an end + a beginning + my word

In between working on projects, still battling this ear infection/cold, getting ready for tonight's festivities, drinking coffee, etc, I cleared off the boards above my computer. I do this every so often and today seemed like a pretty good day to invite something new. I am also changing things up by adding some clipboards on the other wall next to my desk for project organization (inspired by Lotta Jansdotter's studio tour).

A fresh start. A new beginning.

I took everything down, put the things worth keeping in an inspiration notebook, and am now ready for new images, new words, new things to motivate + inspire + help me grow in 2008.

For me, in 2008, I am looking forward to getting to the heart of the matter - whatever that is. Clearing away excesses. Focusing on the most important things and not worrying about the rest. Taking a deep breath and beginning one foot in front of the other.

My word for 2008: vitality.

Vitality is the state of being strong and active; energy. Physically. Mentally. Spiritually. Creatively.

Here's to moving forward. To fullness of life. To you and yours.

If you have decided on a word for the year I would love to read what it is - feel free to share in the comments.

Also: Loved this post over at Photojojo on Photo Resolutions. And I think this is the year I will do a 365 project.

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481 thoughts

  1. Sue K. says…
    01/03/2008

    My word for 2008 is DO. As in just do it, don't procrastinate, don't over think it, just jump in and do it. Have fun, enjoy the actions and the mistakes. Just DO.
    -Sue K. in MA

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  2. Laurie B says…
    01/03/2008

    Hi Ali!! I thought long and hard about my word for 2008. I finally settled on 'Insipre'. I am happiest when I feel inspired by someone or something and I feel from there everything else falls into place. You know what's funny? I decided on my word yesterday....today one of my coworkers brought me a can of Pepsi and the first word I saw on the can design was 'Inspire'. I took that as a sign that I definitely chose the right word for myself for 2008!! This is such a great idea, Ali!! Thank you!!

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  3. bonnierose says…
    01/03/2008

    My Word is WARM.
    You can read more on my blog Ali....

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  4. bonnierose says…
    01/03/2008

    My Word is WARM.
    You can read more on my blog Ali....

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  5. Laura Lee says…
    01/03/2008

    The first thing that came to my mind was FORGIVENESS. Hummmmm....it has been an interesting Holiday! :)
    But truly I believe that my real word will be LIVE.
    I am not going to let my life happen, I'm going to CONTINUE to LIVE my life. I have been doing many things the last few years I never thought I would. This year I plan on continuing to LIVE.
    I will LIVE with Autism and continue to love my son, I will LIVE with enthusiasm as my children grow into beautiful adults!
    I will LIVE with Compassion when me and my husband ARGUE...
    I will LIVE with determination to make my goals real.
    I will LIVE with what happens in our day to day world and not let it sidetrack me into wishing away this day that is "too hard."
    I will LIVE with the knowledge that my ATTITUDE changes many things.
    In the end I just want to LIVE in 2008.

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  6. Sarah says…
    01/03/2008

    This is such a neat idea. This is my first year doing this, and I have thought a good deal about it. It really just came to me - My word is INTENTIONAL. I want to be intentional in everything. Not waiting for things, or unable to do what I really want because I haven't properly prepared for it. I want all areas of my life to be intentional. Thanks for the idea, Ali!

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  7. Sherry says…
    01/03/2008

    Ali, awesome blog topic.
    My word for the year is CHOOSE. I get to CHOOSE how life affects me.
    CHOOSE joy
    CHOOSE to be healthy
    CHOOSE gratitude
    CHOOSE grace
    CHOOSE faith
    CHOOSE to be organized

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  8. janalee says…
    01/03/2008

    Last year was "Joy."
    This year it's "Focus."
    Focus my priorities- family, God, self.
    Focus my efforts instead of scattering my time and energy in many directions.
    Focus my journaling to reflect the important parts- less on 'who what where' and more on 'why.'

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  9. Kirsty Wiseman says…
    01/03/2008

    Tolerance.
    Big word, big responsibility - a life changing word, you think?

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  10. Betsy says…
    01/03/2008

    Hi Ali,
    I can't begin to imagine the worry you must feel about all that's going on with your skin. I, too, was out in the sun for years, just because I wanted a tan. I have a family history of skin cancer and finally last year, at 33, went to the derm for the first time. Quick and easy skin check, but oddly enough not one reminder about sunscreen. Can you believe that? I would have thought she would have mentioned it several times. This time I will find a different doctor.
    My word for this year is PURPOSE. That can apply to so many levels from how I conduct my day to day activities, to what I bring into my home, to the decisions that I make for myself and my family. I want to stop buying things "just because" and I want my children to know why I say "no" to things. Later this year when I re-enter the work force full time, it will become even more important then. I love seeing what everyone else has said...it is so inspiring, as are you. I find myself looking at your blog each day and can't get enough of your wisdom. Thanks!
    Betsy

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  11. Alison says…
    01/03/2008

    My word this year is "SIMPLIFY" . . . my life, my work, my mind, my creativity!

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  12. sandy w. says…
    01/03/2008

    my word is MINDFULNESS. so easy not to pay attention and be distracted.

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  13. hairyshoefairy says…
    01/03/2008

    "Enjoy" is definitely my word for this year. Here's a link to my post about it. Thanks for the continual inspiration Ali.

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  14. Durquia Guillen says…
    01/03/2008

    Relax. Thats my word for 2008 and thank you for the inspiration.

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  15. JoAnn says…
    01/03/2008

    PEACE. I think it's a good thing for 2008. I hope I find it in all areas of my life and create it wherever I can. I hope we all do.

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  16. Kathryn says…
    01/03/2008

    My word is DELIBERATENESS. The dictionary says deliberate means: "carefully thought out or planned; intentional; studied ..." What it means to me is being deliberate in the choices I make - be it food, activities, purchases, use of time, what have you.

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  17. kimkt says…
    01/03/2008

    Last year, my word was PEACE, and it was in fact a much more peaceful year than what I've experienced in a while.
    This year, my one word is actually 2 - a little mantra for me -
    live creatively.

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  18. Jessi says…
    01/03/2008

    I have two words, but not the time to read all 400+ posts to see if they've been shared--PLAY and DISCOVER. I am too busy working and taking care of my two preschoolers, putting in 35 hr. of wk. a week and keeping up w/ the house to do much more....so, I'm going to learn how to PLAY and in the midst of that, I know I'll have so much to DISCOVER.

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  19. Erin B says…
    01/03/2008

    after much thought on this, I keep coming back to the same central theme..to be PRESENT, as in mindful of the moment and the everyday and 100% present for my life as I live it!

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  20. kim Strother says…
    01/03/2008

    It took me awhile to decide on my word, finally something spoke to me today and said "SEEK". This my word. I have a plan to add another word along with this, for instance "seek God" or "seek forgiveness", I already have 12 words to add, one for each month. I will then make a scrapbook of some kind (not sure of the format yet) that documents all my thoughts. This will be given to my children as something they can look at and really see me, at very personal level. Thank you for this great idea, I look forward to a lot of personal growth from this.

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  21. Michelle says…
    01/03/2008

    My word is Grace and I'm also doing a pic a day, I've joined a Flickr Group (Big step for me..ha) http://www.flickr.com/groups/2008ayearinpictures/

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  22. richele says…
    01/03/2008

    My word is BELIEVE!
    Believe in the posibilities.

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  23. Leah R says…
    01/03/2008

    This year my word is going to be ENJOY. This will be an eventful year.. I'll be finished with school (finally!!) and beginning my career. And if I'm lucky, buying a house. I just want to remember to ENJOY it all and not get stressed.
    Thank you for the inspiration Ali. My word for last year was YES and it followed me throughout the entire year. I changed so much for the better. So thanks.
    Leah

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  24. Bethany says…
    01/03/2008

    Wow! Lots of posts.
    I love the theme word idea, and as I was thinking about it, the word PERSPECTIVE came to me (along with a couple others, I see!).
    I'm in my early-20s, so for me, perspective means developing my own outlook on life and ways to communicate that. Simultaneously, it means keeping my work and the events around me in perspective because I'm very Type A and can get caught up in little stuff that ultimately isn't that important.
    I'm also doing the photo-a-day thing this year and am encouraging another friend to try it who is big into theme months. (This month is "100 Things" [to get rid of in January]," and next is "Frugal February" where you buy only necessities instead of all the extra splurges.)

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  25. patty says…
    01/03/2008

    It's time for my little word... this is perfect timing in my life for some changes... my daughter just moved clear across the states and now it's time for me to regain myself - after 20 years of being mom (I know I'll still be mom, forever)... but it seems I forgot to take some time for me during that half of my life... so, I've been soul searching for the last few months and thinking of resolutions and what I wanted to focus on and change and how I wanted to spoil myself - so that I wouldn't focus so much on missing my baby girl... so when I found this concept of yours on several blogs - I decided it's just what I needed most in my life this year... I'm anxious to be the artist on the outside that I am on the inside - so I thought my word was going to be "create" but, then I thought of several other things that I'm working on changing and spending time doing... and my little word for the year finally came to me: COURAGE... that's my little word - because I want to create, inspire, encourage, be happy, have fun, enjoy, recover, and many other things that I want to change and focus on in my life this coming year - but without COURAGE, none of those would be possible... so I'm excited about this coming year... and having the COURAGE to LIVE it full!

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