The first week of 2015 felt like a rushing wind: full of activities, calendaring surprises, creative bursts and gusts, and a flurry of activity. In the midst of this, I have been attempting to contemplate what ‘word’ might choose me for 2015. I liked my word, water, so much for 2014 that I was reluctant to let go and enter into the possibility of something new. (Oh how my inner dialogue is sometimes so chatty). Sensing it might possibly be helpful to press into my resistance, onward I pondered: taking my soul for a stroll, listening to the wind and birds, paying attention to my dreams and reading and reflecting through my journal.
When I practice slowing down, meditating, pausing and reflecting, it doesn’t surprise me that phrases and serendipitous moments come to mind. While on pilgrimage in Ireland this past November, whilst standing on the wild edge of Flaggy Shore, the following phrase from Seamus Heaney’s poem, Postscript, jumped out at me and grabbed ahold of my attention: “…As big soft buffetings come at the car sideways and find the heart unlatched and blow it open.” Something at that moment lifted in my heart, that already felt opened and expanded, and blew it open even more.
I’m not exactly sure what all of this means, or how it will unfold; such is my love of mystery and simultaneous paradox of wanting to plan and understand everything. I have since highlighted and journaled often and done various writing prompts from this phrase. The word that is now shimmering, calling, beckoning and ‘gusting’ at me is: unlatched. Oh, what a word! What a juicy, inviting, mysterious, soul stirring word indeed. The root word, unlatch, which I’m taking as part of my word for the year as well, means to unfasten. Then, because of my curious and inquiring mind I searched synonyms: free, become unfastened, detach, ease, emancipate, extricate, let go, liberate, relax, release, unleash, unlock, undo…. My, oh my! 
And so, I “…drop my own words on the path like pebbles.” (Pat Schneider, Blessing for a Writer) and wait in anticipation and excitement for all that 2015 may have to offer in this wonderful life of mine.
If you’re interested in participating in the practice of having a word ‘choose you’ for the year, then head on over to my dear friend Christine Paintner’s blog at http://abbeyofthearts.com and participate in her free Give me a Word for 2014.
If you’re interested in participating in a pilgrimage to Paris this May, 2015, visit our site.
Sharon Richards 
Yes! What a word for you…lovely lady of the wild edges! Much love.