This time last year, I tried a new approach for my new year’s resolutions. I selected a single word to work towards during the year. To keep it top of mind, I created a visual reminder in the form of a stitched photo. The first step was to select a photo to represent the word. I had the photo enlarged and printed on heavy matte paper. Then I used embroidery floss to stitch my word on the photo.
My word for 2020 is “Savor”. It’s meant to remind me to stop and savor the good things in life. I chose the below photo of a sunrise over Lake Oconee to remind me to savor moments of beauty.
The official definition of “savor” includes “to appreciate fully; enjoy or relish”. To fully appreciate a moment, requires engaging all the senses. Moments worth savoring are not only seen. Any of the senses—sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste—could trigger a moment to savor. Examples of auditory triggers might be birds singing, church bells ringing or a favorite piece of music playing. In the photo below, the pleasant fragrance of the lovely bouquet of roses caught my attention. When I stopped to appreciate it more fully, the graceful arc of the branch, the raindrops from a recent shower, the contrast of the pink blossoms against the green foliage and the silky feel of the rose petals all contributed to this special moment.
Relishing and fully enjoying experiences is another opportunity to savor. It could be savoring precious time spent with family and friends. A family gathering, celebration or event could be examples. A simple backyard picnic, in a pleasant setting with a tasty meal, is something worth savoring.
Fully appreciating a physical activity such as a nature hike or a kayak ride is another example of savoring. I took the below photos while paddling on Fishing Lake near our previous home in Villa Rica, Georgia.
Most people look forward to and savor the novelty of traveling and exploring new destinations. On a grander scale, having the once-in-a-lifetime experience to watch this magnificent leopard while on an African safari was definitely something I savored.
While beauty is often found in the natural world, it can also be man-made. Here’s an outstanding example of man-made beauty worth savoring. This is the spectacular Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona, Spain.
Another experience that many people savor (and as you might have guessed something that resonates with me) is the joy of creativity and the art of making. Designing the stitching on the sunrise photo, especially adding the rows of color coordinated stitches, was an experience I savored.
These moments are fleeting—they don’t last forever—so it’s even more important to savor them when they occur. A quick search of gratitude practices, shows that savoring is a critical part of feeling true gratitude. It’s about slowing down long enough to recognize and appreciate the good in life.
Now, to take a moment and look back at last year. My word for 2019 was “Harmony”. Honestly, I rather expected my focus on harmony would taper off and be forgotten after a few weeks. But it didn’t actually work out that way. Instead, I’m happy to report, I was able to keep my goal of harmony in mind throughout the year.
More Info
Last January, I introduced my word for the year in my post Harmony: My Word for 2019.
You can learn more about my African safari experience in the post Majestic Lovable Elephants.
The Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona, Spain is definitely worth visiting.
I’ve become quite enamoured of paper stitching especially on my own photos. You can find examples in these posts:
. Season’s Greetings 2018
. Harmony: My Word for 2019
. Joyous Greetings 2019
Check out my Pinterest board with Paper Stitching inspiration. I created it a year ago and have been adding to it ever since. I’ve discovered some incredible fiber artists stitching on paper to create amazing artwork.
Jan 16, 2021 Update: Paper stitching is an easy project. Only basic design and hand sewing skills are involved. Check out the post, Hello Marvelous Photo Embroidery – DIY Tutorial, for step-by-step instructions to embroider your own printed photo.
Today’s Takeaways
1. Think about selecting a single word to represent your goals for the new year.
2. Make a conscious effort to savor special moments.
3. Consider paper stitching as a way to embellish your favorite photos.
Comments are closed.