One Little Word : June 2010


Ali_bike

My one little word for 2010 is story.

From the very beginning my word has had a slightly different meaning for me than you might think. When I first wrote about it back in January I talked about the obvious idea documenting stories from yesterday & today but I also hinted at my deeper truth: "One of the biggest things is that I have a couple threads in my own
story that I would like to weave in a different direction.
"

The real truth is that I chose the word story because I wanted to focus on changing my story.

My secret word for 2010 been athlete.

My journey so far this year has been about finding a piece of myself that's been missing since I stopped being an athlete when I left the pool in 1994. I was done with the practices, done with the competition, done with the time it took away from all the other things I wanted to be doing in college.

For many years I didn't miss it at all. Not one little bit.

After Anna was born I started to wonder what it would be like to be an athlete as a full-fledged adult. What would my life be like if I took the time to exercise and got in shape and liked the feel of myself in my own skin again? What if I could get to the place of seeing myself as an athlete again? I began having visions of myself as a super fit grandma. I liked the idea of myself as a positive fitness role-model for my kids.

I decided I wanted to make a change in the way my story was being written.

Since January, in ways little and big, I've been returning to this unfinished piece of my own story. A chapter I want to continue and add to in the years to come.

Most of the action steps in changing my story have been small. They've been little daily choices to get up and get out and move my body again. Some days and weeks I'm successful and others, not so much. So much of it for me is a mental game.

I've gotten back in the pool. I've bought a road bike. I've started running (with some serious daily support from Cathy). And I registered to participate in the Danskin Sprint Triathlon in Seattle in August. Crazy? Yes, totally. I found that for me I needed something to aim for, something to move towards, in order to start making the changes I want to see in my story. I am finding that I love the variety of swimming, biking and running so much more than when it was all swimming all the time.

Really, I just want to show up and participate.

So that's where I'm at with my word right now. My words in years past have been undercurrents, with less real-world action. They have ebbed and flowed with me throughout the year and existed as a place for me to come back to when I felt like I am drifting too far off my path. This year has been different in a really good way for me at this time in my life. I am on my way...

If you left your word back in January or February or whenever, you can always reconnect with it. You can also always choose a new word. It's never too late.

Anyone else happen to have a secret word you are ready to share? Or a
new word that evolved out of your initial word?

Dottedline


IMG_2040
My 8x8 Rejoice photobook arrived in the mail from Shutterfly yesterday. I love it. And more importantly, Simon and Anna went nuts over it. It was all about the photos. Going to make a couple extra copies for a few other people I love.

You can view my completed book here and purchase the layered template package through Designer Digitals here.

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124 thoughts

  1. noell says…
    06/02/2010

    Ali, I didn't choose a word this year and I'm not really in that place right now, but I wanted to share with you that I have adopted the label of athlete in my life over the last few years. Unlike you, it was never a label I gave myself before. I was a dancer, not an athlete. But every Friday Izzy and I go off-road biking on some pretty crazy trails. I strength-train. I love hiking. I love running and I run on an incline every other day or so. And I still dance (every Thursday night) but I now consider dancing as a part of my athleticism.
    So I'm right there with you when it comes to enjoying how wonderful it feels to shape your life this way as an adult.

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. pidgen says…
    06/02/2010

    I've "played" along this whole time (which is surprising for me!) My word has also made me take on exercise (where did that come from?!!?) Cathy's journey has also inspired me and I've been running on the treadmill with a goal in mind ... I never expected it to be June and still have my word in mind -- but I do! Thanks for the great gift!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. taniawillis says…
    06/02/2010

    ali, you inspire me. :) that's all.

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Noell Hyman says…
    06/02/2010

    Had to add to my own comment: My 12-year-old son thinks I'm strong and has commented on it. That is THE BEST!

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Jane Toft says…
    06/02/2010

    As a naturally grumpy middle aged Englishwoman my initial reaction to both you and Cathy Z getting your exercise groove going, was, of course, cynicism. After all that's our default emotion here in the UK. It's not our fault, just the way we are brought up ;) I for one wasn't going to jump on this new bandwagon, no thankyou. But damn the pair of you, I have somehow bought a pair of trainers (running shoes), and dragged my unfit body around the local lanes 4 nights every week. I blame the pair of you! I feel a scrapbook layout coming on... Here's to fit and healthy :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Nancy says…
    06/02/2010

    I was thinking this morning that I totally left my word a few months ago and that I really NEED to get back to it. Fast.
    ORGANIZE
    I feel like my life - with exception of the most beautiful toddler boy ever - is a big mess.
    Today I have been feeling a lot of selfpity.
    This morning I gave myself one day to do that.
    Tomorrow is a new start.
    Your message - this strong message - right at this moment really reinforces that believe.
    Thank you.
    Tomorrow will be a better day!
    Go ME!
    And YOU! :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Katie @ cakes, tea and dreams says…
    06/02/2010

    Way to go, Ali! So proud of you for rediscovering the athlete part of yourself. My word for 2010 is brave...and it's taken on so many meanings. I have a necklace now that says "brave" and I'm wearing it all the time...a constant reminder of what I want to focus on this year.
    I've recently taken up yoga too and am loving the feeling of moving my body in new ways. It feels good and right.

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Gina says…
    06/02/2010

    Your book is so beautiful Ali.

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Denise Laborde says…
    06/02/2010

    "Really, I just want to show up and participate." Well said.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Leora says…
    06/02/2010

    I love your word and your story. Thanks for sharing with us and good luck with your training. I will be sending vibes. I love the vision of a super fit grandma. How is that for a long term goal. Thanks for inspiring all of us.
    Leora

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Patti says…
    06/02/2010

    My word is family. And it has turned out to be a year (so far) where I really needed to give a lot of myself to my family, even more than usual. Wonder what the rest of the year will hold?

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. melissa says…
    06/02/2010

    No word for me this year. Just a goal: Complete a marathon. I've done a 10k and two half marathons. I run my marathon just after 2010 comes to an end. January 9, 2011.

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Myra says…
    06/02/2010

    Congratulations!!! My word was discipline and I didn't really connect with it until April. It was just another word, another resolution that was going broken (except I don't make resolutions for that very reason). I started Weight Watchers in April and have used major discipline since then. Very proud of myself. And that word of mine.

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Abbey says…
    06/02/2010

    For me, the athelte (feels weird to use that word) needed to find an exercise that created joy. For me, it was Zumba. Glad you've found joy and acceptance in your exercise world as well.

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. celeste says…
    06/02/2010

    Very.Cool.Book!

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Sara says…
    06/02/2010

    Way to go training for a triathlon! That's amazing. I'm training for a 5K only, but enjoying it. It feels good to move the body and it certainly helps me now that the weather is nice out. I love the Rejoice book! Really beautiful.

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Tracy Eau Claire says…
    06/02/2010

    I love that you had a secret word! My only word, which was really secret as I was a little scared at 40 it wasn't going to "work" is Grow. Of course there are a lot of little ways I want to grow, but the biggest way was that I wanted to grow from a family of 6 to a family of 7. I picked the word in January and am now officially 14 weeks pregnant! It worked! :) Good luck on your triathlon!

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Tracy says…
    06/02/2010

    What a wonderful story Ali! It's so hard to get back into the swing of things once you're out. I've been trying to get back into tennis again since leaving competitive play some years ago. I found cycling two years ago and fell in love! Haven't looked back since.
    I had emailed you a month or two ago when you had your big giveaway- I was lucky enough to win something- Yay! But I never heard back from you. Did you reply to all of those emails??

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Emma says…
    06/02/2010

    Thank you for sharing this Ali - you have a wonderful way with words, I am inspired x

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. marty says…
    06/02/2010

    congratulations on your journey as an athlete. I have been on a similar one for the past 2 years and I love it. Like you I gave up swimming without a tear, but after my 3rd child, I realized I really needed to do something for me. Enter triathlons - love them. Such a motivator and the cross training is great. Right now, I am training for a half Ironman in September. I still can't believe it, but training sure has been a lot of fun! Good luck on your journey and remember to enjoy the process.

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Kelly says…
    06/02/2010

    Good luck in the tri!!
    I have recently started to try running again...I too am a former high school/college athlete and I'm trying to get back into shape. It's so much harder now, and I get very discouraged because I can't do what I used to do. But hopefully I'll get there. Hope you post more about this journey...love reading about Cathy and Donna, would love to hear your story too.

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Ali Edwards says…
    06/02/2010

    I did Tracy - can you please email me again? ali@aliedwardsdesign.com

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Tami says…
    06/02/2010

    after a few years of being a runner, I have come over to the dark side of triathlon training and I love it. i love what I ask of my body and what it gives back. My first sprint tri is in two weeks and I can't wait. I learned to swim! I couldn't swim from one end of the pool to the other in January and now a fish, well maybe just a small fish but I am so happy. it's amazing what you can do when you set your mind on something.
    instead of a word, I picked a quote this year
    it's not what you achieve
    it's what you overcome.

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Shruti Goradia says…
    06/02/2010

    You truly are a great motivator Ali. I used to be an athlete as well, though one can't tell looking at my post baby body. I've been wanting to do something for my body and myself for so long - it's time I make my resolve and follow Cathy and you and get back in shape.
    PS the Rejoice photobook is beautiful.

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Jenna says…
    06/02/2010

    Hooray for another Seattle Danskin participant! :-) I was talked into signing up for the same tri this year and it'll be my first one too!
    It's crazy training, but feels so great. Awesome that you're doing it! WTG!

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