Quote of the Day: We know what we are, but know not what we may be. William Shakespeare

I would like to be known as an intelligent woman, a courageous woman, a loving woman, a woman who teaches by being. Maya Angelou (and, I would add, an independent woman)

Blessed is she who is both furious and magnificent. Taylor Rhodes

Mary Aalgaard, still the independent Snow Queen. Read one of my earliest blog posts on reigning over Minnesota’s winter weather.

I think I’ve been doing the One Word for the Year since 2009, with my writer friend Roxane, Peace Garden Mama. My word for 2018 came to me a few weeks ago: Independent! I’ll be experiencing so many changes in 2018. My babies will graduate from high school. That means all four of my sons will have left the nest, so to speak. They still come home, often (I hope), during their college years, but will soon be pursuing their own careers and independent lives. My oldest has already graduated from college and is gainfully employed in his first “real” job, and my second son is halfway through his college education with grand dreams of a career in music. It is a strange feeling for a mother to see her chicks grow up and leave the nest. What will life be like when it doesn’t revolve around the school calendar?

So, what does an Independent woman do when she needs to take control of her environment? In Minnesota, she goes out and buys a new snowblower! Our old one runs on gas, with an electric start, but it wasn’t working as well. It stinks, and needs a little know-how to keep it running (something with spark plugs and I don’t know). So, I researched it a little, and decided to get an electric snowblower. So far, I love it. You charge the giant batteries, pop them in, press a button, pull back the handle, and voila’! It works. 

The year 2017 ended with what seemed like a door slam. Some things will never be the same again. I’ll be experiencing some newfound freedoms. As the saying goes, as one door closes, another opens. I lean into the new year with my one word Independent, and the expectation of new adventures. 

When life gives you snowstorms, you can chose to respond any way. I like to follow Mr. Happy’s advice and choose to be happy (at least most of the time).

I’ll close this post with another of my favorite Shakespeare quotes, from As You Like It: All’s the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man (or woman) in his time plays many parts. 

Coming up this week on Play off the Page blog, a recap of my theater reviews, and a special announcement on IWSG day (1st Wednesday of the month). Until then…

Go. Create. Inspire!

Quote of the Day: What’s your One Word for the Year? What are you looking forward to in 2018?