PAR. That’s my word for 2011.
A few years ago I received the idea of choosing a word for the year from Amy Crawley (who was inspired by Christine Kane ). I love words, so the idea of following one word through the whole year seemed perfect. I’ve already forgotten the word that I used the first year, but last year I chose “circle” and the word for 2010 was “tone”.
I chose the word PAR because it’s an acronym for the words playful, authentic and responsible, all key words for me this year. Then I thought more about it, looked up the word par, and decided that the meaning of par was pretty important to me, too.
Par, according to the on-line Free Dictionary, means “an amount or level considered to be average; a standard: performing up to par”. At first I resisted the idea of that, that thing about performing at an “average” standard. I thought about my immediate, almost violent reaction to the word, and decided I needed a little self-therapy about that one!!!! How does one get to be 63, and not go crazy, or become paralyzed from the pressure of it all, if all things that matter must be above average?
I’m breathing a small sign of relief just thinking about thinking ….. and that’s as far as I can let myself go right now!
Oh my, Maureen, sounds like you are getting too deep and hard on yourself as usual. Here is a note to ponder-how does one know that they are performing above average or par??? Who do you compare oneself to and decide -I am above or below par? Remember my kids classes that I started by saying – everyone sees everything differently, if we all saw life in the same way – we would all like the same boy or girl, live in pink houses, drive black volkswagons and have purple cows for pets! Oh how boring life would be. Go back to simpler times, when the only praise one needed was the smile on that special someones face – no words need to be said and there was no Par in sight!
Love the idea, but not the word. When have you ever been just average? I think for my word I will choose syzygy. Great how it all works out. Besides it is a fantastic hangman word don’t you think?
Thanks, Val and SuZi, for the comments. And you’re right, Val, I do get hard on myself. Not all the time, though. I have my Queen chair, after all!!! Smile.
SuZi, I had to look up the sord Syzygy (???????). It’s a great word! Has all kinds of symbolism for our lives and our relationships with people and ideas.
I also had to look up Hangman, as I’d forgotten how to play it. Wikipedia is certainly a godsend for those of us who feel a need to KNOW (and not be average).
Thinking about going back to bed, though, this AM. Ah, a Saturday morning nap. That sounds like a good stab at letting go of my perfectionism, don’t you think?
I just want you to know, how you touch my life.
After spending time with you, or reading your thoughts, I go away feeling better. How does one get to be 63 and not crumble under the pressure (paraphrased) . I know one way,
I tell myself, I am not in a competition. I sometimes refrain, draw back, shrink, and stalk other people’s blogs. I become envious. Envy is different from jealously (I think) Jealously, means you want what someone else has (talent, creativity, followers on Facebook) etc. AND – now this is the Big Difference between jealously and envy. You don’t want them to have it.
Envy, means you would like to have it too, but don’t begrudge anyone for having It.
Then I think to myself, Would that change how I feel about myself? I don’t think so. Cause I would still have the same perceptions of myself. You always give me food for thought, and granted me permission to be honest with you without fear of being judged.
Just as a good friend would do.
PS. Yes, I have a good therapist. lol