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.
Be.
Enough.
I keep coming back to these two words, separately and together. Funny, since this year has started off being about change & making goals & doing stuff - but I think I have to start from BE and ENOUGH for there to be a place for all that change and goal-meeting to spring from.
thanks!
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I have decided that my word for the year is ....BE.... I need to just be I get caught up in the things in life without really being in the moment or the same place.
Looking forward to doing the layout this weekend.
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Ali-
As always, I've enjoyed your blog. This AEzine caught my eye and I've been thinking about a word for the past two days. It sounds simple, but I think I will choose the word "Love". It is our greatest commandment - loving God and loving others - and our greatest challenge. I (mistakenly) thought I had a pretty good handle on love, but we've just survived our first year in youth ministry and I've learned that I've got a long way to go in the love department!! Loving people, despite themselves and their attitudes and mis-perceptions. That is what I'm called to do. And loving my two beautiful children, and my husband, and my extended family. Yes, 2007 is definitely about 'love'. Thanks for the challenge. Love to you and yours, Ali Edwards. Thanks for offering us a steaming cup of inspiration each day!! love - anna
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hi there Ali!
i have been thinking about this since your newsletter. this is challenging but my word for 2007 is BALANCE. balance my life between my family, home, work, play & friendships. i don't seem to have a handle on that right now, but i hope 2007 brings me much needed balance into my life!
thanks for this challenge. will be working on my lo this weekend!
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WOW...Ali, you never cease to pull something out of me that causes me to change my life and how I think!
Thank U to everyone for sharing...my word is SIMPLIFY.
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My word can be found here:
http://gauchogirl.blogspot.com/2007/01/hush.html
Even without trying to find it, it found me.
t
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Wow! You got me. I was reading about your word for the year and suddenly a word popped into my head. I instantly said, "Naww, not me." In it popped again. So I got the dictionary and and found the word. Low and behold at sometime in my life I had highlighted the word and the second definition. Needless to say, I got my word.
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got it- it has to be "reward" posted the reasons on my blog- www.sadiemotta.typepad.com
thanks for the challenge!
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My word is HEALING...healing from pain, healing from losing something I loved, healing!
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My word is INVINCIBLE.
I am making some pretty big life changes. I will face a lot of adversity and failure is quite possible unless I keep believing in myself.
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After thinking about my "little word" and writting my post- I just wanted to say THANK YOU! I love this! This is so positive and GREAT!!!
my word 2007: HAPPINESS
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My word for 2007 will be
PATIENCE
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So many wonderful words to choose from. I sat here and thought and thought what my word should be. What do I want from 2007? It really comes down to one... Time. Make time for me. Make time for my family. Take time to get things organised. Make more time for scrapping.
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My word is... ADVENTURE. This year is all about change for me with a big move, a new career, new house, hopefully expand our family... and it all seems a little scary but I'm ready to embrace the adventures ahead of me.
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my word is ...
BREATHE.
sometimes it gets so fast.. and so much stuff is happening.. I find myself holding my breath... or breathing too fast...
and thus..missing the important things..not enjoying the moment, losing my temper..
so this year..
my word is.... breathe.....in........out....... and absorb the world around me ..rather than flying through and not SEEING.
very cool idea Ali.
Ngaire
in Brisbane Australia
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My word is going to be 'Beauty'. There is so much beautiful stuff (and people!) in my life that I'm going to celebrate it more!
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Immediately, I knew the word was "HIS".
I've lived 37 years of life for me - and need to get my eyes off ME - and on the One who created me to be His child.
I can only imagine what would happen if I were to live each day knowing that I am His - things would run much smoother! If I belong to the the creator of the universe, certainly my little problems can be resolved (since He's in charge!)
Thanks for the challenge!
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Diligence...It came to mind immediately. Our family life is full of new challenges and they will all require hard work and sacrifice.
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My word is BREATHE.
I forget to do this sometimes and just let myself relax.
I am almost nine weeks into my third pregnancy of the year following two miscarriages so I know I need to relax and focus on breathing.
Happy New Year!!!
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I was surprised how quickly my word popped into my head...JOY. Not happiness, but joy. Having joy in my heart even when things are not going "my way". I need to remember that God has a plan for my life and continually find joy in knowing this.
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My word was actually chosen a few days before you sent out the AE/zine! Interesting. Some of us were already on that track of picking words.... I know you and many others have used this word for a while now but (so I'm slow..hahaha) sometimes it takes getting to a certain point in your life to be able to actually experience this. AUTHENTIC. AUTHENTICITY!
Last year without really coming to full realization till late in the year my word was FORGIVENESS. After that happened-- so many positive things began to happen one by one I just began to feel like I could finally look at some things and begin really seeing how AUTHENTIC they were!
Now I feel like I've turned a corner (wrote about it on my blog http://www.lisamsigler.typepad.com ) and my goal is to live authentically in order to discover more about the real me.
Thanks for the inspiration as always. You rock.
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Hi Ali, I am a newby to your blog!!! I have been reading Creating Keepsakes for years now and I always head right to Studio A!! I have thought about this weeks challange. I have decided that my word for 2007 is "Create". I am going to create peace in my home, fun with my family, and really get down to work on my scrapbook projects!!
Thanks so much for your inspiration!
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hey ali-
happy new year & happy to have aezine back.
my word is {balance}.
this is how i expressed it...
http://twopeasinabucket.kaboose.com/pg.asp?cmd=display&layout_id=1054116
peace my friend-
maryjo
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My word: FINISH
I want to FINISH many projects I have started. So, no new ones... just finish
all the old ones stacked about the craft room. Thanks Ali for the motivation.
Cary
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Thank you for this, Ali! My word is:
"JOY"
I have been told that this is my *1* year in Chinese Numerology, which means that it will be a year of new beginnings, change and renewal. I'm so ready for it and am planning on making the most of this time and to maximize my joy each and every day.
This word will make it's way into everything I do and onto many of my scrapbook pages this year...count on it!
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