patience is the word. the word is patience.

Thank you all so much for your heartfelt wedding wishes in my last post. When I started this blog 3 years ago, never in a million years would I have imagined such a story for myself, let alone this chapter. I feel truly blessed and I can’t thank you enough for always whooping it up with me  on the highs and sending words of wisdom when I was feeling pants. I am forever grateful.

As stories go… I was a bit sad to bid adieu to 2011 (not gonna lie to you, it was pretty freaking awesome) but 2012 is so full of promise and possibility and I’m like a kid on Christmas morning… I simply can’t wait to see what it has in store for everyone. As has been my custom for the past few years, I like to start a new year with a word/an intention to help guide me through the next 365 days.

Up until a week ago, I hadn’t a clue what that word was, but then I watched the movie Like Crazy and in it is a scene where this guy gives his girlfriend a bracelet with the word patience inscribed, just before she leaves to go back to England for the summer (story of my life). Patience for the months apart. Patience for the distance. Patience for matters of the heart. Patience with the struggle.

I think I may need to get myself one of those bracelets this year, because let’s face it, patience is not a Caron forte. In fact, if you were to name a single characteristic common to most members of the Caron clan, it would be impatience. With others and with ourselves. Don’t get me wrong, we’re a fun-loving bunch and if I were to put a positive spin on it, I would argue that passion is the root of our impatience. Or perhaps there is something wild coursing through our native american blood that makes us this way? I cannot say. But impatient little fire crackers we are. And our fuse is short.

I’ve always wanted to master the art of patience as I can hardly see how its counterpart has ever benefited me. I’ve witnessed patience in others and it is a thing of beauty. Such grace, such calm. And then there’s me. Exhibit A. Stuck behind someone who is walking too slow for my liking. Huff. Puff. Pass. I’ve even been guilty of casting evil death stares as I rush on by, because PEOPLE SHOULD FEEL BAD FOR IMPEDING MY STRIDE!

I’m not proud. And I reckon I must surely lose 10 minutes of my life every time I get aggravated about such petty things. I need to find my zen, people, that’s what I need to do. I need to chill the F out. And I’m certainly not going to find it by swearing at my computer when it doesn’t boot up fast enough.

I now am at a point in my life where I want to come at things with a calm, clear head. I want to breathe through the little annoyances in any given day. If I can at least manage that, I’ll be far better equipped to deal with the hard stuff. And I’ll probably live a longer, healthier life for it.

This year, I need patience more than ever. Because (and perhaps you are like this too), the closer I get to anything, the more impatient I get. I need patience while I wait for this visa to be processed.  And I’ll also need patience when I am on the other side. Patience with the transition and with myself.

Patience breeds calm, calm breeds clarity, clarity breeds confidence! I like the ring of that.

So there you have it. My word for 2012. Last year was the year of trust and though I still have work to do in that department, I’ve come a long way. I’m hoping that by this time next year, I’ll have a yellow belt in patience.

What is your intention for 2012?

“Patience is not passive; on the contrary, it is active; it is concentrated strength.” – Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton