Poster print via Poster Inspired.
My word for 2012 is up.
It came to me one day last month while I was working in the kitchen and the kids were watching the movie Up. My initial connection to the word stems from the part towards the end where the old man is looking at the scrapbook his wife made and a note she wrote to him at the end which says something along the lines of “Thanks for the adventure. Now go have a new one.” (Found the clip here.)
That’s the attitude I’d like to be working towards and embracing in 2012 – giving thanks for the things that were great about my marriage and then moving forward and welcoming whatever is coming next.
Up | ready, eager, open, awake, into a happy mood
There were so many words I could have chosen for what I want for myself in 2012. This one simply feels like a good starting place. I will also be carrying three of my past words close to my heart again in 2012: light, story, and peace.
Are you considering selecting a word for yourself (or letting one find you)? There’s no right or wrong. The main thing to remember is that this is your word. It’s not for your child, parent, partner, spouse, sister, etc.
And what do you do with this one little word?
You live with it. You invite it into you life. You let it speak to you. You might even follow where it leads. There are so many possibilities.
I’d love to read what word you’ve chosen or are considering for 2012. In the comments feel free to simply leave your word as your comment or write a bit about why you are choosing this word. In a couple days I’ll combine all the words into a single post – super inspiring to see all the words in one place.
In a couple of days I’ll post a compilation of the words as an inspirational reminder to us all.
If you’re new to the concept of One Little Word, you can read some of my previous posts here: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Above is an image of all my prompts from my album that I made for my One Little Word class at Big Picture in 2011.
Registration is open for 2012 and you’re invited to join the journey.
Each month you’ll receive a prompt with a simple creative, writing, or photography project and a gentle reminder to check back in with your word. By the end of the year you’ll have compiled the contents of an 8.5×11 album that documents, defines, celebrates and generally makes your word more visible. Workshop materials include printable elements, full-color PDF handouts, and video presentations.
People have been asking me if you have to be a scrapbooker for this class. My answer is no. Even though we are making an album it’s really more of a journaling/record keeping/thinking/exploring project. I’m excited to see how people interpret the prompts and make them meaningful for their own lives.
This is not complicated and it’s not time-consuming. It’s simply a way we can come together to share our experience with our words throughout the course of the year.
The One Little Word classroom opens on January 1, 2012.
TODAY’S POST SPONSORED BY | Simplify 101 Online Workshops
Regardless what word you select, choosing a word means you want to make your life even better than it is today. The very essence of One Little Word is improving your life, which is why this online workshop is perfect for you. It gives you the foundation, ideas and inspiration you need to dream about a life you love, plus concrete action steps to help you make it happen! Use code: ONELITTLEWORD through January 6, 2012 to take 15% off any simplify 101 workshop (may not be combined with other offers). ABOUT SIMPLIFY 101 | Founded by Aby Garvey, the co-author of The Organized and Inspired Scrapbooker, simplify 101’s mission is to make getting organized fun!
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Intereseting post from above, Michelle, my word was focus for 2011! it was an awesome word and i seriously was considering going forward with it for another year, that is how great it was for me!!! but as Ali says having it close is almost as good or extension of itself…all good things.
I am contemplating the word Quest, love the Q for the start and its design properties but also what it means. a little more research is in order but 99 percent suree that is what will guide me this year. i did sign up for BPC one little word last year and hope to get back to finishing all the pages. i started some and finished only one! that will be part of my quest…finish things!!!!
My OLW for this year is CULTIVATE. Through my OLW, mindfulness, last year, I learned that I have many passions in life. I want to learn how to cultivate each one in a more balanced and healthy manner!!
I {heart} your word! Great word. I hope you are as successful as am amish farmer with it, wink.
Cultivate – that is a wonderful word with many possibilities, good luck!
my word is savor, because I think I need to stop rushing and live the moment, learn to savor every second of life, ordinary moments that make life worthwhile. this year, I’ll be following OLW class, it may help me go further, deeper than past years.
I love reading through everyone’s choices and Ali, your choice UP is wonderful. You always uplift and inspire. My word for 2012 is DELIBERATE. I have a lot going on in my life a d often feel overwhelmed in a sea of projects. I want to focus on one thing at a time and be in the moment when I am doing whatever, including stopping to rest. Last year my word was COMPLETE and it has bee. Satisfying to complete various projects and goals. Wishing you all the very best in the New Year. Deb, Australia.
Nurture.
Looking forward to 2012!
Hi Jessica – This is an amazing word and one I would have never thought of though it encompasses all the things I’m yearning for in the coming year. Nurture myself, nurture my relationships, nurture my family, etc. 2011 was a rough one I need some nurturing in 2012. Still not sure but thanks for the inspiration!
I’ve decided to join you in 2012 for One Little Word. My word is: RENEW
It came to me yesterday as I was reading a book….and it’s fitting. I want to renew my love of reading, renew my spirit, renew who I am, renew relationships with family members, renew my vitality, renew my attitude……RENEW!
hi staci! that was my word last year!! i got the lisa leonard necklace with it too… nice to have right near me. have fun with your word!
my word is savor. i wanted to combine gratitude, joy, mindfulness, so I came up with savor. I am in the class and can’t wait to start
My word is expand – I’ve focused, reached, been inspired – it’s time to dig deeper.
Presence is my OLW this year. I have had a very difficult time choosing a word this year- in years past the word always chose me. I loved my experience with the class this past year and I am looking forward to a new year with a new word.
I love your word- up. And your outlook on your marriage, focusing on the good and positive as it is coming to its end. I am constantly bouyed “up” by your attitude and inspiration. Thank you for being an amazing woman.
I was reflecting on my word for last year, which was “explore”, and I had the funny thought that I needed to be very careful with the word I choose this year (something like be careful what you pray for….), because I actually explored many uncomfortable and painful things; that was not my original intention.
I want to choose “joy”, but there are a few other words calling to me, like trust, or relax.
Margaret, I often find that happens after I choose my word. It’s meaning often expands to include things that I never thought of.
That has happened to me with a word in the past….has presented itself in ways I didn’t expect when I chose it. This years word has seemed to chosen me..and I am not sure why..but I may just go with it!
My word at the moment is NOW. To live in the now, not the past – to do things now, to explore who I am now. My word found me this morning so I am still exploring it.
My word for 2012 is “Overcome,” because greater is he that is in me, than he that is in the world.
I’m also going to attempt to get the money together to do the class!
This is an awesome word — and motivation to handle life with grace and faith.
I hope you can get the funds to take this class … it is well worth it!
My word is “Grow Up.” It is a reminder to work hard and be dsciplined. Don’t be lazy or childlike in not doing something just because it is hard or I don’t feel like it. I need to be more mature about some things in life. I think it will be a good year, and productive in some areas I’ve been neglecting.
My word for 2012 is HEART.
I yearn to “get out” of my head and live from my heart. Paying attention to what my heart is telling me, not what my head says (I tend to overthink most things). My personal belief is that my heart knows best, when I listen to what my heart is saying or feeling I will know the way. My heart is my compass to living my life in the most authentic way possible. I could go on and on here, it’s all so exciting. This is the first year that my word really, truly chose me. I’ve never had this happen, it’s quite amazing to have your word choose you. Can’t wait for the journey to begin and so excited to participate in your One Little Word class this year.
Many wishes to you Ali and your kids for the best 2012. I know it will be for you, you are full of such strength and optimism!
My word for 2012 is Adventure. My husband just joined the US Navy a fwe months ago, and although he does not leave for basic training until September, and we won’t have to move until November, I know that this year is going to be an adventure. My goal is also to create a bit more adventure in our lives this year. Create adventures for ourselves by getting out of the house and moving. Creating a 5k adventure for myself. Sewing adventures. Cooking adventures. The adventure of Project Life. At first I wasn’t sure it was going to be my word this year, but the more I thought about it the more I was willing to take and adventure with adventure!
Listen
- instead of talking (anyone else see this as a challenge that may be too big to conquer?)
- instead of interrupting (another challenge since you have to know you’re doing it before you can stop doing it)
- instead of trying to always fix
- to the rhythms of our family life (and then follow those rhythms)
- to the details
- to absorb stories
- to ask better questions
- for hidden messages or the undercurrents of what’s really being said
This is my word too. I know I always talk over people- family, friends, my kids, my students, co-workers, and I need to just shut my mouth
! Sometimes I am filled with excitement that I just keep rambling, but sometimes I just want to move on and I know what someone is going to say (or I think I do) so I just start talking.
I want to listen more to others, but also to my body, and the environment around me which will hopefully make me more present in daily living.
Good Luck with your journey to Listen too!
My word is SEASON. I feel like I really need to embrace the changing seasons. I’ve always lived in the South, but moved North 5 years ago — and I’m still struggling with 4 distinct seasons. Many people talk about what a blessing it is — but I still struggle with the drastic changes. Which brings me to the second side of ‘season’ — our family is about to experience a new season in our lives — and I don’t do good with change! So I want to embrace the changes that will be made this year. I want to savor the seasons {and seasonings} that life has for me.
Season is a great word and being from the North (now living in the South), I am one of those who believes the changing of the seasons is a real blessing. This past year as I did my first project life, I made a point to stop and take notice of the changing of the seasons here in the South and I found myself getting impatient waiting for it to happen, as I would hear from family and friends in the North about their changing of the seasons. Things do indeed move slower in the South and I still do truly appreciate the changing and changes that each season brings. I have never done the OWL class but I am contemplating it with the words Thankful and patience. I don’t have a clear grasp of how OWL works yet and plan to research it more tonight in hopes of making a decision on it. Embrace “Seasons”… it’s a wonderful choice of word.
It occurred to me on my drive home, as I was thinking about One Little Word that I incorrectly stated it as OWL instead of OLW. Oops!
)
My word is nourish. I did this for the first time last year with the word story and loved the way this project gave direction and motivation to my life. Looking forward to spending 2012 nourishing myself and those around me.
This will be my first year of OLW and my word is LIVE. My life imploded a few years ago, things have got better, I’m more settled and am happier, but I’ve come to realise that I’ve just been existing. 2012 is going to be the year when I learn to live again. I don’t know how I’m going to do this but I am determined to try!!
My OLW for 2012 is UnClutter…my house choose it
and I need some space around me to make some quiet moments around me and in my head.
My 2012 One Little Word is Redirect.
My word is going to be light. Last year it was “better,” because any little improvement was a help. This year I want to focus on both physically being lighter and finding what is light and funny and uplifting in my every day. I always love your words, Ali, and while I am not officially participating in the One Little Word class this time, I really enjoyed it in 2011 and highly recommend it. I will be following along with last year’s prompts with my new word. Kudos to you on the class and also on your attitude about keeping the good from the past and focusing on the adventure to come. I wish you the very best.
In 2010 my word was “Imagine”. I took that word to heart and did just that. I went back to school because I could imagine myself finally earning my degree. I wore my word around my neck. In 2011 the word “MORE” chose me. I combined it so that I could “Imagine More”. I added to my necklace as a reminder. 2011 was a very big year for me; I graduated with one degree, took and passed a very intense national certification, continued on in school for another degree to go along with the first and my family and I bought and moved into our first home.
As 2011 comes to a close I have specific goals I see for myself in other areas of my life such as fitness, spirituality, creativity and career. My word hasn’t chosen me just yet, but I do not worry because as the days go by and the new year grows closer I know that my heart will tell me what my OLW should be.
Thanks so much Ali for the many years of wonderful encouragement. The OLW class is just want is needed to give life to our words. I didn’t finish the book quite yet for 2011, but it hasn’t stopped me from signing up for 2012.
My word for 2012 is Peace. I used this word several years ago but it found me again this year. Looking forward to incorporating this word in my daily busy life.
I didn’t do this last year, but would like to partake in it again because I missed it.
My word this year is: TRUTH
I want to be upfront and honest in my dealings with my heart, and in the world around me. It’s alright for things to be not perfect, truth is what matters. I want to embrace TRUTH in my life.
Hugs,
Jen in Wisconsin
Focus. I want to remain focused on the kind of mother I want to be, more patience and more fun. Focus on financial fitness, save more and spend less. Focus on physical fitness, start doing more to get in better shape and stop wanting to. Here is to a great year!
My word for 2012 is light. I hadn’t realized/remembered that it was your word last year, and for a minute for wish to be original or unique made me rethink it…but it is the right word for me this year.
My son’s preschool has a sign at the exit that reads “Look to the light” and I’m constantly reminded of quote Gretchen Rubin often refers to: “It’s easy to be heavy, hard to be light.” I have a tendency to be heavy in my thoughts and words, and want to choose a lighter approach.
I want to be physically lighter, I want my impact on the earth to be lighter, but mostly I want to clear my way so I can look to the light and be a light in the lives of those I love.
Dierdre, I also choose Light for next year and pretty much for the same reasons. It’s a great word and so multifaceted.
My word has chosen me. My son is starting to hit the ‘terrible twos’ and I am finding I am not at all prepared for it (not that you could ever be), but the last two days have tried my patience terribly. I was reduced to tears in church as I prayed for strength. Strength. I want strength to nurture me, my family, our lives. I want strength for parenting. I want strength to be behind many positive things I want to happen in 2012. Thank you for allowing me to share. =) Happy New Year!
Great word, Melissa! Strength was my word a few years ago when I was struggling with severe anxiety. Every year after, it’s remained my secondary word because I can’t quite let it go.
Good luck!
Mine is intentional. I chose it because I want the things I choose to do in my life to matter. That may even extend to intentionally put aside work and go have fun with my husband, but I want to think about the choices I make to enable me to live a richer, more full life.
My word this year is going to be LOVE. I want to focus on loving life and loving the people in my life more deeply, more selflessly, more genuinely.
Authentic. I’ve been musing recently on what it really means to be authentic and whether I live authentically. As a result, my self-improvement project for 2012 is be strive to stop worrying about what everyone else thinks of my words and actions and worry about whether they really represent who I am. So this will be my word for the year.
Last year I kept 3 words in mind: confidence, vitality, and decisiveness. I didn’t think about them all the time, but they were always in the back of my mind, popping to my attention when I most needed the reminders. Definitely helped me move toward some goals I had for my personal growth.
What a wonderful attitude, Ali! I hope 2012 brings you much joy.
My word for 2012 is joy. I’d been thinking about it since Thanksgiving and it seemed to pick me. I’m interested to see where it leads this year.
I love the quote you chose, Ali, and you’re word. I’m taking the One Little Word class next year and am super excited about it!
My work is IMAGINATION.
creating a mental imagine of something that has never before been perceived before in reality; creating something out of nothing, solving problems with creativity
My word this year is going to be STORY. I’ve been thinking so much about family this recent year, and it’s become so important to me to record the story of my family- our history, our lives, my life, and to take notice of the small joys in life that *really* are the big things. Being so present in my life helps me deal with my anxiety. My dad has a box of photos and cards, and other papers, dating back to the 1890′s. We’ve been going through them and he’s been telling me what he knows about the people in the pictures. The problem is that many of the people in the photos are nameless despite his best efforts to find out who each person is- it’s really reinforced my desire to document the story of our family so that future generations don’t see our pictures as being full of nameless people- they’ll know that we struggled, loved, created, laboured, and lived.
Good luck, Ali. I love your word this year, and like others before me have said, your attitude is really inspiring. Thank you.
well – already full of meaning to me. still trying to find time to sort it out on the blog.
I think my new word is HOPE…..it just keeps presenting itself to me for the last couple monthes….I hesitate, only because I do not know “why” this word has chosen me….I even tried to pick another word, Focus, but even just this morning, HOPE, keeps appearing….I may just go with it and see where 2012 and HOPE takes me….
I did OLW 2011 class and Loved it. Some of the prompts I changed a bit to more photography….and I felt that my word BREATHE was with me still. So I encourage non-scrapbookers to take the class!
Mindful. Thank you to Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn for introducing me to the concept moment to moment mindfulness. I hope to track my progress towards meditation outside of time thru OLW. Thanks Ali. Have loved everything you do for about forever.
Should have been “…OF moment to moment…”
My one little word for 2012 is SEE. I am struck by the line in Avatar when they would say “I see you”. I would like to bring more intentional awareness into my life. I feel as though I am rushing through life only glancing and need to slow down to really “see” my family, friends, passions and life work.
My OLW for 2012 is going to be LESS. I did reasonably well with my first OLW, WELLNESS, back in 2010 when I first heard of the idea, but not so well with my 2011 DISCIPLINE – I think because I was trying to be disciplined about too many things. In 2012, I’ll keep things simpler and just focus on LESS.
Many thanks to you, Ali, for introducing me to the OLW concept and for creating the OLW class last year and running it again this year. Looking forward to seeing where it will bring me this year.
Changes.
I need to make alot of changes in my life this year and i am absolutely commited to making them! So excited (and terrified) to get started!
I thought long and hard on my Word for 2012. In fact I thought about it more than any other year…and I have been doing this a long time!
My Word for the year is STORY. I have sooo many stories I am working on in my life. I have several goals which involve me telling stories, too.
STORY!!
my word for 2012 is nourish – my body, mind and heart.looking forward to what the new year holds!
My word this year is develop. Developing better relationships with my friends. Developing mine and my husbands relationship. Developing me into a better person physically, mentally and emotionally. Developing my photography skills. 2012 is my year to develop! Thank you Ali for all you share and thanks everyone for sharing your words – lots of inspiration.
My word for 2011 has been stillness. I held this image in mind throughout the past year as I came to know my word.
“You imagine a spinning top. Stillness is like a perfectly centered top, spinning so fast it appears motionless. It appears this way not because it isn’t moving, but because it’s spinning at full speed. Stillness is not the absence or negation of energy, life, or movement. Stillness is dynamic. It is unconflicted movement, life in harmony with itself, skill in action. It can be experienced whenever there is total, uninhibited, unconflicted participation in the moment you are in – when you are wholeheartedly present with whatever you are doing.” Erich Schiffmann, Moving Into Stillness
I participated in the OLW class and rather than scrapbooking, I created a private blog and used that as my platform for the class. I also used my blog when I took the STORYOLOGY class. So if you are not a scrap booker, don’t let that discourage you from participating. I also bought the OLW necklace that Lisa Leonard created and that served as an important daily reminder of my desire for stillness.
The monthly prompts allowed me to keep my word in mind throughout the year. I am amazed at what came from having a commitment stillness in mind most days throughout 2011. The word led to me taking a mindfulness class, resuming a regular yoga practice and trying to remember to open up and let go throughout each day so that I can be fully present to life no matter what is going on.
Wow! What a wonderful post! I may use Stillness as well. LOVED what you said! Thanks!
Last year for OLW I chose Do. I love my scrapbook from the class and cannot wait to add to it in 2012 with my word- Finish.
Magic
Faith – it’s a word that I have been noticing alot the past couple of weeks. This will be my first time having a word for the year. Looking forward to it.
my word for 2012 will be TREASURE. i am going to treasure not only the big events, but all the little everyday moments. i am not going to focus on the negative, but focus on the positive. our family is going through some transitions with my hubby being out of work since may. he is looking to work oversees while my daughter and i stay state side. we will then be moving from pa to fl after the school year. it’s will be a huge change, but the opportunities it will provide, will be priceless. we are going to have a new life adventure.
Happy is my word for 2012 and it chose me, though I might make it Joy as it encompasses Happy as well. It came to me about a week ago when I was thinking about things and it popped into my head. I am also continuing to embrace my 2011 word of Change.
Ali, you are truly and inspiration and love your word UP. I think it is the perfect word for you as you embrace the next Chapter in your life. You continue to inspire others and I hope that you realize that. Happy 2012.
My word is “free”. Free of negativity. Free to move forward in my life as I see fit. Free to love my children in the ways that they need to be loved. Free myself of the need to get approval from people who will never give it to me. Free to enjoy my role as a wife. Free more time up to spend with my family.
I’ve never done this class before and I’m super excited to start!!
Very cool word…and application!