One Little Word 2009 & Giveaways
I am so excited to embark on a new word for 2009.
My word is nurture.
For me, especially with a new baby on the way within the next month or so, I have been thinking a lot about nurturing. It's such a soft, slow, gentle word.
There are many things in my life I would like to focus on nurturing this coming year. Our new baby girl. Simon and the transition to big brotherhood. My relationship with Chris. Photography. Patience. My business & this blog.
I am also going to be conscious of nurturing myself during this time of major transition in our lives.
There is something very special about this word for me. It represents slowing down, simplifying, and pinpointing what is really important to me in my life (not just the next 365 days). I am nervous and excited and so looking forward to what is to come.
The idea behind the one little word concept is to give yourself something to focus on throughout the year. As I stated in my newsletter back in January 2007, "A single word can be a powerful thing. It can be the ripple in the pond that changes everything. It can sharp and biting or rich and soft and slow."
Also from that same newsletter:
Can you identify a single word that sums up what you want
for yourself in 2009?
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.
I can't wait to see all the words for 2009.
To celebrate the new year I have three very special giveaways - all directly related to this project. Two beautiful pieces of jewelry and one piece of art to celebrate your word.
Lisa Leonard Designs
Giveaway: One custom Word of the Year Necklace
Special for AE readers: 20% off Word of the Year necklaces with the code "myword" at checkout
Meet Lisa | Shop Lisa
Liz Lamoreux Soul Mantra Pendants
Giveaway : One custom Soul Mantra Pendant any size or design
Special for AE readers : 20% off Soul Mantra necklaces throughout January. Enter code "one word 2009" in the notes to seller and the discount will be refunded to you through Paypal.
Meet Liz | Shop Liz
Stephanie from Homegrown Hospitality
Giveaway: One 4x6 black or white frame with hand drawn doodle in color pallet of your choice. The doodle can include "The Word" or "A Name" and a favorite quote, verse or scripture.
Special for AE readers: Stephanie is donating $5 from the sale of each doodle to Autism Speaks.
Meet & Shop Stephanie
To be entered into the drawing today please leave a comment with your word for 2009. It's totally fine if you are still thinking about it - if that's the case just leave a comment with some of your intentions for this new year. Comments will be closed on Thursday, January 1st at noon Pacific with the winners posted shortly after.
A safe and Happy New Year to each and every one of you.
I’m still giving it some more thought, but right now ‘open’ is really appealing to me. Open to new ideas. Open to new possibilities. Open to others. Open with myself. It's a strong contender...
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Hey! I love the idea of choosing one word to have as a theme for your life for the next year. My life this year is going to change drastically! I will be having my first child around the first of March this year!!!
Since I just heard about this I feel like I need a little bit longer to really think about which word I want to work on this year, there are so many to choose from! Thanks for blogging about this wonderful idea, I'm excited to discover my word for 2009!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Not really sure yet, but thinking maybe patience. Patience with myself and my kids. Or something to do with health and losing my "baby" weight (which has to do with patience with myself!)
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My word is COURAGE. I'm facing a lot of big changes and challenges in my life in 2009 and I hope to be able to face them all with courage.
Happy New Year, Ali, and thank you for an inspiring 2008!
Dori
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I'm thinking my word will be GRACE...it came to me while listening to one of my fave U2 songs titled "Grace".
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Love your word, can I just copy you??? LOL I'm still working on picking my word, and would love to win, so please pick ME!! (:
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Hi Ali! My word for 2009 is PURPOSE. I want every bite, every dollar, every action to have a purpose. With that being said, I don't want to overthink things either. It's a fine line to walk. I want to be happy and spontaneous too! But to live a more porposeful life in doing so :)
Good luck to you and your family and thank you for sharing your journey with us!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I went to bed last night with my two words in my head Delight and Sparkle. When I woke up early this morning to feed my little baby I picked delight...to remind me to stop and delight in my lucky, little life with my kids, my husband and my quiet seconds by myself.
Thanks for reminding us to participate in the project. I can't wait to hear about the amazing love Simon will have for his new sister.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Hi Ali,
Happy New Year! My word for 2009 is possibilities. Looking for some cool things to create with my scrap supplies to inspire me!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Ali,
I love your December daily album concept. I've been an avid reader of your blog since the beginning and have completed many of your projects. The daily album is on my list of things to do next year. I'm inspired just thinking about it.
My word for this year is Share. After being single for the past seven years, I finally found someone to share my life with. Bring on 2009 !!! I'm ready.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I think my word for the year will be PRESENT. As in, I won't just be with my kids, I'll be present in what they are doing. I won't just be at my job, I'll be present in what is going on around me. Whaddaya think?
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I am deciding between the words GROW and CLEANSE. I love this idea, thanks for sharing.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My word for 2009 is PURPOSE. I think it will help me pay attention and work on simplifying my life. To do things with purpose, on purpose, and to the purpose, as well looking at the "things" in my life that no longer serve a purpose and can be let go.
Happy New Year!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I'm not completely sold yet, but I think my word is "achieve."
I've always liked it from what Walt Disney once said "Dream, Believe, Dare, Achieve" but this year it feels especially applicable as I am about to graduate from college (finally, and as a single mom), have started looking for full time work again, and am making plans to run a 10K and buy a house.
This year just feels like it holds completion of so many things I've been working towards the past few years.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My word for the year is PURPOSEFUL. I want to be purposeful about my time, my words, my thoughts, about my priorities and about what I eat. The word purposeful fits into my goals for the year and just works for me!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Peace
Hoping I can find Peace within myself and who i am and stop continually beating myself up!!!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Hi Ali,
My word this year is FAITH. Two family member are facing health issues this year so I need to have a lot of faith that God has a plan and that everything will be ok. I've always believed that if I don't have faith, then I don't have anything. Thanks for continuing to be an inspiration to all! Happy New Year from Chicago!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Connect
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I think Grace will be my word for 2009. It encompasses so much of my life right now. Thanks for the opportunity!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Still working on it. Captured a whole big list of your words from last year, and I was able to zero in on five--my goals for myself were far too vast to be encapsulated in one word. So perhaps I'll be looking for something like "decision" or "decisive" or "getting it done" rather than sitting in the cloud of uncertainty where I like to camp. Focus. Center. Simplify with pure intent. I've got a whole day to figure it out, so I'm good, right?
Thanks for getting me thinking in the right direction.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I love your idea for one little word. Last year my word was ABIDE. This year I am thinking DISCIPLINE! THanks
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My word for 2009 is Believe. You have to velieve that you can survive that downs in life in order to make it. You have to believe that you can learn new things and you can do them. Every year we do a walk for march of Dimes and this year's team name is "believe". We believe that the money raised will help the future of babies and mothers.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Last year, my word was BEAUTIFY. And boy, did I ever follow that--I moved into a beautiful house in a beautiful neighborhood and built some amazingly beautiful friendships.
For 2009, my word is HEALTH. I am not making a resolution to lose weight or exercise more. I am going to focus on all aspects of my health, my family's health, my mental health, etc.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I haven't come up with my word yet. There are a few that I'd like to somehow condense. This is a great way to set the tone for your year though.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My word for 2009 is SHINE....as in I am going to SHINE in '09! I just feel like 2009 is going to be MY year....my year to shine. I don't know why or how or at what, but I just...know. 2008 (and 2007 for that matter) were so-so years. 2009 is going to be FABULOUS!!! That is my intention anyway.
Shine. I am going to shine in '09.
Sign in or sign up to comment.