When I look out into the wide-open year before me and ask, what do I hope to accomplish?, there is no shortage of answers. I have ideas. Lots of them! But, I also have an uncanny ability to convince myself that my ideas aren’t all that great before I’ve ever truly given them a shot.

That is why I’ve chosen the word DARE for 2014.

dare verb \ˈder\

: to have enough courage or confidence to do something : to not be too afraid to do something

: to do (something that is difficult or that people are usually afraid to do)

: to tell (someone) to do something especially as a way of showing courage

I’m hungry to bring something into existence that is both deeply personal and bigger than myself, to expand as an artist and to take more creative risks. Often I don’t know where to start so I don’t. But what if I dared to begin? What if I were willing to move forward even when the path was unclear?

This beautiful sculpture, Musica, resides in the heart of Nashville’s music row
and while the theme is music, the sculpture represents artistic creativity itself.

So this year I’m going to practice being daring.

It’s the end of January and I’m mostly aware of where I am NOT that. You know, the places where I drag my feet instead of bravely jumping in, the times I hesitate to speak or completely bite my tongue and feel myself wither a bit inside? But, noticing these things is half the battle, isn’t it? When I am aware, I have the chance to choose and that’s when the magic happens.

What about you … What do you want for 2014 and what one little word supports you to move in that direction?

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.”

– Henry David Thoreau

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* The work I’ll be doing to make my One Little Word visible this year is inspired and guided by blogger, Ali Edwards. You can find more info by visiting her website here.