One Little Word 2012
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 8.5x11 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!
Mine was going to be SIMPLIFY - the same as it was two years ago.
But yesterday DH and I had a talk during lunch and we accidentally decided the word that will work for both of us - UNCOMFORTABLE. Sounds strange I know, but we've gotten into so much of a rut in many areas of our life and we want to get out of our comfort zone. Exercise, eating better, we're looking at our cell phone and tv bills and will probably scale way back (which will be uncomfortable for our addicted selves!!!), etc. It will be a year of redefining who we are and not getting caught up in everybody else's expectations of what a life should be.
It will be the first time we've shared a OLW and we're actually looking forward to it!
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I have decided to continue last year's word of "Can" (as in, I CAN do this, I CAN finish this, I CAN let this go...) and add this year's word "Believe".
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I'm looking for a word that is more positive than anti-procrastination. I think that word is FINISH. I read this comment yesterday: Starting projects doesn't change the world; finishing projects changes the world. None of the projects I want to finish will change the world, except my own. And that's good enough.
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Dear Ali, I love your word and I think it's a very strong word to be focussing on. God bless you and your family. Have a great 2012!
My word will be "trust". I have a hard time trusting others, myself and God. And this is something that's very important for me right now. I 'need' to trust. So that's what I 'll be working on for 2012.
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Forward
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I have chosen Commitment, just to everything, finishing projects I start, Losing weight and the journey to a healthier lifestyle, commitment to my children and their needs, etc...
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My 2011 word was BALANCE; my 2012 word will be FOCUS.
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Alumni here! My word for this 2012 is Adventure! My life has been an adventure all my life, but I wouldn't change it for the world. I am so looking forward to this new word and the class again.
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My word has found me - Share. I want to share my talents with my employer; share joy with my family; share the abundance we have with others; share my thoughts and feelings through journaling and re-committing to blogging.
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My word is - join
To link; to connect; unite; to bring or join together
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Less
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Ah, great word Ali! LOVE it, especialy for it's intension!
Loved that scene of the movie too, although i've got very mized feelings towards it... saw Up with my son in the movie theatre when i was just about to get diagnosed with cancer (but already felt that it was totaly wrong), and i can tell you that we (my husband and i) couldn't keep it dry when the old man's wife died! (Thank heaven for 3-d spectacles :)
Anyway, i've gone through the whole ordeal and i'm better and still here... and my word for 2012 is FREE! Feeling so bound by everything that has happened in my life, that i really need to get rid of all that stuff! So i couldn't think of a better and happier word for me :)!
Participated in your OLW class this past year, but haven't showed any of my album pages, because my word gave me a real struggle! But that doesn't mean at all that it wasn't a good experiance, so i'm joining in for 2012 again! Thanks so much for all the work you put into it! I hope your word brings you everything you wish for!
Love,
PJ
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spirit
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I wasn't sure I was going to have a word for 2012 but over the last 5 weeks 'hello' has crept into my mind and soul - I'm taking it as forward looking, welcome, try, accept. Looking forward to see where it goes
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I love your word for 2012, Ali. I hope it brings everything you want it to.
I've been doing a lot of back & forth on my word for 2012, but I've decided it is ATTITUDE. I think a lot of good will come if I just change my attitude and outlook on many things in my life. I am especially looking to improve my opinion of my in-laws, and I think an attitude adjustment will be a big help in that regard.
Thanks so much for a wonderful experience in the 2011 OLW class. I am looking forward to the class in 2012.
I've changed my word for 2012. My word is 'WELL'. It signifies what I want for the coming year.
do Well.
be Well.
live Well.
From dictionary.com: "in a good or satisfactory manner; thoroughly, carefully, or soundly; commendably, meritoriously, or excellently; with good nature; without rancor"
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My words this year found me: SAVOR and DISCOVER. I want to savor the things I have, to be satisfied with the moment and the "things" and the people around me so that I truly enjoy them. And this year is another year of discovery. I have left the teaching profession after 30 years of being in the classroom as a professional (I won't mention all those years I spend as a student!). I am searching for a new job, but after defining myself as a teacher for so many years, I don't know who or what I am now. So, while I savor the moments, I will be discovering the "new" person that I am becoming--and savoring that discovery as well.
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My word for 2012 is enjoy. I spent all of 2011 (and many years before) being too stressed, too busy to stop and enjoy life. My son is now 9 months old and I feel like I missed him being a newborn. In 2012 I want to enjoy at least one thing every day and document it.
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Grow
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My word is Reach, I am looking forward to where it will take me.
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My word for 2012 is Wholeness. I have a post created about my word but it wont be on my blog until the 31st.
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My word for 2012 is Health. I've never done OLW before, but this word chose me a few weeks ago (hit me on the head, more like), so I've decided to embrace it and go with it. I really need to focus on better health for myself (both physically and mentally) and I'm excited to start the class and see where my word takes me!
I love your word too, Ali. (that part of the movie always makes me tear up, too, but in a 'good' way.)
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My word is More...live more, love more, give more, pray more, create more, feel more...More.
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My word is BODY.
As someone who spends most of her time in her head, it's to get reacquainted with that other part of me. :-)
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My word for 2012 is embrace- I love that it is both a noun and a verb. I'll be embracing my roll as a wife and mother and trying my very best at both of those. I will receive embraces from my lovely children and husband.
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I think I have my word! I'm torn between authenticity and authentic -- just need to figure out which form of the word would work best.
Authentic has 2 meanings which seem to contradict themselves but are what makes this word work for me:
1. conforming to an original so as to reproduce essential features
made or done the same way as an original
3 not false or imitation : real, actual
5 true to one's own personality, spirit, or character
On one hand, I am hoping for a faith, a Christian walk that fits #1 in that it conforms to what Christ demonstrated. I also want to demonstrate "authentic" (conforming to Christ' model) love of and service to others
On the other hand, #3 and 5 fit in that I hope to discover who I am -- me as a person, not me the mother, wife/widow, etc. and to discover what my "authentic life" is. I'm tired of putting one foot in front of the other with no direction. I want to discover the life that's authentic for me and then live it.
I am so excited!! Now that I've typed that out, "authentic" seems to fit best.
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