One little word.
Now that many of you have chosen a word for the year, what will you do to keep it in mind throughout the year? It can be very simple or complex, a craft/scrapbooking project or a simple reminder in your planner or on your bulletin board. Some sort of visual reminder is a great way to add a bit of focus to your word.
Here's a couple ideas for honoring your word this year:
• Go through some magazines looking for your word or themes/phrases/etc that relate to your word. Cut them out and collage them together as a visual reminder. This could grow and expand throughout the year.
• Commission or locate a piece of jewelry that features your word. I am ordering a necklace with "vitality" from Lisa Leonard. Love this as a daily visual reminder.
• Print out a word card (see photo above) and place it where you will see it everyday (a bathroom mirror or refrigerator or bulletin board are all front and center).
• Create a canvas that introduces your word. Dump some paint right on there and go for it.
• Start a journal to document thoughts, feelings, experiences you have with your word over the course of the year. This could be a visual journal or just focus on the words. Your journal could be as simple as a Word document on your computer.
• Expand your interest in words by playing along with the challenges on the one little word blog.
What are the ways you are planning to honor your word in 2008?
My word is SLOW. This is something I have been thinking about and reading about for a couple of years....2008 is my year for ACTION
To get myself going, I made a layout with some of my goals/thoughts/reminders about a SLOW life:
http://ahafermann.typepad.com/my_thoughts_exactly_well_/2008/01/happy-new-year.html
The journaling reads:
*Slow = balanced
*In 2008, reclaim your time, reclaim you health, & take charge of the quality of your life.
*More energy, more efficiency & a better quality of life through slowing down
*Sometimes to be faster you have to slow down
*A slow, balanced approach = a happier, healthier, more productive life
*Take time to figure out what is really important; resist trying to pack as much as possible in the shortest amount of time
I am also keeping a journaling (a plain old store bought journal) to track my progress, write my thoughts, write inspirational words and quotes.
I am doing this....I am regaining control of my time and energy through slowing down!!
Thanks for the inspiration Ali!!
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I made a painting.
http://www.messycanvas.com/2008/01/painting-free.html
Thanks for encouraging us to keep ourselves reminded of our word. This will become exceedingly important the further away from January 1 we get. :)
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to help me stick with my word "schedule" I am joining you and Donna Downey in doing a 365 project - just started today and put up a post & photo album on my blog to document it all.
Still deciding on what I want for a visual reminder - love the necklace you are ordering - I think that will be an awesome reminder!
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Ali, thanks again for the inspiration. My word is AWARE. The dictionary meaning of the word is: having or showing realization, perception or knowledge; having knowledge of something; implies vigilance in observing or alertness in drawing inferences from what one experiences.
The is a list of some of the things I want to be aware of:
Aware of what makes me happy
Aware of what is important to me and my family
Aware of what I put into my mouth and how I treat my body
Aware of how I am feeling
Aware of the moment and living there
Aware of doing what I want to do and not what I think that I should do
Aware of the environment around me.
In 2008 I want to be AWARE.
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I am in the process of making myself an inspiration board, so I will definitely be putting my word up on there. I also plan to do a layout about my word and I have written about it in my journal and on my blog. The more places I see it the better it is for me.
Hope you have a great weekend. :)
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I mentioned in my other post that I have made a blog too.
http://kassjane.typepad.com/thecolourblog
plus there are going to be some visual reminders created for my home!
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I'm going to make a necklace for myself ;)
http://studioseventeenjewelry.blogspot.com/
and i've started an art journal... i'm working on a canvas/memo board as well :)
looking forward to seeing all your ideas over the year!!
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Well ALi, I have finally added my word to myy blog - better late than never ;-)
http://bp3.blogger.com/_v7E99KhGNZo/R363hQoGQDI/AAAAAAAAAeM/jC_3IHtkbnQ/s1600-h/DSC00923.JPG
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My planner/journal from Memory Dock has a small place to slip a photo on the cover. When I received the planner last year for Christmas, I made a mini art journal page to fit in the spot. This year I will make one some sort of collage with my word, perspective.
Peace.
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I love these ideas. I finally came up with my word today... EMBRACE.
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Hey, Ali! Finally delurking again... ;) Thanks for the inspiration, as always!
I think my word is CHANGE. I had been so fearful of changes, but 2007 showed me change is good, and more, is essential to the human being. We cannot just be stuck - we have to move forward, experience new things, live life to the fullest, view things in a different way, be more tolerant to others (meaning: putting yourself in others' shoes), etc. This is what CHANGE means for me. I expect lots of changes for 2008.
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I found your blog via Tim Holtz and will come visit often!!! I Love the word challenge:) just what I needed to spark my creative juices..
my best to you!!!
Bernie Berlin
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Delurking for a minute...
A few of us in a critique group/COF group over at scrapbook.com are doing a challenge using our words. The challenge is to create something with our word that can hang on the wall...whether it be canvas, clock, altered letters, etc. but it has to hang on the wall so we can see it everyday! BTW my word is ACHIEVE.
Now back to lurking status!
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Love the tips. I use a Franklin-Covey planner at work every day and am going to stick my word (perspective) on the little plastic page marker that I see multiple times each day.
I'm also considering doing a small weekly album (probably templated in Photoshop) where I can pull my picture-a-day and write a short paragraph about my perspective for that week.
Quick question--what font(s) did you use for your card?
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Thanks for your inspiration Ali. This is my year to stick to a new way of living. Being positive and living in the NOW. I'm in the middle of making a collage of words to hang next to my computer.
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I scrapped my first page with my word last night! Love the visual reminder and getting my thoughts out on paper.
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clarity
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Happy New Year Ali.
I started a challenge for the first time ever. It's the 365 Day challenge and so far I'm keeping up with the girls which is a miracle.
My word for the year is SIMPLIFY. I'm thinking of getting one of those necklaces myself. I love those.
So here's to finding my word in all kinds of places and to me keeping up with the challenge.
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happy new year, ali! first of all, you are going to love your lisa leonard necklace. i have a couple pieces of her work and think they are great. one of them is the wire bracelet with a charm that says CREATE. (my '07 word) and a couple days ago i ordered another charm with DO. (my '08 word) on it. i have a couple other ideas of what i want to do, but just need to sit down and do it.
thanks for being a continuous source of inspiration!
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Hi Ali,
I just set up a blog to post all my picture a day shots.
You should check it out. :)
www.blognow.com.au/courtneydlt
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I made a new desktop image for my computer. I'm on the computer throughout my day and it's a great way to keep it at the forefront of my thoughts.
I also put it up on my blog.
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Firstly, I just need to say thank you for all the inspiration your blog provides! Last year I chose the word 'Savor' to remind myself to slow down and enjoy life and in particular, to enjoy the last year that we would have our 19-year-old son at home with us. This year, I've chose the word 'Act'- both to remind myself to not only 'react' to what life throws at me but to also take charge more and not put things off! January has only begun and 'Act' is already making a difference.
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I have a reasonably old desktop screen and over the last couple of years have taken to adding rub-ons around the edges of the screen of inspiring words. Last year I added my word, "simplify", this year "grateful". I also have the words "make time" along one edge - as I am at my computer at least once every day, these words are a constant reminder to me (and a curiosity to my teenagers if they venture into my scrap room to use my computer!).
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i'll be using my word in my monthly banners for my blog. My chosen word is cultivate and each month I'll be adding what to cultivate...for Jan it's cultivate health!!
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my choice: EXURBERANT
because: I am 51, my 5 kids are growing up into great fun adults;
I am married to my high school sweetheart & he still makes me giggle;
I lost 30+ pounds last year;
I have my health;
I am working part-time at the local scrapbook store;
I planted a fruit garden last fall and am exciting about this
'fruitation';
I am proud to admit that I nap daily to re-charge;
and I HOPE to be more productive & finish many of my 'stalled & shelved' craft projects.
Holly
PS I make alot of mistakes, joyously and with much vigor
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