Encapsulate the year 2011 in one word. Explain why you’re choosing that word. Now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2012 for you?

Regular readers of the blog know that I participated in Reverb10 last year and that this was one of the prompts asked of us. It’s interesting because back in 2010 I decided upon a word that I felt would encapsulate 2011 perfectly. I selected my word and then mostly forgot about it. Here is what I predicted for 2011:

I believe 2011 will be a year of Explosion. I spent a lot of 2010 figuring out what works for me and what doesn’t. I’ve discovered things I’d like to do and things I’d like to cut out of my life. My year of ‘Yes’ has really helped me to come into my own and so 2011 is going to be a year of Explosive Growth. In 2011, I’ll reach new heights and tackle huge goals. Look out for the fireworks because in 2011, I will explode.

I wasn’t too far off. 2011 was a year of explosive growth. I did indeed tackle new goals, I learned new things, I blazed new pathways for myself. But as I look back on 2011, the word Explosion doesn’t quite do it for me. If I had to choose a word that perfectly sums up this last year for me it would be Awakening. Explosion has a more external connotation to me – things are popping off and on fire for everyone to see. The intense growth I felt this year was more internal.  Awakening better describes what occurred within me when I finally felt the puzzle pieces begin to fall into place. This year was all about me stepping more fully into the unique being that I am. It was all about me feeling whole instead of feeling departmentalized. It was about making my outsides match my insides.

In 2011, I awakened to beauty and power of my true spirit.

So now is the fun part. If I had to imagine what I will be feeling at the end of 2012, I believe it will be Accomplished.

What one word do you feel sums up 2011 for you? What word do you believe will encapsulate 2012?

And if you are also Reverb-ing, let me know so I can check out your posts!