"Headed for the Future"

Song title sung by: Neil Diamond

Today is the final day of 2009.

Tonight, I will cook dinner for myself and a friend who is going through a tough time right now. Comfort food, comfy clothes, and "Glee" will make us happy while we create vision boards for 2010. I've also chosen my Word of the Year: engage.

In 2009, my word was mettle. I felt like the word gave me strength when I needed it. I felt tougher. There were some big "fights" that I was able to mettle my way through this past year. I've never felt stronger.

As the year was coming to an end, I couldn't decide on my 2010 word. I went through so many choices. Authenticity, gratitude, faith, belief, and even a German word: selig. There are still moments when this word, engage, scares me. But, that tells me that I've made the right decision. Why engage? Well, there are many reasons. First of all, I have a tendency to hide away from life sometimes. I get spooked and retreat to a safe place. I need to take more risks. I need to engage with the world around me. Dictionary.com gives many definitions of engage:

–verb (used with object)

1.	to occupy the attention or efforts of (a person or persons): He engaged her in conversation.

2.	to secure for aid, employment, use, etc.; hire: to engage a worker; to engage a room.

3.	to attract and hold fast: The novel engaged her attention and interest.

4.	to attract or please: His good nature engages everyone.

5.	to bind, as by pledge, promise, contract, or oath; make liable: He engaged himself to repay his debt within a month.

6.	to betroth (usually used in the passive): They were engaged last week.

7.	to bring (troops) into conflict; enter into conflict with: Our army engaged the enemy.

8.	Mechanics. to cause (gears or the like) to become interlocked; interlock with.

9.	to attach or secure.

10.	Obsolete. to entangle or involve.

–verb (used without object)

11.	to occupy oneself; become involved: to engage in business or politics.

12.	to take employment: She engaged in her mother's business.

13.	to pledge one's word; assume an obligation: I was unwilling to engage on such terms.

14.	to cross weapons; enter into conflict: The armies engaged early in the morning.

15.	Mechanics. (of gears or the like) to interlock.

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My hope for my word of the year is that it will motivate me to act instead of hide, to attract instead of repel. My hope is that once again a single word will change my life. I received my ring engraved with my word today from http://www.etsy.com/shop/purplemoongifts . Here is a picture of it (sorry, it's a bit blurry.) In 2010, I will engage with the world around me.

Happy New Year to you and your family!