One Little Word® 2017 | Connect
Another trip around the sun is coming to a close.
My overwhelming feeling at the end of this year is wholehearted thankfulness. For the whole of it. The hard parts and the easy parts and the parts in between. It's something we can count on - that crazy mixture of highs and lows and normals - throughout the 365 days we call a year in our lives.
I absolutely loved focusing on the word "whole" as my One Little Word® for 2016. It is a word that I will carry with me for the rest of my life - "open" is another one that I feel strongly about. Whole challenged me in the ways I needed to be challenged and wrapped me up in goodness in so many other ways. I loved asking questions about the different pieces of my own whole and looking deeper into what it means to me to feel "whole."
It's crazy when I think back on all the words I've had over the years (I started this practice in 2006):
- Play
- Peace
- Vitality
- Nurture
- Story
- Light
- Up
- Open
- Thrive
- Give
- Whole
For 2017 I'm choosing to explore my life through the lens of the word "connect."
I'm ending 2016 and beginning 2017 by connecting directly and in person with my immediate family (parents, brother, sister + all their families) at my parents house on the coast. I'm already including "connect" in daily thoughts as I go about the regular stuff of my life - asking myself how I'm connecting with this and that and especially focusing on what I can disconnect from (love the angle of including the opposite of my word).
This blended family life is offering me a whole lot of opportunities for connection and I don't want to miss those. We've all been sinking in to this "new normal" around here - life is such a series of "new normals" isn't it? We get used to a situation or a piece of our lives and then something changes - for better or worse - and then we are forced (either kicking and screaming or accepting or a crazy combination of those emotions) to adapt to the "new" normal. What I have learned over the last so many years is that we are always riding that wave - either in the beginning or the end or somewhere in between. It is life. It is our life. What we get to choose is how we respond and live through all those moments.
In 2017 I hope to specifically investigate areas related to connecting with myself, connecting with others (especially family and community), connecting with work, and connecting with nature/outdoors (I feel a strong pull towards that this year). I also plan to focus on the idea of disconnecting in order to make sure I'm living in alignment with my highest values.
If you'd like to hear me talk more about this topic, check out a new podcast I did earlier this week with Elise about our words from last year and this year. It's a very candid conversation about what's worked and not worked related to both choosing and living with our words.
My wonderful little heart shown above is from Liz Lamoreux and is called a Whole Heart Pocket Talisman. It's a wonderful way to keep your word close throughout the year.
SHARE YOUR WORD IN THE COMMENTS
I’d love to read what word you’ve chosen or are considering for 2017. In the comments feel free to simply leave your word as your comment or write a bit about why you are choosing this word. Next week I’ll combine all the words into a single post – it's become tradition and super inspiring to see all the words in one place.
If you’re new to the concept of One Little Word®, you can read some of my previous posts here: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
JOIN ME IN MAKING OUR WORDS VISIBLE
To help keep your One Little Word® more visible throughout the year I offer a year-long workshop featuring one creative prompt per month. Read all the details and sign up here. Registration is $5 off until December 31, 2016. I've also created a selection of products to help you document your journey with your word - check those out here (stamps will be restocked later in January and we have a pre-order happening for an additional restock of the blue albums that will arrive in late March/early April). During the One Little Word® 2017 Kick-Off ordering period (between now and 1/31/17), items featured on the One Little Word® 2017 page are eligible for free shipping domestic and $5 international. If you add any other items from the shop to your cart, normal shipping rates will apply to those additional items.
Artist
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Safe
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Action
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Nest.
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Calm (calme in french)
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TIME... make time, give time, spend time, time-out, time management, time keeper, etc.
My three sons are growing so fast and while I memory keep what’s happening in our lives, I feel I'm missing out on who they are as people. Thus I will be focusing on spending time with them individually throughout next year, being intentional, and embracing ever moment for what it is. Time Together.
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nourish
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STEP.
Originally, my mindset was about setting some goals and making them achievable, identifying all the steps and working on them one at a time. That was a really good place to start. Then I started to realize all the possibilities this word holds and felt excited. Thinking about stepping forward, stepping up, baby steps, taking actual steps (health-wise), and in some cases it might even mean taking a step back to re-evaluate and see the big picture. I want to remember that all great things start with a first step, and that many small steps result in big changes with time. Still flushing it out and settling in, but it already feels like a good fit :)
I like this word. I never thought of the possibilities it might have - love your thoughts on it.
I agree, great word for so many reasons! Putting it on my "potential OLW list" for another year!
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My word this year is PEACE
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Surrender
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GRACE ... for 2017 I will live in grace.
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flourish
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JOY
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Progress
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Rise
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More. Loved Happy in 2016 and More will help me strive in several areas in 2017.
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My word is HEALTH. It's not glamorous or charming and I've tried to pick another word, but it keeps pulling at me. I've had several close friends suffer from serious health issues in 2016 and I know if I don't take better care of myself- physically, mentally, and financially- no other word will really matter.
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Stories. I love reading and books have taken a back burner in my busy life for way too long. So this year I'll be reading fiction, non-fiction (some to inspire me in areas that I need to improve), and Bible stories. I'll also read books with my tween. I also want to document my stories and get them out of boxes, closets, and off of the computer. (Hello photobooks and Project Life!) I also want to take in more stories on the big screen by going to the movies more. I'm also hoping to see at least one Broadway production live on stage because I love theatrical stories brought to life on stage. So, yeah, Stories!!
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ACCOMPLISHMENT.
2017 will be the year to accomplish lots of things/cross things from my so long list to make space to new things or to free space, free time...
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My word for 2017 is Open - open heart and open hands.
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Focus
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RELEASE....all the anxiety, anger, frustration, guilt, disappointment of having a chronic illness, being in pain and being unable to do the normal stuff of daily life.
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JOURNEY
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Believe
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Awaken
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