one little word®
The AEzine is back up and running for 2007.
For those of you that may be new to the site, the AEzine is a weekly newsletter that I started last fall. I try to incorporate bits and pieces of creative information and inspiration - geared towards scrapbooking and life (and the concept of life art). You can check out the past issues here. You can subscribe by entering your email address in the box up on the top right of this blog.
To celebrate the new year I wanted to share the one little word® concept which is also featured in this weeks newsletter:
one little word®A single word can be a powerful thing. It can be the ripple in the pond that changes everything. It can be sharp and biting or rich and soft and slow.
Last fall in issue two of this newsletter I wrote about the power of words and gave my top ten tips for getting those words down when you are scrapbooking. Today I want to introduce you to the idea that a single word can be a catalyst for enriching your life as well as your scrapbook layouts.
Last year I began a tradition of chosing one word for myself each January - a word that I can focus on, mediate on, and reflect upon as I go about my daily life. Last year my word was something I wanted to bring into my life in a more tangible way. My word was play.
I thought a lot about play and what it means to me. I tried to incorporate it more into my everyday and on my adventures out in the crazy world. For me, it was a lot about living without fear - about being more open to experiences with an attitude of playfulness. The word play found its way onto many scrapbook pages and into many stories I told throughout the year.
Can you identify a single word that sums up what you want for yourself in 2007?
It can be something tangible or intangible. It could be a thought or a feeling or an emotion. It can be singular or plural. The key is to find something that has personal meaning for you. This is not your mother's word or your spouse's word or your child's word - this is YOUR word.
One little word can have big meaning in your life if you allow yourself to be open to the possibilities. And here's one thing that is totally interesting: sometimes a word will pop into your brain and it will not make any sense to you right now. Give it some time. Let it percolate a bit. I have often found that our hearts speak to us in very unique ways. Maybe this is a word you need to hear but just aren't ready for it yet. Again, be open to the possibilities.
You may be wondering, what in the heck does this all have to do with scrapbooking? For me, words are at the heart of what I do. The photos are a huge part, but the words bring it all home. Often times I will begin a layout with a single word. That word becomes my guide as I create my page. It helps me focus the story I am trying to tell and gives me an instant, easy graphic title approach. How often has a word directed your creativity when working on layouts?
Take some time this week to think about your own word for 2007 and read on for a related
weekly challenge.And in case you were wondering, my word for 2007 is peace.
weekly challenge
This week your challenge is to create something, anything, that celebrates your chosen word for 2007. Maybe a layout. Maybe a blog posting or a journal entry or a simple post-it note that you put somewhere you can see it each day. Make sure to journal about why you chose your word and what it
means for you - the more you let yourself explore the more benefit you will receive in the end.Come by my blog and post your response to the challenge on Monday, January 8, 2007. Looking forward to seeing your creations and reading your
thoughts.
I hope everyone has a great day today. And thanks for all the super nice comments on the kit yesterday.
Typo...work....NOOOOO!!!! "word" and that word is "PLAY"
LOL
peace
Kim
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I'm still debating on that word .. is it GOAL (my goal is to tell everyone I know my early detection story and get everyone out to get their mammogram this year...) or maybe it is Detection or Mammogram or Inform or Convince or Spread (as in spread the story - but it could be spread/squish/hold your breath) ... it could even be Squish .. don't know yet .. but I know that last year I was given the opportunity to become an VERY EARLY DETECTION BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR .. (although I still have trouble with the survivor part .. after all it was only 21 days from detection to surgery removal and survivor status) ... I do know it is my destiny to convince as many people as I know (including on-line friends/acquaintances) to take the time for themselves and get their mammograms! .. Just for the reassurance that everything is fine and dandy!!!!!
If you can't do it for yourself .. do it for me!
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What popped into my mind is LESS
Less stuff
Less running around
Less food
Less waste
Less laziness
Great idea, Ali... as always.
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Thank goodness your AEzine is back! It was just what I needed yesterday morning. I was checking my mail on my phone before I got out of bed and there it was. Just the inspiration I needed for the day. I read the whole thing in bed then got up and spent the rest of the day thinking about what my word would be. I decided on ATTITUDE. I want to focus on being aware of my ATTITUDE. I think that the way you choose to react to things is really important and having the right ATTITUDE in a particular situation is critical. Can't wait to create something with my word and post it on Monday. Have a great weekend.
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this AEzine issue was amazing and so inspiring. i am deciding between a couple of words...maybe my word should be COMMIT :)
thanks for the thoughts and the inspiration, always.
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Ali, I start a big new chapter in my life Monday, as I start a new job. I am not sure that I will be able to post on Monday, so I blogged about my word today on my blog.
{grace}
http://littlegreendot.typepad.com/little_green_dot/2007/01/one_little_word.html
Thanks for all you do!
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hi ali.
what a cool way to start the year. i have a word -- carried over from christmastime...
obey.
while i know it's by no means a popular word, i'm choosing to obey this year. obey god's call in my life -- the everyday things i know god would want me to do. i'm going to be obedient by spending time with him daily, in how i treat my family, and in how i give back to the community. the list could go on...
enjoyed your post. :)
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Ali,
My word is HOPE.
I can only HOPE that my children do their best and are happy and healthy.
I can only HOPE that my husband and I continue to be blessed with this family.
I can only HOPE my son continues to improve in school. 1st grade is such a big change.
I can only HOPE that our entire family stays healthy and strong.
Thanks Ali!
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My word for this year is balance.
My plan for living this word: eating enough healthy food that I can occasionally eat french fries for dinnner, drinking enough water that the occasional margarita is ok, taking the stairs so I can occasionally skip the gym, sleeping enough so I can occasionally stay up all night, getting enough "me" time so I can freely give some of it away, saving enough so I can occasionally splurge, finding enough joy that I can occasionally be grumpy... I want to find balance so the little guilty pleasures are not guilty causing
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my word is sweet simplicity...it's funny, almost like divine intervention, as your letter came after I had written a post in my blog about this!!! so here's is a link...
http://andsoonandson.blogspot.com/
thanks for the challenge ali!!!
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Grateful
An important reminder for me in the midst of the chaos that is life with 3 children under 5 at home, in dealing with the daily challenges that Asperger's brings to our home, in contemplating some big changes in the coming year... to be grateful for the many gifts that life & my family bring me, even when things are hard.
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I loved your AEzine this time...so inspiring. I'm still thinking of my "word" yet. My first thought is ORGANIZE cause after Christmas I must! Also CHANGE is a word I'm tossing around since my youngest will be starting school in the fall and I will be without children during the day for the first time in 7+ years. Then there is REINVENT since I feel like I've been trying to reinvent myself...who knows...maybe I'll make a calendar like yours on Cafe Press ;-) Thanks for being so inspiring!
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RESOLVE.
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I read all the comments. How cool are all those words? My word is DREAM. Want to create big things in my life this year. Cheers to you Ali and a Happy Peaceful 2007.
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My word is Embrace. I posted a layout on my blog about it. Thanks for the incentive Ali!
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my word for the year is savor. Savor the experiences the moments. Savor everything that makes life great.
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Ali,
Thank you so much for the inspiration. And I love your work.
I'm torn between 2 words: SIMPLIFY or ACCEPTANCE. A big part of me wants to say SIMPLIFY. I want to clear out the clutter, run around less everyday and just make my life simplier. But since I run a business with DH, have a 5 year old and will be going back to school in 2 weeks maybe SIMPLIFY will be hard to achieve. So I then lean towards ACCEPTANCE. I need to accept my life the way it is and stop yearning and wanting something else. Hmmm, I guess I need to think about it a little more.
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I was trying to think of a profound word, an entirely provoking and evocative word.....and then it hit me......my word for 2007 is about as simple as they come: BE. Just BE. Be in the moment. Be aware. Be me. Often, as a busy mom, wife, professional, and artist, I get so trapped in the striving, the business, the achieving. I need to spend this year just contemplating, meditating, and becoming familiar and comfortable to just BE. Thanks for the inspiration. Posting of my page to come.....
Blessings,
Nicole
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I was sitting at the bus stop yesturday, for over a million hours, watching some magpies fly in and out of trees. What a life, to just be flying, and singing and gathering food. Then I wondered what my state of BEING is. What do I have to do to be me, where am I most natural? I was reminded back to your one word idea, and knew that BEING or TO BE is/are my word/s.
I love that nothing came to me suddenly but as a observed the world around me, it was shown.
Thanks for helping me keep my eyes open Ali.
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Ali, thanks so much for this...
My word for the year is YES. It's so easy for many to not live the life we imagine.. because it's too hard, too much work, too much effort. I often find myself saying, "nah, thanks anyways, maybe next time." It takes effort to say YES. It needs to be a conscious choice. Well this year, I'll say YES more. Yes to life experiences that are waiting for me. Thanks again for the inspiration.
Leah
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I think my word is going to be "embrace". This year it is my goal to embrace my family, my joys, my likes and dislikes, as well as myself.
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My word is "light."
Be a light for myself. Be a light for others. Experience new things. Don't take things so seriously.
Thanks!!!
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Connect. 2006 left me feeling disjointed from my friends and somewhat with my family because I was focusing so much on work. I've changed jobs and moved back to my hometown, so now I want to find a good group of friends again and if it's in the cards...a boyfriend.
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Happy New Year Ali --
Thanks for the inspiration! My word this year is BELIEVE. In myself, in opportunity, in the power of the Universe, in people, and in God. My faith has been a bit shaky and it's time to get strong with it!!
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Ali, thank you for your inspiration, through your ezine, your bong, your articles in magazines. When I got the newsletter yesterday, my word came to my instantly. It is LIVE.
Last year was the worst year of my life. My husband that I've been with since I was 17 told me he was having an affair and left our family. That event consumed me for the rest of the year. I turned 40, struggled with worsening depression, lack of energy, lost my interest in scrapbooking, etc.
This year, I want to LIVE. Get out in the world and experience new great things. Take scrapbooking classes. Travel. Be with friends and family. Enjoy the outdoors. Exercise. etc etc etc.
thank you again!
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