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!
My word this year is BELIEVE. To believe in myself, to make myself better, to beliEve in others when I have a problem with trust. To believe that I can do it. Anything that I put my mind to. Best in the new year!
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Last year's word was 'peace'. It didn't exactly come true, 2011 was everything but peaceful!
I'm not happy where I am at the moment, both in my personal life and professionally. My word for 2012 is 'change' - the only question is, to what extent? I guess I'll find out!
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Exercise
Hoping that's the key to losing the weight I need too in order to get healthier
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MORE.
Just discovered it here - http://www.pinterest.com/pin/9359111695305140/
Love it.
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My word for 2012 is Patience. I feel I really need to focus on this. Patience that we'll get our day-to-day housework done eventually. Patience that we'll be able to get our condo ready to sell. Patience that the condo WILL sell. Patience that we'll get the house of my dreams, even if the one I currently found sells before we're ready to buy. Patience the puppy will get trained. Patience my 17 month old daughter will start talking. Patience that we'll be able to vacation somewhere this year. Basically I need to stop getting frustrated when things don't happen on my timetable! Life is what happens while you're making plans, as they say.
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My word is EXPRESS.
I want to learn how to express my feelings better, especially to the ones I love :-)
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my word for 2012 is Simple. My life has been very complicated in 2011 and 2010. I want all that to be gone this coming year. I want my life to be simple again.
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i declare 2012 my year of 'madness'. i read this poem by j. kerouac and it just struck me like a bolt of thunder. it's the type of joy, and excitement, and euphoria i want to embrace more into my life...
blogged about it here: http://francescadileo.blogspot.com/2011/11/pondering-my-new-word-year-of-madness.html
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The word that chose me for 2012 is joy. Reading your description of "up", I am looking at joy in what feels like the same way-to experience my life in a more uplifting manner . I look forward to the journey .
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My is my first OLW adventure and I'm so excited! My word chose me and it's STRONG. I am getting strong physically by working out (continuing that is) and I will need to be strong to get myself through my husband's deployment. It's his first one since we had our second child so I'll be alone with two kids for the first time. Definitely need some strength! I'll also be going back to church this year...been a while and I'll need God's strength to help get me through as well. All sorts of STRONG going on around here. Can't wait for the class to start!
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My word for 2012 is "go": go do, go be. go get.
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My word is "explore". If I knew then what I know now, I would have chosen a different career path. No offense to my current employers, I am thankful for a job with such great bosses, but still I wish I had been brave enough to have EXPLORED the world before settling down. So, I am determined to explore my world right in front of me.
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I am choosing the word WHOLE. I think because of my tendencies toward anxiousness and stress (much of it work-related), I tend to "compartmentalize" my life, not necessarily a bad thing, into more doable pieces. But the more I do that, the more compartments there are to manage.
This word came to me a few months back in prayer...remembering that I was created wholly in the image of God, that all of me is known to Him...and then the peace follows as I rest in Him.
Happy New Year :)
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I am looking for a word that marries action with patience and am toying with "pace," "steady," and move. The word Emerge is also calling to me - as is shift...
Thoughts?
Last year my word was Acceptance and it led me to incredible healing. I loved Big Picture Classes OLW with Ali. What an incredible gift.
My heart is full for you Ali. I am sorry to hear that your marriage is changing. I greatly appreciate and admire your positivity and strength.
Here's to 2012.
hi Kristen,
Pace sounds like it would be a moving action. Whereas,
Steady sounds (to me) like strength behind the action.
hope that makes sense? Good luck!
K
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My word: less. Less stuff, less stress, less eating out, less wasting time...less.
I like your word... my word last year was simplify and I ddn't do enought of it...
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My word that I picked is appreciate. I felt it held more meaning than just being thankful. I can "appreciate" so much that has been given to me.
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i am considering to choose 'balance' as my word...last year was definitely affected by a huge imbalance of work/life -- me/others etc.
i really like the one you've chosen. maybe i should think a bit more simple ...seeking balance seems a huge task for me...
My word two years ago was Balance - it's not too big... you just need to realize that Balance is a goal you are working toward, rather than just expecting to reach a 'state of perfect balance'.
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My word for this year is "do"... do more with my time, my talents, my money, my kids, my family, my friends, at my house, in my yard... WOW...I really have a lot I want to "do" in 2012! My word last year was simplify an I didn't "do" enough of it so, this year I aim to "do" more to change my life! Best of luck to everyone... I hope we alljust "do" it! :)
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My word for 2012 will be "Faith". I've had so many health issues this past year that I've decided I'm gonna have faith and keep this word as a reminder throughout the coming year.
I love picking a work because it does make you focus throughout the year about what you need to focus on. This past year my word was "perseverance" and I've persevered with exercise, etc. The year before that was "declutter" and I did get so much junk cleaned out. So every year I pick a word that is important to me in some way for that year.
But, for 2012....I'm gonna have "Faith" that my health is in God's hands.
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I just blogged about this the other day (http://justmejaymie.blogspot.com/2011/12/one-little-word-2012.html). I am leaning toward "Finish" of the three words I have been toying with.
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My word is 'Free' - Liberated, Open, Unbound, Boundless, Limitless, Released, Uncontrolled, Uninhibited
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Thanks for this post, Ali. "Up" makes me think of "Onward & Upward".
I participated in your OLW class last year and it was one of the best things I did for myself last year. It really allowed me to live with my word all year,
"Sparkle".
And now I realize that I'm not really retiring that word, that word and what it represented for me has just become a part of me now, and it is time to choose a new word to explore & live with this year.
This year I have chosen the word,
"Create"
I want to explore the fact that each of us truly can create our own reality or life situation by the choices we make everyday, and to focus on the positive, be grateful, and to envision the best outcome for everyone involved.
Looking very much forward to sharing the journey with you and the whole classroom community. Hello, 2012!
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My word is also "nourish". I take the fact that it was the first word contributed here as yet another sign. I want to nourish myself, my family, my friends and all those with whom I come in contact with all things positive.
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My word for 2012 is nourish.
With a brand new year, I want to focus on nourishing my body with healthy foods and exercise....my mind with more reading and scrapbooking....and my soul with God's word.
I'm definitely looking forward to using my word every day of this new year! let's go!!!
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This year my word has been CHANGE as we had so many different things happening within our family. Most were welcome and positive and some were less so and quite challenging but we have come through them all with positive outcomes. One of the unwelcome side distractions however was that I felt pulled in many different directions, flitting from one thing to another.
My word for 2012 will be FOCUS as I really feel the need to firmly plant my feet on the ground and concentrate on getting things done, finishing the many projects that were put onto the back burner this year and spending quality time on those activities that really matter to me.
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