Tuesday, December 31, 2013

OLW 2013 is Saying Goodbye

Irrigate was my OLW for 2013.
So, I watered my soul
with infrequent success.
I planted seeds of learning
that grew as my students' English improved.
I made new friends
who in turn irrigated my soul
deep down where it was dry.
I irrigated my plants
both inside and outside.
I watched them grow and multiply.
I started to irrigate my body
by watching my input and decreasing
my waistline.
On some days my steps increased and on others 
I needed fresh water in order to irrigate.

I irrigated my mind by ordering professional books.
Some have sticky notes on many pages
others are waiting to look a bit more used.
I shared ideas with colleagues.
Some thanked me for new ideas
and others where too busy to listen.
I wrote and read when my students did.
I gave them an example of a reader and a writer.
We even blogged in March as a class.

I said goodbye to my daughter
who left for overseas.
I adjusted to an empty house
that is only filled with my noise.
I have missed her terribly,
but I know God is now irrigating her soul.
I learned to irrigate my mind, body and soul
by being with others who feed
my spirit, my mind and my body.

So THANK YOU for irrigating me
by reading my blog and leaving a comment!
Your encouragement and kind words
have sustained me this year through many rough patches!
THANK YOU, my reader, for many wonderful ideas
that I have gathered while reading your blog. 
My life would not be as rich as it is 
without this blogging community!

Irrigate is saying goodbye as the OLW for 2013.
 OLW for 2014 has not visited me yet.
Hopefully I will get to entertain OLW 2014 very soon.
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!


26 comments:

  1. What a year it's been, Jaana - especially with your daughter off ... she may be away, but her presence resonates in your posts. Here's to the new year of slicing on Tuesdays - I'll be checking in for that new OLW!

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    1. Thank you Tara! I look forward to reading about your OLW as well!

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  2. Jaana,
    What a unique sensibility your post shows. I really enjoyed reading it and thinking about the metaphor of irrigation.
    Bernadette

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    1. Thank you Bernadette! I think my OLW might have visited me now!

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  3. This is absolutely beautiful. I am sure a part of you will miss this OLW. My favorite line is "I learned to irrigate my mind, body, and soul by being with others who feed my spirit, my mind and my body." Surrounding myself with positive people is a lesson I learned this year! Happy New Year Jaana!

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    1. Thank you Leigh Ann! I look forward to reading more of your posts in the new year!

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  4. What a wonderful OLW - not one that I would have thought about, but you have written and shared it well. I, too, like the line "I learned to irrigate my mind, body and soul...." We can't do it all on our own and need to have God and others in our lives to make us whole. I am also waiting for that word to hit me for 2014. Have a blessed New Year!

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    1. Thank you Judy! I am so excited to read all the new OLWs that bloggers will be sharing soon!

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  5. What a wonderful review of the ways your OLW irrigated your year! New Year blessings.

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  6. Thank YOU, Jaana, for irrigating the rest of us with your insightful and positive posts! You are definitely a ray of light in our lives. (I tend to lean toward the light metaphors, since irrigating is something I'm very bad at... as the poor dying poinsettia at the window is reminding me of...) I'm so glad you've joined Twitter so we can share ideas even more easily! I hope to talk with you more in 2014!!!

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    1. Jennifer, I am starting to love twitter! Much to learn, but it is exciting. Need to write a blog about how our Human Rights Day went as well. Here is to more connections in 2014!

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  7. I love the way you crafted this Jaana, what a beautiful capture of your year supported by your OLW, and what a word! You used it creatively for support. I love that idea of needing fresh water. Don't we all? Happy New Year to you, hope 2014 is a blessed one.

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    1. Linda, thank you! We all need fresh water; especially when it is dark and cold.

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  8. Jaana, I just went back and reread your Jan. 8 post from last year when you redefined your OLW. I love how you decided to simplify your life and that the same word would work for your professional and personal life. I've enjoyed reading your thinking about your OLW on your blog. You've inspired me to search for my OLW for 2014.

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    1. Ramona, thank you for your kind words. Choosing the OLW helped stay focused when life got messy. Was I perfect? Of course not, but when life got too dry, I began irrigating again! I look forward reading more about your OLW. A friend of mine and I signed up for this class to dig deeper into our OLW. Here is the link: http://aliedwards.com/shop/one-little-word-2014

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  9. This is an appreciation letter to a word, but more than that it's a reflection of your mindfulness in making choices. Happy 2014!

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    1. What a special word for my "out loud thinking." Thank you Terje!

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  10. What a great choice for your OLW, and what perfect examples of ways it has contributed to your life and the lives of others. Have a wonderful new year in 2014, whatever OLW visits you!

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    1. Thank you! I think irrigation will continue along with a new word!

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  11. Irrigate- such a different word than most of the ones I have read, yet it sounds like 2013 was definitely an "irrigating" year for you. Could so identify with the emptiness of the heart and home, my youngest left for college 900 miles away. Wishing you life's richest blessings in 2014. Can't wait to see what your new word will be.

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    1. Carol, it definitely will be an exciting year. Changes are happening all around me. I am hoping for a bit more travelling in 2014! Here's to our great blogging community!

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  12. Oh, how I love this post. We've are on similar journeys. Taking care of ourselves and surrounding ourselves with others who feed our souls is so very important. I'll keep your daughter in my prayers (and you too). Happy 2014!!

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    1. Thank you Julie! I think 2014 is going to be interesting--even better than 2013! I look forward reading about your journey as well.

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  13. I love how your poem showed how one little word moved through 2013. Irrigate is a powerful word to guide your life. Here's to more in 2014. Looking forward to your posts.

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    1. Thanks Julieanne! I found my word for 2014! Getting ready to write about it on Tuesday's Slice of Life!

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