This Post Is Brought To You By The Letters B & D

I have been pondering my words for 2011, the words I'll use as my guideposts for a happy, healthy year. Initially I was going to go with the mantra: Keep Moving Forward, it's a good motto and it is what I intend to do in 2011 but it just didn't feel right. Further reflection led me to choose Breathe & Do

Breathe:

Just breathe, breathe and relax, breathe and ground yourself, breathe and remember, breathe and think. Breathing is something I forget to do when I'm stressed, and it's something I've found challenging in recent years when overwhelmed by pain, fear, or panic. Panic attacks aren't really something you talk about in every day conversation ... not really so cool! Especially when you're used to being the one in control, coping with tragedies, heartbreak, pain and suffering. Reaching saturation point (I guess I assumed I had a never-ending supply of coping ability) has been quite the learning curve for me and it's nice to feel like I have control back in my own hands. This is my gentle reminder to breathe in 2011.

Do:

Now this may seem like a simple one and I guess it is but it's more than just the physical "do" as opposed to "do nothing" or procrastination, which mind you I have a degree in. It's about doing things that make me happy, doing things to bring joy to those I love, doing things on my terms, doing things to make me whole again; when you're happy and whole you heal. Physical scars heal so much faster than emotional ones but in 2011 I'm in control of my own happiness.

It's also about "do" as opposed to "dont" something I've heard way too much of over the last few years. I'm good and kind and strong and capable and just a little bit wicked and I can DO whatever I set my mind to! I am blessed with a truly wonderful family, beautiful friends and the bestest friend in the world.

And yes do is also about doing instead of just talking or thinking about it. Note to self: and anyone else who's interested ... do is a work in progress, I've made huge leaps already but zumba is still under the just talk banner but in all fairness it is only January :)

So, do you make New New Resolutions, goals or choose words for the year ... please share :)

As rain continues to fall in Queensland I'd like to take the time to send a message of love and support to fellow Australians ravaged by flood waters. My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones and to the many who have lost homes, pets, livestock, businesses, crops, and livelihoods.

The loss of life; human, domestic and wildlife is heartbreaking and the cost to infrastructure, agriculture, exports (coal and sugar) immeasurable and the effects will be felt for years to come. With 60% of Queensland affected by floodwaters, many areas of New South Wales and Western Australia experiencing similar devastation, and many regions in Australia declared natural disaster areas the clean-up alone will cost billions. Not to mention the mud, the smell, the mosquitoes, snakes, crocodiles and whatever other nasties the flood waters bring out.

I pray that the sun comes out soon!

Kangaroos rescued in NSW

Rockhampton & Airport (AFP/Getty Images/Torsten Blackwood)

Emerald (Getty Images)

  This month on The Eclectic Reader 2 readers will win a copy of Delirium by Lauren Oliver or The Tudor Secret by C W Gortner, or Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning. Check this blog post for details. Open Internationally.