Embrace

em⋅brace 

verb, -braced, -brac⋅ing, noun –verb (used with object)

1.	to take or clasp in the arms; press to the bosom; hug.

2.	to take or receive gladly or eagerly; accept willingly: to embrace an idea.

3.	to avail oneself of: to embrace an opportunity.

4.	to adopt (a profession, a religion, etc.): to embrace Buddhism.

5.	to take in with the eye or the mind.

6.	to encircle; surround; enclose.

7.	to include or contain: An encyclopedia embraces a great number of subjects.

–verb (used without object)

8.	to join in an embrace.

–noun

9.	an act or instance of embracing.

Embrace is my word for 2009.

I found the concept of choosing a word, one single concept, and living a year with your mind, body and soul focused on that word intoxicating. I decided to...embrace it.

I will embrace those who mean something to me as often and joyously as possible. I will embrace the countless things that go right in my life every day, and those that go wrong. I will embrace every minute I get to spend at the job that I love. And I will embrace the long, hard road down which my passion for writing leads me.

I will embrace my life, my hopes, my dreams, myself in 2009.