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 is focus. It came to me over a month ago, and I've been "testing" it out...so many little things have happened to reconfirm this word over the last month. I cannot wait!
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play
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The word "HOPE" had meant so much to me this year and I don't want to give it up,(in fact I bought a beautiful box Sat. with HOPE written on it) but "Gratitude" keeps popping up and saying "choose me" I started a gratitude list this year and am up to 600, so I have a good start on this word. I really enjoyed the prompt for OLW in 2011 and have signed up for 2012.
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Accept
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I've been thinking about the word streamline. I really like your word, such a great movie. Looking forward to OLW for the new year.
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I thought I knew what my word for 2012 would be: Less. But, now that's not fully resonating with me. I'm going to think about it some more now and see what settles in my soul.
One Little Word and the process that both you have taken us on with our words and my own, have really been a gift over the last two years that I've worked with one. Thank you, Ali, for all that you share.
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My word for 2012 is Journey. I just signed up for your class. Thanks!
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Ali,
I LOVE your word! I have not seen 'Up'... but after watching the film clip it is a must see on my list!
My word is 'relinquish'| lift, surrender, release, give up, entrust, hand over, renounce, to give it all up to God.
I can't thank you enough for all of the inspiration you bring to my life!!! You have such a wonderful eye for graphic design and I so admire your work. Your perspective and outlook of your work and your life is so refreshing, uplifting and invigorating!! Your passion for scrapbooking, telling your story and your adoration for your family shows through with every design you create! While I don't know you personally, I feel so blessed to have you in my life!! Thank you for always being so awe inspiring, heartfelt, humble and poignant!
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My word for 2012 will be BALANCE. This year the word was FINISH because I had so many unfinished projects. I started out great, but after a long road trip when my son moved out west, I fizzled out. The truth is there were many new projects I was more interested in. What I need this year is balance. . . finding time to pursue the things I love and balancing them with my obligations. I hope to keep working on some of those old projects, but I know now that enthusiasm is required in order to get them done.
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My word for 2011 was "Learn". It really stayed with me and I learned so much about myself, like how I've been hiding my authentic self behind dark clothes and messy hair.
So I'm bringing myself out in 2012. My word for 2012 is SHINE. It came to me about a month ago. I was watching the movie "Stardust" and there was a line where Yvaine asked what stars do best- SHINE. Her light shining destroyed all the evil and darkness around her and I thought, "I'm a star. This is my time to SHINE". So 2012 is my time to SHINE.
Can't wait to sign up for the class. Waiting for my January paychecks.
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My word...FOCUS. Focus on story, focus on me, focus on family, focus on gratitude.
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HOPE
How my One Little Word found me: After all the Christmas morning hullabaloo, the water was calm so I decided to go for a kayak ride, my son and his cousin came along. While the boys were having wild adventure in the jungle, I thought about what I was going to do to decide on my "one little word" for next year.
I had been thinking about using my word from last year "AWESOME" again, but I wanted something new; I even thought about using the word NEW or START, but neither of them really stuck with me. I also thought about the word light, but that didn't seem exactly perfect either. I was undecided. So, while walking down the beach alone, I decided that the next printed word I saw would be my word, no take backs, that I'd just go with it. And then I quickly hoped that it would NOT be "Coke" or "Pepsi" in case I saw an old bottle or can on the island. I came to a mangrove tree with a basket hanging from it, next to it I saw the word that I thought was "TOP" and then it looked like it might be "OPEN" but as I got closer, I could see clearly that the word was "HOPE" !
I'll go back to the island soon to get a photo of the tree. I googled the definition of HOPE and this is the first definition I found:
HOPE: 1. To wish for something with expectation of its fulfillment. 2. To have confidence; trust. 3. To look forward to with confidence or expectation. 4. To expect and desire. 5. A wish or desire accompanied by confident expectation of its fulfillment.
6. Something that is desired; 7. One that is a source of or reason for hope; 8. The theological virtue defined as the desire and search for a future good, difficult but not impossible to attain with God's help. 9. Trust; 10. Confidence.
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Learn. Challenge myself to learn new things and not say I can't.
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My word is "EXPERIENCE".
Ironically I have had a four month scrapbooking hiatus due to my own marriage breakown at the end of August. Although sadly it is a positive thing, I am finding there are alot of 'experiences' that I have missed after spending the last decade being someone else, for someone else. I have a compiled a list of 28 resolutions/things I wish to experience in 2012.
I wish us all the very best for the new year!
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My word for this past year was ACHIEVE. It came to me early in the year, and lo and behold, I DID achieve this year more than I thought possible. I'm thinking that my word for this coming year will be FIND-find love, find joy, find a sense of peace I've been lacking for awhile.
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My word is do.
I went back and forth with some words, and kept coming back to this word. It seemed simple and thoughtless, but I have decided to stick with it. I have so many things that I talk about doing but I never start or I never see them through. This year I want to do those things - start them, finish them, feel accomplished.
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Transformation....
it comes screams at me from the depths of the saying 'if you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you always got.'
its time for a change. a transformation.
it doesnt need to be huge. it does not mean that i'm expecting things to change overnight.
it just means....every little step leads to a bigger change...something different. transformation.
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My word for 2012 is Healthy.
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My word this year is discover. I am taking a year of college to just that, discover. Not just my surroundings, but what I want from life. And, what I am meant to do. It has great meaning to me already and I still have no idea what 2012 will hold.
I love your graphic for your word too.
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My word is LEOR. irish for ENOUGH. learning to live with what "is" and accepting that "it" is enough.
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I've decided my word for this year will be "release." It's related to a lot of things I consistently struggle with in life: releasing myself from past failures and mistakes, releasing myself from the paralyzing grief of losing my father, releasing myself from the pressures of needing to be the perfect mother, releasing myself from the fear of the unknown.
I'm looking forward to incorporating this word and, more importantly, this new attitude into my everyday life.
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i *love* your word. i'm having a tough time finding one though. hopefully one will find me soon. maybe... seek? search? lol!
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My word is CONNECT this year. Looking forward to my third year participating!
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Love your new word Ali (and such a great movie!) and can't wait to see where it takes you. My word last year was 'create' and I saw profound changes for myself. It was definitely inspiring to take your class and I can't wait to do so again next year.
My word chose me. My word for 2012 is 'release.' As my world has changed through my 2011 word, I found myself constantly thinking about what I wanted to release - useless habits, negative thoughts, ineffective relationships, self doubt, etc. Since my word has established itself, I find changes taking root already as my I prepare for next year.
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I have been thinking, thinking, thinking about my word for the year. It came to me in the shower this morning. True. Stay true to all that I believe and stay true to who I am. Thanks Ali. You are an amazing inspiration for all of us!!
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