formerly Diane's Addled Ramblings... the ramblings are still addled, just like before, and the URL is still the same...
it's just the title at the top of the page that's new

Monday, July 27, 2009

The 'B' Word...

I have an enormous file of photos on my hard drive. I wander around the internet and save pictures I like - pictures that speak to me in some way - figuring I'll use them in posts. And I have... often. But my photo file is growing much more quickly than I'm writing. So tonight, since I couldn't think of a thing to write about, I decided to open the file, pick the first picture my mouse landed on, and write about it.

Here it is...

I saved the picture because that word - believe - is my favorite word. Ever. I like it so much, in fact, that I've decided to have it tattooed on the inside of my left wrist on my next birthday... well, I'm going to get the Chinese symbol for believe, actually. Mostly because I'm a big weenie and the symbol requires fewer needle sticks than a 7-letter word. Also because I want it to be small, so I can cover it up when I want... but I want to be able to see it when I want, too.

The tattoo is something I've debated about for a long time. But for the first time in a long time, I feel belief in myself, something I've been sorely lacking of late, creeping back into my psyche. I've been setting goals... and achieving them. Instead of just not trying because the task at hand seems too big, I'm seeing the big picture and breaking the task down into manageable parts. I've started giving myself time to achieve my goals, instead of wanting everything done NOW. I've stopped beating myself up for my failures. Well, OK, I haven't been beating myself up as much as usual. Baby steps, people! Anyway, the tattoo seems like a good way to remind myself how far I've come... and how far I still can go; how much I can still accomplish... if I just believe I can do it.

The word believe has always been important to me... seeing it reminds me to believe that good does prevail; that the world is not just what we see in the news; in my child and the sheer possibility that is her; in love (and that I'll find it again!); and in myself.

It's a good word, don't you think?

So, what's your word?

25 comments:

Unknown said...

I don't think I could ever get a tattoo.. but I love your reason!

Very few people are able to do what you have been doing and I think it is awesome.

Good for you for sticking to what you set out to do.

THAT is an amazing feat. It is nice to see someone so proud of themselves for doing what they set out to do

Kudos to you and I am very proud of you also!

Good Job! Hugs.. and a pat on the back!!

:)

blognut said...

Dammit. That IS my word. Sometimes I don't know what to believe, but I believe I will figure it out eventually.

And, as I told you before, I believe in you.

I just do.

XOXO

Anonymous said...

I'm a tattoo kind of girl and I think that would be an awesome one for you. :)

Chris said...

My word is "patience." It makes all things possible.

~j said...

my word is "choose".....sometimes i let life pass by while i debate things to death. so i have to force my to make a choice and go for it.

but i think "believe" is an excellent word too and i love the tattoo idea. =D

hooray said...

My word is "Faith." I have to keep having faith. It's similar to "believe," I think!

Great post.

hooray said...

My other word is "grace."

Sherri Murphy said...

"She" is cheating!

The word believe is carved from wood word and placed above my television. As a reminder to remember what I believe. To strengthen that which I believe...to PRACTICE what I believe.

It is a powerful word.

CJ said...

I think my word is "learn" ---I consider myself a life-long learner who is sure my learning will never end. When I was a teacher, I learned as much from my students as I taught.

In 9th grade, I complained to my mother that my English teacher was soooooo stupid. My mother cut me off and said, "You can learn from anyone who has had different experiences than you have," Well, that would include everyone, wouldn't it?

Once someone thinks they know it all, I think they become dangerous. (Dictators, religious fanatics, and terroists fall into that category.)

I don't think I'll have "learn" tattooed on my body though. What if I decide to become a dictator? Then I'd have to remove it.

Rachel Cotterill said...

Yours is a great word. And I identify with CJ's, as someone who hasn't yet escaped from academia. I think I might have to go for 'explore' to cover the informal aspect of learning as well as the desire to run around the world having adventures!

Melanie Gillispie said...

Do you know what my favorite word is? Well you should, you're my best friend after all...anyway, my favorite word is bucket. See if you can't find the Chinese symbol for that and I'll get it tatooed on my wrist when you get yours done.

I'm picturing the conversation with someone who asks us about them: Believe...interesting... What's yours? Bucket? Really? You know that's weird, but it's gifted too.

Zuzana said...

Beautiful picture, indeed. The word is very profound; in the end it is our beliefs that will get us through and help us reach our goals.;) I am so not surprised that it is your favorite word.;))
xo

mo.stoneskin said...

I'll think about my word. Could it be one of these?

Stress,
Sweat,
Impatience

Nah, they may feature a lot but they're not really words I like, value or appreciate.

Thwarted?

Yep, thwarted is my word. I spend most of my life thwarted. Just this morning I was thwarted by the traffic lights, someone else had just crossed and the road was too busy so I had to wait. Then I was thwarted by the crossing, just as I got to the railway crossing the barriers came down.

But in all seriousness, I'm getting better at not caring...

Ladybird World Mother said...

~Wow, thats a hard one... love your word, but would have to go for 'faith' like She. With it you can do anything. Its kind of like yours, eh?!

Cari said...

We've had this conversation before, you should know my word...it's 'strength' I've always had a few of them I wanted as a tattoo on me..'believe' was always one, 'strength' (For obvious reason...always believed that one word summed my mom up completely, and I try hard to be like her) and 'hope/dreams' are the other ones. But over the years 'strength' has taken over for me.

Andy - Instafather said...

I've never thought about my favorite word.
Hmm.

Muppets?
Quagmire?
Dulcet?

Tough call.

Amy McMean said...

good word.

My word i think would be LAUGH. Because no matter how mad, upset, rough things seem to be if i stop and take a moment to laugh it out, I'll be better for it. Maybe not happier but that gives me a chance to realize that "this to shall pass".

Trust me I've been laughing a lot today at work to get through the take over of yet another paper's obit. but i laugh when i get mad and i feel better. so that's my word. LAUGH

rdl said...

love it! one of my faves too!

SSP said...

a great word and it will be a ggreat tattoo! Mine is more than a word - it is Do or Do Not, There is No Try, so I guess my word is "DO." My dad painted it on a piece of driftwood he found and it has hung in my house ever since....

Anonymous said...

I have the word believe engraved on a tiny hand-made silver bird on a battered handmade silver bracelet which I wear EVERY day. I keep setting goals and letting myself down and for the first time, like you, I recently felt things start to shift, that I had to take my time to get where I want to be. Good luck with everything, Diane.

Live More Now said...

Believe is a great word! I really like your photo.

And it's so great when a word resonates so strongly with you. You'll have to post a picture of your tattoo when you get it!

My word/s? "Live More Now."

Always trying to. Rarely getting there. But it's the process that counts, right?

Maithri said...

My word is yoghurt....

Sorry I'm in one of those nutty moods again...

I LOVE your word and I say all power to you if you're going for the tattoo...

I've thought about it before too... The chinese symbol for yoghurt...lol

Sorry... too much (or too little) coffee this morning,

Much love, M

~j said...

i just had to stop back by to see some of the other words. you seriously have an awesome group of followers.....

dianne said...

Its a great word Diane my dear,

my word is 'hope' as it opens itself up to all kinds of possibilities. ♡

Sometimes Sophia said...

Tattoo? I dunno Diane. Pretty radical stuff. Do you want Ryan to have a tattoo? Do henna first, to see if you like it...