on the patio were like. (Quiet except for the birds and the sound of the neighbor’s AC.)
So yesterday I saw my cardiologist. It was the fir So yesterday I saw my cardiologist. It was the first time he wanted to see me in 6 months instead of a year. He said my aortic stenosis had gotten worse. Like on the cusp of moderate to severe. 😬

So the first thing he asks me is, "How's you daughter?" Wait. Isn't this supposed to be about ME?

Then he asks if I've had any symptoms. "Well, I don't know. Maybe. I felt a little dizzy out of the blue a couple times. And felt like I couldn't catch my breath. I wouldn't have paid any attention if I didn't know I was supposed to be watching for symptoms. I DID walk all over Israel and up a bunch of steep hills, even all the way up to the Golan Heights--against the wind--without anything but normal fatigue.

He laughs. "I created a monster." Ummm, yeah.

"Have you been exercising?" 

"Well, yeah. We walk a couple miles a day. I'm back on my Nordictrack Strider." I didn't tell him I'd been lifting some light weights and some very heavy boxes and other items during this renovation, though I was told in December not to.

So he listens to the beating of my heart. Then he says, "Well, I don't think the valve is ripe yet. I don't expect you to have symptoms for three or four years. You don't need to come back for a year."

Wait! So you ask if I have symptoms. But you don't expect symptoms--yet. And when I do have symptoms, someone is gonna do something. And then I'll be older and maybe weaker. Or what if I have some sudden and silent symptom and boom! And now I have to worry about that. 

(In other news, my oldest grand texts me the other day, and our conversation runs like this...
Last weekend we were in northern Michigan. And the Last weekend we were in northern Michigan. And there were lilacs. They even shook their heads over tornado-induced devastation. Look for the beauty and sweet scents in the midst of the mess. I miss the lilacs.
Yesterday’s morning view. We haven’t seen the Yesterday’s morning view. We haven’t seen the sun all day today.
When the folks in my hometown of Gaylord, Michigan When the folks in my hometown of Gaylord, Michigan ate their breakfast Friday morning, they had no idea what terror and devastation they'd face before dinner. Everyone has a story. You've probably seen pictures.

If not, take a peek at @mlivenews .

My great-nephew, not quite 12, had just gotten home from school when the EF-3 came down the street and left its mark on every home. My niece frantically tried to find her way from work through debris and blocked roads. My sister was 30 miles away visiting my dad in rehab. I don't want to know how fast my brother-in-law drove. 

The house and yard took a hit, worse than some, not as bad as others. A mobile home park was demolished--two deaths there. I heard one person is still missing. So many injured. So much awful. But the town is coming together for each other. Pray for them.

We plan to fly up Thursday--already planned to celebrate my dad's 95th birthday. 

Also, if anyone feels led to help, the Otsego Community Foundation and Otsego County United Way are accepting donations. Note “Tornado Relief.” Beware of any other fundraising requests.
Cutting tonight’s walk short. Stupid blue jay. N Cutting tonight’s walk short. Stupid blue jay. Not this one. A different one. But still. (My niece believes blue jays are a visitation from Grandma—my mom.) 
My shirt says “Walk in love. But I’m not feeling very loving. And if it WAS my Mom AKA Mother Mary Esther of the Order of Perpetual Birdwatchers, I’ll bet she’s having a good laugh. A passerby said she heard it was good luck and I should buy a lottery ticket tonight. In other news, I also banged my hip bone against our bed’s footboard and gave myself a mighty bruise. Then I burned my arm on the top of the grill. I did manage to wash all the knives without cutting myself and didn’t start any fires. So how was your day?
And now… “From the rising of the sun to the pl And now… “From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.”
The world’s a mess, but His mercies are new. The world’s a mess, but His mercies are new.
When we were in Israel last month, we visited @yad When we were in Israel last month, we visited @yadvashem - the World Holocaust Center in Jerusalem. There wasn't enough time to spend nearly enough time. 

The Valley of the Communities was very moving. It's a labyrinth of stone from which there seems no way out. Our guide said It gives an idea of the endlessness of the horror. His parents emigrated from Vilna (the Jerusalem of Lithuania), before the Holocaust. In 1935, thirteen of his family members still remained there. By 1945 only one--an uncle--had survived. He wrote a book about them from a bundle of old letters. "One story out of millions."

"This memorial commemorates the Jewish communities destroyed by Nazi Germany and its collaborators, and the few which suffered but survived in the shadow of the Holocaust."
#Israel2022 #HolocaustRemembranceDay
“From my favorite spot on the floor, I look up a “From my favorite spot on the floor, I look up at the blue sky and the bare chestnut tree on whose branches little raindrops shine, appearing like silver, ” Anne Frank wrote in the Diary of a Young Girl. Watching the tree change through the seasons her family spent in hiding in an attic gave her hope. The Holocaust Memorial Center is one of only eleven sites in the United States to receive a sapling from that tree. I stand at “her” window and imagine hanging hope on a tree.

"It happened, therefore it can happen again: this is the core of what we have to say. It can happen, and it can happen everywhere.” ~ Primo Levi

From a post I wrote for @tspoetry after a visit to the @holocaustcenter.

https://www.tweetspeakpoetry.com/2016/07/27/regional-tour-holocaust-memorial-center-farmington-hills-michigan/
Stunning tree I parked near at Bible study yesterd Stunning tree I parked near at Bible study yesterday. I was in a rush and failed to snap the whole tree. I need to run back before the flowers fall. I think it’s a jacaranda? I want one.
Speaking of birds... bluejay in my backyard this a Speaking of birds... bluejay in my backyard this afternoon. I thought he was hurt, but I think he was just trying to cool off. (Maybe it's a young one.... unless it's the light?)
Someone should do something about that dog. She’ Someone should do something about that dog. She’s yelping and carrying on like she’s in some awful pain.
“Now in the place where he was crucified there w “Now in the place where he was crucified there was a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.” ~ John 19:41

“But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay…’”~ Matthew 28:5-6

Many wonder if this tomb, which lies just a few yards west of Golgotha could be the place where Jesus lay and rose. I wish we could have lingered longer here in this garden and in the tomb itself. It was easier for me to imagine the events of that weekend happening here than in the heavily incensed, decorated, dark and crowded Church of the Holy Sepulchre… though my hairdresser said her old boyfriend “got chills”’when he entered that tomb. We did not go inside that one because the line was way too long. 

At any rate, the most important thing is that he tomb is EMPTY and HE IS RISEN!

HAPPY EASTER!
#Israel2022 #GardenTomb #Easter
 “Peter said to him, ‘Lord, I am ready to g 
“Peter said to him, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death’ Jesus said, ‘I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day until you deny three times that you know me.’” ~ Luke 22:33-34

The Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu (rooster crowing) built over what tradition says was the house of Caiaphas where Jesus was brought after he was arrested. Perhaps he was imprisoned in one of the underground crypts while awaiting trial. 

“On top of the church, higher than the cross—I loved this—stands a golden rooster! I’ll never look at a weathervane the same again. How would you like to have a church commemorate your weakest moment?” ~ Wayne Stiles in Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus

#Israel2022 #GoodFriday
The olive trees here are ancient… some carbon da The olive trees here are ancient… some carbon dates to the 12th century, according to my Eyewitness book on Jerusalem. “DNA tests have shown that eight of the trees grew from cuttings from the same mother tree—perhaps taken by Christians who believed the tree to have witnessed Jesus’s agony.” 

Gethsemane means “olive press.” Jesus was pressed to his very depths that night.  He knew what was ahead. He could have run far away. But he went where he knew Judas would look for him. 

“And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, ‘Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.’ And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” ~ Luke 22:41-44

Garden of Gethsemane and Church of the Nations

#Israel2022
A "blue preacher" right outside my door, nearly as A "blue preacher" right outside my door, nearly as tall as I am. I wonder what he's wondering. Is he finding the answer blowing in the wind?

"Watch, now, how I start the day
in happiness, in kindness." ~ Mary Oliver in "Why I Wake Early"
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Get the Mug

Embrace the life you have t s poetry mug

Privacy Policy

Full privacy policy is available HERE.

I Read Light

TSP-Red button

bibledude-net



Sponsor a Child

Join the Compassion Blogger Network

[footer_backtotop]

Copyright © 2022 Sandra Heska King · Site by The Willingham Enterprise, LLC on the Genesis Framework by StudioPress · Log in