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.
My word is BE. And I just want to thank you for this awesome challenge, makes you think! I posted on my blog; http://jenny-bax.blogspot.com/2007/01/be.html
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TIME that's my word I've chosen...
TIME for my husband
TIME for my kids
TIME for my friends
TIME for ......
http://www.hands-made.nl
Thanks for the inspiration
Nicole
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I have been sitting on this since you posted the challenge and my word is LIFE. I am going to make a LIFE scrapbook for 2007 starting with the 15 year anniversary of my son's liver transplant on January 21st. LIFE is good. Thanks for inspiring me to look at scrapbooking more differently.
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My word this year and my first year will be "Organize". I really want to be organized this year.
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I had heard some people talking about your "word" tradition somewhere (I don't remember where exactly), and I thought it was cool. But I just couldn't think of one.
Yesterday, I was sorting through some photos for the BPS LOM class and found my first grade photo. I saw this little face with these big fearful eyes. No smile - it looked like the smile was being forcefully held back.
I thought to myself how much my face still looks like that - even after all these years. Smiles held back and fearful eyes.
So for me, I choose the word "Joy". (Ok, I thought about "Unbridled Enthusiasm" first, but I need to work up to that one.)I'm sometimes happy, mostly sad. I never do joy.
I'm off to see Mr. Webster and find out what he considers joy to be.
Maybe I'll come back sometime and send you a photo - of me smiling REALLY BIG and meaning it.
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after much pondering
my word is CHANGE
http://uplatette.typepad.com/gettin_my_kicks/2007/01/change.html
what a fabulous idea
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CREATE is my word. I want to CREATE more scrapbooks, cards and hand made gifts. I want to CREATE new habits for my health.(walk,eat healthier and drink more water!) CREATE a new relationship with my mom. CREATE a love life for myself( Ive been single for 10 years after a divorce). CREATE more of my innerself!!
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I so want to leave a deep and meaningful post but sometimes I just cant! I know what I feel and often times it is very hard for me to put a word to my feelings, I guess that is the whole point of looking for a word to help you do what you want to. But let me say that your commenters (is that a word?) have left some very inspirational words, so I may have to borrow some of theirs like, Freedom (that one especially), Do, Happy, and Be.
Rochelle
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Love thinking about this. Very cool. My word is BALANCED. Looking forward to meeting you next
Sunday at Photo Express. Hey, maybe my word should be Anticipation....
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After mulling over your challenge, I have decided that my word for this year is "be." This year, I want to be bold, be adventurous, be creative, be open, be willing to try new things, be free of negative people and thoughts, simply be me.
Thanks Ali for inspiring us all. You, my dear, totally ROCK! Can't wait to see you at Young Play Memories in Tracy, California!
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IMPORTANT--
what is truly really deeply wholly importnat to me
PS--this is an AWESOME idea--thanks for sharing this concept
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after a lot of thought...
S T O P
is my word!
stop! appreciate
stop! enjoy
stop! accept
stop! be
STOP.............>
Love this Ali! YOU are a gift! (ok,you AND Donna)
Thanks
Catherine
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I posted my word earlier tonight (balanced). Since posting I've been thinking about the one word concept a lot and and it brought back some powerful memories. I felt I had to share. My mom died a couple years ago of cancer. In her eulogy the minister told us how he had tried to come up with one word to describe my mom. Listening I couldn't imagine how someone could even attempt to confine/reduce/limit what she was to one word. The word he used was "vibrant". I loved it. It was perfect.
md
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Thanks for the challenge! I have already begun to benefit from my word... REST.
Here is my blog entry and framed art for my stamping room!
http://traceystamps.blogspot.com/2007/01/ali-edwards-challenge.html
Thanks again! ~:-D
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WOW! over 300 posts! double WOW!
my word is: INSPIRE
i posted my page on my blog: "www.wilnaf.blogspot.com"
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My word for the year is HOPE!
Hope to reach my weight loss goal!
Hope for a Cure (cancer)
Hope to lear lots of new things in 2007!
Hope for change!
Hope to preserve more memories!
Thanks for the challenge Ali!!
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Hi, Ali. Thanks for this challenge. My word for 2007 is JOY, and I'm gonna get me some!
http://sherrygrove.typepad.com/what_blog/2007/01/joy_thats_my_wo.html
Sherry
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Thank you for this Ali. My word is
FINISH
I am going to conclude all of the things that I have started but haven't quite got round to finishing yet. This will keep me focussed. Thanks for such a great idea.
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A little behind everyone else, but I'm joining in too!
My word is EMBRACE.
http://beautyiseverywhere.blogspot.com/2007/01/embrace.html
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Oh, I know what I want mine to be, and I don't believe I've seen it posted yet! Mine is FAMILY! I am just starting to homeschool my kids and I want everything I do, to be about making our family stronger, making our home a peaceful environment, teaching my kids all the things I want them to learn, spending quality time together with them and my husband, then of course recording those moments. "Family-It's about time!" Ever seen those commercials, LOL! That's my motto for the year! And with 5 kids, I'll be sure to have my hands full!
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BALANCE - always a challenge for me. Thanks for the inspiration!
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I was thinking of using the word acceptance because I was in a funk about all the things I cant do and learning to accept my limitations. Then I read the list of words and saw ACCOMPLISH and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I need to see what I can and have accomplished. This is such a great challenge for me right now. Thanks Ali! You have inspired me once again!
Traci
http://traci-blog.blogspot.com/2007/01/one-word-challenge.html
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Contentment. Just posted about it on my blog today.
http://kindredspirits.typepad.com/kindred_spirits/2007/01/my_one_little_w.html#comments
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I'm so in late.. but here it's my page and my word that it's CONSTANCY http://oltreloscrap.blogspot.com/ .
thanks for the great challenge!
Stefy (Italy)
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Thanks for the inspiration! My word is SERENITY.
http://wendyinmd.blogspot.com/2007/01/i-think-i-found-my-word.html
-Wendy
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