one little word®

The AEzine is back up and running for 2007.

For those of you that may be new to the site, the AEzine is a weekly newsletter that I started last fall. I try to incorporate bits and pieces of creative information and inspiration - geared towards scrapbooking and life (and the concept of life art). You can check out the past issues here. You can subscribe by entering your email address in the box up on the top right of this blog.

To celebrate the new year I wanted to share the one little word® concept which is also featured in this weeks newsletter:


one little word®

A single word can be a powerful thing. It can be the ripple in the pond that changes everything. It can be sharp and biting or rich and soft and slow.

Last fall in issue two of this newsletter I wrote about the power of words and gave my top ten tips for getting those words down when you are scrapbooking. Today I want to introduce you to the idea that a single word can be a catalyst for enriching your life as well as your scrapbook layouts.

Last year I began a tradition of chosing one word for myself each January - a word that I can focus on, mediate on, and reflect upon as I go about my daily life. Last year my word was something I wanted to bring into my life in a more tangible way. My word was play.

I thought a lot about play and what it means to me. I tried to incorporate it more into my everyday and on my adventures out in the crazy world. For me, it was a lot about living without fear - about being more open to experiences with an attitude of playfulness. The word play found its way onto many scrapbook pages and into many stories I told throughout the year.

Can you identify a single word that sums up what you want for yourself in 2007?

It can be something tangible or intangible. It could be a thought or a feeling or an emotion. It can be singular or plural. The key is to find something that has personal meaning for you. This is not your mother's word or your spouse's word or your child's word - this is YOUR word.

One little word can have big meaning in your life if you allow yourself to be open to the possibilities. And here's one thing that is totally interesting: sometimes a word will pop into your brain and it will not make any sense to you right now. Give it some time. Let it percolate a bit. I have often found that our hearts speak to us in very unique ways. Maybe this is a word you need to hear but just aren't ready for it yet. Again, be open to the possibilities.

You may be wondering, what in the heck does this all have to do with scrapbooking? For me, words are at the heart of what I do. The photos are a huge part, but the words bring it all home. Often times I will begin a layout with a single word. That word becomes my guide as I create my page. It helps me focus the story I am trying to tell and gives me an instant, easy graphic title approach. How often has a word directed your creativity when working on layouts?

Take some time this week to think about your own word for 2007 and read on for a related
weekly challenge.

And in case you were wondering, my word for 2007 is peace.

weekly challenge

This week your challenge is to create something, anything, that celebrates your chosen word for 2007. Maybe a layout. Maybe a blog posting or a journal entry or a simple post-it note that you put somewhere you can see it each day. Make sure to journal about why you chose your word and what it
means for you - the more you let yourself explore the more benefit you will receive in the end.

Come by my blog and post your response to the challenge on Monday, January 8, 2007. Looking forward to seeing your creations and reading your
thoughts.


I hope everyone has a great day today. And thanks for all the super nice comments on the kit yesterday.

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339 thoughts

  1. Kirsty Wiseman says…
    01/06/2007

    REMINISCE
    I do that A LOT!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Laura says…
    01/06/2007

    JOY resonated with me immediately as my word for the year, but then when I went to look it up, BLISS jumped out at me. So I'm going to go with a phrase...
    Seeking Bliss, Embracing Joy.
    I know you'll say, "it is okay." :-)

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Kori says…
    01/06/2007

    After thinking about it for a few days, I am choosing Blessings for my word. How I can be a blessing to others and enjoy the many blessings I already have. Thanks for the challenge!

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Kelly says…
    01/06/2007

    Ali, I come to this blog everyday for inspiration and a reminder that the everyday moments, the ones that we let slip by without much notice, are true and real and worth documenting. My word for this year is GRATITUDE...gratitude for those everyday moments, for the ordinary that is truly extraordinary!

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. jenny says…
    01/06/2007

    Commitment. to myself, my husband, my children, my art, my words.
    WORD!

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Daphne says…
    01/07/2007

    Already 2 days ago I posted my word for 2007: PATIENCE.
    I have just now made the following LO
    http://to-scrap-or-not-to-scrap.blogspot.com/2007/01/one-little-word.html
    Thanks for the inspiration!
    Daphne

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. irwgloria says…
    01/07/2007

    FORWARD. My word for 2007 is FORWARD. I'm going to look FORWARD to as many things as possible. I am not going to worry about what I cannot change yesterday, but look FORWARD to what I can do tomorrow. Thanks for being such a wonderful inspiration.

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Katie says…
    01/07/2007

    My goodness, the day you sent the newsletter, my word just jumped out at me: Aware. Here is my blog entry about it http://www.peacefulbend.com/kT/?p=123
    Cheers!

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Peg Graham says…
    01/07/2007

    My word is RENEW.
    I have an entry on My Blog: http://pegola.typepad.com
    After all we've been through in 2006...it's time to RENEW the heart, mind, soul.
    Thanks for doing this Ali.
    hugs-
    Peg

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Linda A. (elendae) says…
    01/07/2007

    My word this year (once again) is "bliss". I love Joseph Campbell's writings, and find that the older I get, the more important it is that I take his advice and "follow my bliss" - whether it takes the form of scrapbooking/papercrafting or just digging in and enjoying the comforts of home and family.

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Michelle V. says…
    01/07/2007

    My word is HAPPINESS. I'm going to strive towards happiness....being more content & happy with myself, my life.
    It's funny. I had created a digital layout (happiness is) http://twopeasinabucket.kaboose.com/pg.asp?cmd=display&layout_id=1052664 & then set up my new calendar for 2007 which for January it says "Happiness should belong to you always." Adele Basheer. I then opened up your newsletter. Happiness it is.

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Karen says…
    01/07/2007

    It has taken me almost the whole week to find the right word. You can read about my search on my blog:
    http://kbwalker.blogs.com/
    I hope to have a page for my scrapbook done later today. Thanks for your continuous inspiration. You provide so much of it all year long.

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Karen says…
    01/07/2007

    Oops. Meant to put my word in the message above: RELAX

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. ArtsyMama says…
    01/07/2007

    What a fabulous way to start the year! Here we go...my word is CREATE!
    Here's my post
    http://artsymama.blogspot.com/2007/01/new-intention-and-elsies-challenge-wk.html
    Thanks Ali!!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Monique Bekking says…
    01/07/2007

    Hi Ali!
    My word for 2007 is CHOOSE!!
    Thanks!

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Danielle says…
    01/07/2007

    Great Idea! My word for 2007 is Joy. This year I intend to live my life with joy no matter what situation comes my way. I can't wait to start creating!

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Michelle says…
    01/07/2007

    My word is BREATHE too. So much is changing in my life right now, some of it great, some not. But I need to remember to pause and breathe before I react, and that's my goal for 2007.
    I'll work on my challenge today :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Kelsey says…
    01/07/2007

    SIMPLE. Making every component of my life simple that can be made so... that I may be able to fully enjoy those things that really carry weight and meaning in my life. My boys. My relationship with Jesus. My creativity. My loved ones. Get rid of the "clutter"- mentally, emotionally, physically. Do my part to make life SIMPLE.

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. shannon r. says…
    01/07/2007

    .*. . * * .* . * . .*. .. *. . . *.* . .*.
    .*. .* .* . . .*. .. . . ..* . .*..*.** .* . * . .*. .. *. . .
    I can't believe no one took my word yet. My word for the year is CHOCOLATE. I'll try to eat at least one piece of chocolate a day...twist my arm. LOL
    Ok, the real word is ACCOMPLISH. I've been finding that I have started a lot of projects lately and need to make time to finish them. I also have other goals that I want to accomplish this year.
    . * . .*. .. . .* . .*.* .* .* *. Cheers to 2oo7! .*. . * * .* . * . .*. *. . .*.* . .*.* .* . * . .

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. kathy in st. louis says…
    01/07/2007

    PASSION.
    If I don't have it for what I am doing, should I be doing it? This will be a way to really focus on the important things.
    PASSION
    Kathy

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Kirstie MacGowan says…
    01/07/2007

    Fianlly got one last night - RELAX. Let it go. Take it easy. No stress. All that good stuff!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Amy Peterman says…
    01/07/2007

    Last Sunday, my pastor actually talked about having a word for the year. Cool.
    Mine is PRAYER.

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Sarah Martinez says…
    01/07/2007

    Thank you, Ali for your inspiration! I look forward to all of your challenges in 2007...this 1st one was a doozy! It really got me to *think*....not just surface thoughts, but deep thoughts. Here's what came to me....
    http://shadowsof-life.blogspot.com/2007/01/be.html

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Juel says…
    01/07/2007

    Contentment is my word for 2007. Contentment especially in the things that I have and continue to learn that I don't need to have everything to make me happy OR the project/scrapbook page perfect.

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Liesbeth Parlevliet says…
    01/07/2007

    Thanks Ali, for getting me back on track! I always want waaaaaay too many things. Serious health issues with my oldest child causes a LOT of stress at our place. My word for 2007 is BALANCE. I want to try to be less stressful, less worried, less sad, less depressed, and a little more positive, looking a little bit forward to whatever the future holds for us, a little more relaxed. BALANCE is definitely my word for 2007. Thanks for all the inspiration!
    Liesbeth

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