December 1 – One Word. Encapsulate the year 2010 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 2011 for you? (Author: Gwen Bell)

Setback

It’s hard to believe that in the same year I launched my blog and my photography business that I would chose the word setback. Right before the kids got out of school I remember feeling overly optimistic about a few projects I had going on, things seemed to be evolving quickly and picking up speed. The response to my blog was better than I could predicted and soon opportunities began to filtering down. I couldn’t help but feel that there was something else something more pressing on the horizon. More than a few times I remember actually seeing the word “setback” in either my horoscope or my Voyager cards. I just couldn’t shake the feeling that the word setback was going to come into play. A few weeks later my husband received a letter from the IRS informing us that his business was under audit review for 2008. I knew this wasn’t going to end well.

Looking at this card there are images of fire and destruction. A most certain change in your condition I thought to myself. But like the Phoenix who rises out of the ashes a new seed is planted on the scorched surface taking root and regenerating a new life. The song Firebird Suite by Stravinsky comes to front of my mind as I write this. I remember the breathtaking video that was a part of Disney’s Fantasia 2000 and how I sobbed like a baby the first time I saw it.  I would come to understand why that video resonated so deeply within me 10 years  later.