20Leaven

Twenty eleven sounds kinda clunky. Nineteen eleven has a lovely illiteration. You don’t mind letting those five syllables linger on your tongue. Same with twenty twelve – three strong syllables that chime like a bell. But twenty eleven? That’s a slog; precisely what we hope 2011 won’t be.


I propose we shorten the pronunciation to twenty’leven, or a more thought provoking 20leaven. The action of leaven lightens and softens a finished product and gives good things the ability to rise and increase in volume.

As we reflect on 2010, a year of struggle, what have we learned that we can use as leaven in 2011? Hard times can be incubators for new ideas. Adjusting to “new normals” gives us our ideas time to ferment and produce in a good year.

What in your life could profit from a little leaven? Is 2011 the year you rise to an occasion or a challenge, increase your giving, reach or influence, lighten your hold on something, soften your attitude toward someone?

May 2011 produce good things in you.