I love this time of year. Reflection. Renewal. Resolve. To make peace with the 365 days that have passed and anticipation for the clean slate just around the corner.  Since the age of 12 I have made a list of new years resolutions.  Me and Rachel, my childhood friend of 16 years lived for New Year’s Eve. Sitting around, a bowl of our special new year’s chili in one hand, a pen in the other, with not a care in world and imaging the possibilities that a new year would bring.

As an adult I still live for this day. The themes, process, and outcome of my yearly reflection have all grown up a little bit. But the feeling is still the same. Closing one chapter, and opening the door to a new one.

Inspired by the Shutter Sisters once again I am reflecting and exploring this past year and the year to come with just one word.  One word to embody 2009, and another word to carry me through 2010. I’ve been playing with words since Monday. Letting them roll off my tongue, rattle around in my brain, and see how they stick. Do they feel comfortable? Do they feel right?  2009 was a bear of a year for me and my Calmer.  Finding only one word has been an arduous exploratory process. And it took me all week. But I found it. I found my word.

2009: HOPE

I started this year with hope for starting a family. Continued the year with hope for the new life that would enter our world. And I’m ending the year with hope for a successful photography business venture next year. There was most definitely love, despair, inspiration, sadness, and thousands of other words that could be weaved throughout my year. But hope seemed to weave it’s way throughout and it definitely felt right.

Photography has also been a big part of this past year. 10 out of the 12 months.  I’ve been looking back and it’s amazing to see how far I’ve come and the road I’ve traveled this year.  I have many favorite images from my photography journey but I tried to chose one favorite to represent each month of this year.

And now I am ready to close this chapter. I am ready for 2010. My goals, dreams, and aspirations for this year are lofty. And I have my word. Inspired by Me Ra Koh and her scholarship.

2010: SOAR

A powerful yet encouraging mantra to take me higher and achieve the success I’ve been hoping for.

Do you have your words? How would you sum up your 2009 with just one word? Do you have an inspiring one word mantra for 2010? Take time today to reflect here with me.