Poetry Friday: What did I NOTICE in 2023?
2023 Word of the Year: Notice
In 2023, my word of the year has been NOTICE.
As I reflect on the year, and ponder the word I’ve chosen for 2024, I have been thinking about all the ways I’ve been trying to notice in my writing life (and in my life in general).
Here are some things I did to try to NOTICE:
- Bought a camera to practice more macrophotography
- Write a haiku for a photograph every weekday this year
- Visited tons of parks and took photos in my summer of books and parks.
- Visited a sit spot near my house to write and notice.
- Notice the things in my writing that need revision
- Notice what stories need to be pursued and which need to wait (or be abandoned)
- Notice how I work best as a writer (especially if it’s different from others)
If you did a word of the year for 2023, how did it go? Gretchen Rubin and Liz Craft recommend getting something tangible to represent your word. I’ve never done this, but I’m considering it for 2024.
If you’re curious what all of my Poetry Friday haiku look together, here is a video of the 2023 Haiku.
Haiku of the Week
sugar dusts
red berries overnight
bird’s winter dessert
Photo Taken: December 9, 2023 at Eakin Community Park
Haiku Written: December 19, 2023
Haiku Moments Playlist
Poetry Printables Page
Sign up for poetry postcards
What I’m Reading
by Ann Patchett
I’ve been listening to this book on audio. Meryl Streep reads and it’s just fabulous.
I also took my kids to a local Barnes & Noble sale. The store is moving and all the books are 50% off. It’s a half-mile from a local used bookstore too. We visited both and came home with a very large stack of books. I found several children’s poetry books at the used bookstore in excellent shape for $1.00 each.
I’m hosting next week, so I look forward to telling you about what I have planned for 2024!
32 Comments
Susan Thomsen
Beautiful photo & haiku, Marcie. Happy New Year! I look forward to your post on what’s in store for ’24, too.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Susan! I always love looking back on the year!
Liz Garton Scanlon
Thank you for sharing — and for modeling the practice of noticing. Such a gift.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Liz!
Rose Cappelli
Love those sugar-dusted berries. I never thought about using something tangible for my OLW, but it seems like a good idea. I agree – hearing Meryl Streep perform Tom Lake was outstanding.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Let me know if you find something tangible for your OLW. I am not a big jewelry person, but that’s a common thing to use as a tangible item.
Tabatha
That book sale sounds terrific! I’m drooling. Congrats on all that noticing! Looking forward to hearing about your 2024 plans.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
The book sale was terrific! Long, long lines though.
Linda Baie
I have so many books to read, but I’ve heard others praise Meryl Streep for Tom Lake. It’s on the list! I love your video, Marcie; remember many that you’ve written, all lovely, like the latest: “Bird’s Winter Dessert”! Happy New Year, I will look for your post in 2024!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Linda!
Alan j Wright
Some wonderful noticings in that list, Marcie. Great direction in any given year. May the new year deliver equally sharp observations.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I hope so, Alan! I look forward to 2024.
Laura Purdie Salas
Thank you for a year of beautiful photos and haiku, Marcie. And for always sharing your process and systems. I like the idea of a tangible object to represent our word. I’ve chosen (I think) my word. Now to look for a token…And thanks for the pdf calendar. Gorgeous! Happy New Year! xo
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Let me know what kind of token you get! I am not a big jewelry person, otherwise, I’d recommend something from etsy.
jan/bookseedstudio
Hello wonderful Marcie! I appreciate your creativity, organization & industry/followthruness, always even if I’m not a faithful visitor here. You inspire my actiities.
The berry/bird haiku is precious.
We are connected in visits outdoors, the ability to notice & then share that moment/hour/day of notice in some way. For me, more & more, it’s in visual images, fotos & doodles before words.
Lucky, lucky, lucky, your kids to take them on a booksale hunt. And for all the ways I know you enrich their minds.
I’m not a faithful OLW person, but luv hearing of intriguing/unexpected words of the year.
Can’t imagine what your word for 2024 will be. The Oxford Word for 2023 was RIZZ!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
So lovely to hear from you, Jan! 🙂
PATRICIA J FRANZ
Love the video, Marcie! What a great way to capture a year. And I’m delighted that we will be CONNECTED in 2024 – wink wink
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I can’t wait to stay connected and see what we do in 2024!
Linda
Marcie, you lived you OLW and also helped the rest of us “notice.” My word for 2023 was BRAVE. I tried to step out of my comfort zone in my writing and in my life. I didn’t accomplish everything I had hoped, but I feel good about making some progress. Your haiku this week is one of my favorites! Happy New Year!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
BRAVE is an awesome word!
Michelle Kogan
Looks like you had much fruition with “Notice” and I’ll be waiting to hear what your new word will be and what you have planned… Brava to the one haiku and pic a day, and I also loved the virtual park and poem visits! Your Red berries remind me of our robin’s gourging on red Hawthorn berries this past week in our neighborhood, thanks Marcie, Happy New Year!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I loved noticing in 2023! It’s a practice I hope to continue!
Mary Lee
I can’t wait to see what word you have picked for 2024 (I think I can guess), and what all you have planned!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I’ll reveal on Friday! 🙂
Heidi Mordhorst
Marcie, as always I am in awe of your so very organized approach to your creative work. It’s great to be able to look back and see all that you’ve spent time on! Your haiku is usually my favorite part of your post and that’s the case this week…bird dessert! Wishing you and yours a happy entry into the New Year!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Heidi! 🙂
Denise Krebs
Marcie, I love the way you catalogued some of the many ways you NOTICED this year. What a great word. I will look forward to seeing your 2024 word. Love the sugar dusting the berries for the birds.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I’ll do the word reveal on Friday. 🙂
Margaret Simon
I’m pretty sure I read your post, but I’m back to it and don’t see a comment. I think your word Notice served you well. My OLW of 2023 did not. I will write about it for Spiritual Thursday this week. I wish I could have a daily writing practice that includes noticing, as Mary Oliver advised. Most days I don’t have the time with my teaching schedule. But that is a poor excuse. Your haiku are always inspiring. Those beautiful winter berries and the line “bird’s winter dessert” are yummy. Happy New Year!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I totally get the scheduling. I teach full-time too. I often take my photos on the weekends and then just the daily haiku practice during the week. It only takes a few minutes.
Janice Scully
What a wonderful collection of haiku! So inspiring to see your photos, too, a celebration of the outdoors. I loved the book Tom Lake and hope you enjoy it. Happy New Year!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Just finished Tom Lake. It was a joy!