Sunday 1 January 2012

Books

I have many books to read.  I have much to learn.  There is so much that I want to cram into my life.  I want to make, bake, create, sing, dance, laugh and run barefoot across a meadow!  I am going to seize the day!

Two days ago I attended a friends funeral.  She was 54.  She has left behind a husband, 3 children under the age of 14 and a menagerie of animals.  She fought against ovarian cancer until her dying breath.  She was not going to give in without a fight.  She lived the last five years of her life to the full.  She spent many days out with her family capturing memories in photos, she decorated her house regularly, spent weekends away, joined the National Trust, put a fishpond in her garden and started to grow vegetables.

I am going to live by her example.  I am going to live my life to the full and just 'get on with it' as she did. 

My word for 2012 is 'create'.  I am going to make time for all kinds of creative pursuits and hopefully show them here on the blog.  Do you have a word to focus on in 2012?

26 comments:

  1. Good for you! It takes something dreadful like this to shake you out of 'just an existence' and into 'a life lived to the full'.
    Go for it Simone, and enjoy every moment. Make lots of memories and share them with us!
    Love Kathy xxx

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  2. So sorry to hear about your friend - it certainly brings it all home to one doesn't it? I lost a friend a little older than yours but her death was a real wake up call to me and I certainly look at things differently now!

    I love the idea of having a word rather than a list of resolutions with which to start the new year - good luck with your creating. I will give some thought to what my word might be.

    Do be careful when you run barefoot across that meadow - I did it once (well actually it was across the grass in my garden) and accidentally trod on a bee which of course stung me and I ended up going to the hospital as my leg became swollen - not quite the image you had in mind I am sure!
    All best wishes for 2012.

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  3. Simone, may your 2012 be full of creativity, of happiness and of laughter. love and light from leanne x

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  4. What a sad start to the new year for you but it does put everything into retrospect doesn't it.
    We must make the most of everyday and be thankful that we have something so many have been denied, life.
    I wish you all the best for this year and enjoy all your lovely books. The Happiness Project should be a good start to a more positive year. x

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  5. I'm with you take one day at a time, and LIVE!
    Julie xxxxxxxx

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  6. I have far too many books too!
    I'm sorry to hear your sad news.
    Here's hoping that 2012 is a good year for you.
    ;-)x

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  7. your friend is an inspiration to us all. she sounds wonderful and i am so sorry for your loss and for her family who will miss her so dreadfully. but what lovely memories she has left them with and what an example. i feel blessed to just hear about her and i now know what my new years resolution shall be.

    wishing you an amazing 2012

    warmest hugs xxx

    sumea

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  8. You go girl, I'm backing you all the way xx

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  9. Love your positivity Simone, may it serve you well. This year I'm going to fully EMBRACE all my experiences, Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
    Happy New Year!
    hugs
    pamela xxx

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  10. Hello Simone....I loved this positive post and will look forward to sharing our creativity this year! I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your friend, it does make you stop and really appreciate the life you are given, doesn't it?
    Wishing you and your family a very Happy New Year.
    Helen x

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  11. Simone,
    Wishing you comfort in your loss and encouragement in your goals for 2012. As for me, I intend to spend much good time in the company of my blogging friends, learning from them and being thankful for what they bring to my living my own dear life, one day at a time with all senses open. Sending love from the midwest USA across the pond to you, especially this new year's day.

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  12. I did the same as Marigold Jam when I ran barefoot!

    So sorry to hear about your friend and I hope that it will spur you onward.

    My word this year is read, I hope you manage to create everything that you want to.

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  13. I haven't picked a word but I do like your word for 2012!
    So sorry to hear about your friend but good to know she lived her life to the full and an example to all of us!
    Looking forward to seeing all your creations Simone, happy 2012!
    Vivienne x

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  14. You are a very creative person Simone so I look forward to seeing all the new things you create in 2012.
    Happy New Year.
    Lisa x

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  15. So sorry to read about the loss of your friend. What a brave and wonderful person she sounds. Your memories of her will spur you on to live life to the full and try and achieve all that you want to and more this year:)

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  16. A very inspiring post to start the year. May your positive attitude stay with you this year, and always.

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  17. How wonderful to live your life to the full, I'm sure the is how we are ment to live. Sorry to hear about your friend.

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  18. I am so sorry you lost your friend. She sounds like an incredibly brave and strong woman. I'm glad she has inspired you though, and has left her footprint on your heart x

    My word for 2012 is 'organise'. Sounds dreadfully boring, I know! But I'm quite excited about it actually :) I'm blogging about it, so feel free to pop over for a virtual cuppa and say hello!

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  19. Your friend sounds like she was a wonderful person - Bless her. This last year has taught me to appreciate fully what I have got - and stop focusing on what I "want" (but dont need) xxx

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  20. I am sorry your friend had to leave you , cancer is such a horrid desease :-( I am sure she will be very happy that she has inspired you to live life to the full. Take care and virtual hugs to you xxx

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  21. So sorry to hear about your friend but I am sure she would be pleased to know she has inspired you in such a good way.
    Looking forward to seeing your creations Simone!
    xxx

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  22. Hi Simone,
    Wishing you a Happy New Year - and may you create the life you want.

    I'm so sorry to read about your friend, but I'm glad she has inspired you.

    Diana x

    Ps hello to the lovely Gizmo!

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  23. So sad to hear about your friend, but what an inspiration she was. For you and now for us, too. I, too, want to cram in as much as I can into my life. We never know how much time we have and it's easy to let things slide by. Seizing the day sounds like a good idea to me!

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  24. My motto for the up and coming year is 'just do it'. I've already started to put ideas in a jar of things I want to achieve in 2012. I'm really so sorry to read of your friend Simone, it's all just so terribly sad for all involved. x

    PS. Happy New Year to you and your family.

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  25. So sorry to hear about your friend Simone. I can't believe your word is 'create' - me too! It's the first time I ever shared my word on the internet and I've pretty much said exactly the same as you! Last year I chose 'balance'. Not sure I really achieved it but oh well. Here's to a lovely year of creating. I'm with you all the way!! x

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  26. Oh my, the death of a relatively young friend can really open our eyes to the immediacy of life!! So sorry for your loss, Simone. I love that you are throwing yourself into creativity this year. I think that is where your soul thrives. If I had to choose a word for the year, it would be "passion". Like you, I want to live life to the fullest and jump into what I love (teaching and creating) with full force!! BTW, your book choices have me going off to Amazon to check out a few titles!! xxx

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