One Little Word 2010
I am a fan of welcoming the new year with open arms. I love fresh starts, new opportunities, clean slates, possibilities.
Back in January 2007, as a way to celebrate these beginnings, I started a public tradition of choosing a single word to focus on over the course of the year.
Many of you are familiar with this tradition and have been joining me in selecting a new word each year. If this is your first time reading about the idea of one little word I recommend taking a few minutes to read my original post here.
Here's a look at my words from the past three years with links to the original posts.
2007 : Peace [ read my post for 2007 ]
2008 : Vitality [ read my post for 2008 ]
2009 : Nurture [ read my post for 2009 ]
Essentially the idea is to choose a word (or let it choose you) that has the potential to make an impact on your life.
Maybe you want to invite something or maybe you are hoping to subtract something. Maybe your word will be practical or hopeful or creative or fanciful. Maybe you need a big word, something in-your-face that will challenge you everyday. Maybe you need something smaller and quieter that will whisper gentle tidings as you make your way throughout the year.
Whatever word you end up with, make sure it is your word (not your sister's, mom's, partner's, child's, etc). You can share it publicly or keep it close to your heart.
My word for 2010 is STORY.
I'm planning to do a post with more details on my thoughts about this word on Wednesday (look for the finishing pages of my December Daily tomorrow). I am hoping to use my word as a springboard for a variety of different projects and inspirations, in my life and my scrapbooking, over the next 365 days.
Have you chosen your word yet?
Charisma- I recently re-read A return to love by Marianne Williamson and the words original meaning hit me in that one little word place:) "of the spirit and inspired". I so want to continue this year to live my life truly inspired and let that part of myself shine more.
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Thanks for the inspiration as always. I've chosen one little word with you for the past two years ("listen" and "peace") and for the past month I've been thinking about my word for 2010. I just can't get any other word to come to mind except "slow". I am a big believer in slow living in so many ways and I want to embrace it even more in 2010. So most likely that will be my word, unless anything new suddenly pops to the forefront this week.
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This year it was an easy one...Believe. For so many different reasons. Love your choice!
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I've been giving some thought to keeping my word-learn-for another year. I have quite a list, but some things on the list don't quite match, so when I saw Jessica's word-INTENTION-I knew that was the right word for me for 2010. Thanks, Ali and Jessica, too. I found the perfect definition for me: A course of action that one intends to follow. 2. a. An aim that guides action; an objective.
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My word is without doubt BLESSED. God has blessed me beyond measure and has given me so many opportunities to recognize the, He never fails. I look forward to cherishing all my blessings in the new year : )
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My word of the year comes from the great quote by Howard Thurman. "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." My word is ALIVE. This year I am quitting my job that I have disliked and sometimes hated for 10 years to go to school and come a ALIVE!!!
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Ali - did you do a post long ago that had a listing of all of the words that people had chosen for that year? I've looked for it, but didn't find it. Perhaps I am imagining it? I'm praying about my word and enjoy reading the comments. Thanks for the continued inspiration!
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Waiting for my word to find me... LOVE all the words posted here. Might see if my moms group wants to participate...
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my word found me this Christmas season - PONDER
I have always loved thinking about Mary pondering all the things the angel told her and feeling that there is an intentionality about how she held and wondered about what was going to happen - I hope to slow down enough to ponder this year
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Mine is BEAUTY. And I have my painting that you helped me script hung in my studio to remind me of this. :)
Happy New Year, friend.
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My word for 2010 is PATIENCE. To make a long story short, we are trying to move and with today's economy it is a bit difficult. So I must be patient and try to go with the flow.
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My word for 2009 was Grace and I found it really helpful to have that word guide me throughout the year... although I am not sure I entirely lived up to it, but I made progress.
This year my word is Choice - as in I Am At Choice, always. With every decision, no matter how big or small I have the opportunity to make sure every choice is in alignment with my core values.
Thanks for the inspiration. I really love reading your posts about this... and everyone's comments too.
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My word for 2010 is PRODUCTIVITY. Over the last few months I have lost focus of the plans I have for myself, so I'm aiming to be more productive in the new year.
Thank you for sharing your tradition.
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i was thinking of this yesterday... remembering that you would be mentioning this soon... frustrated i never picked a word last year... and decided i'm def picking one this year... now to decide ;) thanks ali!
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Ali, it's the first time I'm choosing my word (here along with you), and my word is 'stability'. 1,5 years ago my life changed and all this time it was quite uneasy, and I was not sure I wanted to do anything with it. Now I understand I want, and I've made my first steps to it. I want to get stability in my life during the coming year.
Thank you for inspiration :)
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Everyone has such positive words and mine might seem negative...but they're not, for me. My words are LOSE & REPLACE. I need to LOSE about 80 pounds and I've struggled with this for years. This year I actually gained another 10 pounds and I've gotten to the point where I'm finally going to do this for myself. I also want to REPLACE some bad habits with better habits and I want to LOSE a lot of the emotional baggage I've carried around for a bazillion years.
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Last year, my word was Balance - making sure there was time for me, family, others -keeping my life balanced among all the demands on my time. This year, I need to focus on simplifying my life - cleaning out clutter, working on my weight a bit, cutting back on volunteering to the point that there is more time for family... My word for 2010 is Reduce - that seems to fit all my goals for the year. Thank you Ali for such a great concept - this is so much better for me than "resolutions", I guess because I can't "fail". I am working toward an ideal, not trying to check something off a list.
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Live...my word is LIVE.
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My word for this year will be Journal. I started a journal last year and was not consistent in my writing...big gaps between entries. Since writing really helps me to clarify my thoughts, it is a very helpful tool for me. Perhaps by making it my word, I will be encouraged to do that which I am anxious to accomplish. I don't feel the need to journal every day. I just want to remember and act upon the fact that it is a good action for me to acknowledge, understand, and record my feelings.
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My word for 2010 is Blessings.
Blessings are all around us we just have to really look hard sometimes and that's my goal for next year,is to look for the blessing admist the trials.
Happy New Year to you and your family!
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My word for 2010 found me in August - it's LOVE. The magnitude of this word is still taking my breath away. I'm eager to see for how it will challenge, inspire, surprise and lead me through 2010.
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Oh Ali....of all the things I have been introduced to by you, my word for the year has to be my favorite! I have had three wonderful words the past three years, and I end my prayers each night with them. I have been thinking of my word for 2010 already, and am so excited to see this post and to thank you for sharing this gift with me those years ago. I *love* your word, it fits you and what you share with us all perfectly too. Enjoy your day!
Rhonda :)
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After taking your class over at BPS all I talk about is telling the story. I think that my family thinks that I have gone a little over the deep end with telling the story. But they love reading about it in my pages! My New Years resolution is to work every day at telling the story meaningfully. I wanted it to be a LO per day but I am afraid that life will get in the way. So if I take pictures and/or journal and be present everyday I will have hit a homerun. STORY
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I'm typing this before I read the comments. My word for 2010 is INVITE. There are so many opportunities I would like to invite into my life, so many moments, so many characteristics, friends, and memories. This is the year.
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I love choosing a word for the year! Last year it was Gratitude and by year's end, I had such a full year of things to be grateful for. This year my word is Recreate. I want to breathe new life and energy into myself, my surroundings and all other aspirations I have.
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