First Things First: First Book of the Year!
My friend Sheila is hosting her First Book of the Year event today at Book Journey.
“The First Book is a book that maybe you have been wanting to read for a while but have not had time for, a coveted book, an old favorite re-read – whatever you want. The point is that this is the book that will kick off the year for you. What will it be?”
My First Book of 2017 is a 2016 book by a gifted writer who has become a valued friend. I’m hoping that starting the New Year with the words of Beth Kephart in This is The Story of You aims it in the right direction.
SEE One Word Set the Stage for a New Year
Sheila is also a big proponent of the One Word resolution. Read that post I linked and she just might convince you of “the power of a word” too.
For 2017, I’ve chosen the word SEE.
I have terrible vision. I’m extremely myopic, I have astigmatism, and I’ve worn some sort of corrective lenses since I was three years old. Seeing is a daily physical challenge for me.
But seeing is more than eyesight. In 2017, I’m broadening my perspective to incorporate some synonyms for seeing:
- Watchfulness
- Attentiveness
- Understanding
- FocusingI
In the coming year, I’ll see places and people and things I’ve seen many times before. I’ll see other places and people and things for the very first time. I will take pictures of them and write about them. I’ll see them as they are, and I’ll see them from my own very particular perspective.
I will try to see them all as clearly and deeply as I can.
I’ll be trying to see with my mind and heart as well as my eyes. I want to keep all of them open.
And I want to be seen too, and that offers other challenges to open my heart and mind.
I’m having a hard time coming up with One Word this year, but I’m glad you can SEE yours. 🙂 I’m also glad I can SEE it too. Now I just need to SEE mine. 😉
I like the idea of challenges to open the heart and mind too. Hmmmm…maybe open? We’ll SEE. <– ha, written before I realized what I was writing.
I’m sure you’ll SEE your way to your word before too long :-). Happy New Year!
Great choice! Happy New Year!
Thanks, Kathy–Happy New Year to you!
I hope you SEE wonderful things this year!!! And that you enjoy your first book of the year. Love to you and the family. Pet Winchester for me. Happy reading in 2017!
I’m especially excited to know I will SEE Italy this year :-). Happy 2017 to you and yours!
That’s a great choice! I finally chose mine yesterday and am adopting PERSEVERE as my 2017 word. I have a feeling it is going to be necessary for all of us to persevere during the next four years.
Happy New Year, Florinda!
I thought about that word, too. I think you’re right that we’re going to need to do a lot of that. Happy New Year to you too, Michelle!
My first book of the year is a Patricia Cornwell–a new book for me by an author I like a lot so I hope that’s a good start to the year
I hope so too–seems like a good choice!
Love your word! And, of course, Kephart is a perfect choice for you for first book!
She is indeed. It’s just such a joy immersing myself in the way she writes!
Love your word. Can’t wait to see what you see!
Ha ha! Sadly, I do not think I’ll see YOU this year since I’m skipping out on BEA, but I’ll look forward to showing you what I see in Italy instead :-).
I haven’t decided on a word this year. I like See. That’s a good one. I also thought a short story collection would be my first book of 2017, but it seems like I’m too riveted by Springsteen’s memoir.
I TOTALLY get that! BORN TO RUN was my last audiobook of 2016. I’m still in the process of writing out my thoughts about it, but in short, I thought it was terrific.
I’m listening to the audio as well. It’s tough to stop. LOL I really hope you love Beth’s book!
i was REALLY glad he recorded the audio. Can’t imagine anyone else narrating it!