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 thinking about my word. I don't feel like I gave my word due reverence this year so i want to make sure that I choose one that really works...that fits.
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I think I have 3 this year (LOL) my words are SERENITY, COURAGE and WISDOM
The jewelry is amazing - I would love to have one!
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My word is learn. I want to learn so much in 2009. Digital scrapbooking, photography, the bible. Absorb everything that is meant for me.
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My word for 2009 is OPEN. I want to be open to new experiences, open to the world around me, open to change, open to whatever may be in store for me now that my children are grown. I want to keep my mind open and not be so quick to judge or complain. I want to be open to possibilities, open to new things. I want to open doors and open my heart.
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ELEVATE - This coming year I want to improve or increase the intensity in which I love the people in my life, as well as how I create and preserve my memories of those people and things I love (especially my journaling on projects to better express my feelings of things).
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Two words will guide me in the coming year: ACTION and METTLE. I want to accomplish lots of exciting goals next year and I'll need to find my inner strength and learn to stretch out of my comfort zone.
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my word is SIMPLIFY! I have it up on my wall and I hope that it will remind me everyday what is important and what isn't.
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I am debating between LOVE, SIMPLIFY and DECLUTTER.
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My word for this year is GROW.
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This word has been used before but for me it's very appropriate - LEARN.
Every year I think I've finally figured myself out - and then something else surprises me. I want to learn more about me.
I also want to get back into learning other things again...my ballet, my academics, my family, my career...time to learn.
Have a wonderful 2009 and thank you for all of your inspiration.
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My word for 2009 is BELIEVE. To believe in myself and those around me. To find the magic in all things.
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I've been thinking about this for days now and have come up with and discarded at least a dozen words. "TRANSCEND" was a definite front-runner, but now I'm torn between "BE" (be kind, be happy, be myself, be involved, be present....) and "ENRICH". Hopefully I'll make a decision soon but those are the three I'm deciding between.
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My word is "hope." my husband was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis a few years ago. the word "hope" is used in all of the MS newsletters, which represents "hope for a cure." My husband and i purpously gave our 3 year old daughter "hope" as her middle name... In "hope" that one day there will be a cure.
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I think my word will be faith. Thanks for all the inspiration that you provide.
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wow! how generous! even if i don't win it, i really want to buy one of those with the heart on it! i love it! my word for 2009 is FAITH>>>>> my intentions are to be faithful to God and start going to church and to be FAITHFUL in my relationship with god by spending time in HIS word. and also to be FAItHFUL to myself in my working out and eating right.
tara
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accept..to learn to accept life and that things happen and to not worry needlessly.
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it just came to me in a flash-
CONQUER:
-all the little task i have to finish
-getting my craft room up and running
-our final bits of debt
-creating all the different things i love
-fear of being a so-so parent
-fear of being stuck in a rut, jobwise
-MY WORLD!!! and make it what i truly want
Have a blessed new year with your family, I can't wait to see the new baby and I am anxious to hear what her name is!
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My word for 2009 is "ALLOW" - as in allow change, allow others to help me, allow peace...
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I found myself looking forward to this post for the entire month of December. I haven't yet settled on my word for 2009, but I have almost 12 hours to come up with something.
Best wishes for an amazing, blessed, joyous and nuturing 2009.
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I'm still thinking through mine, but I love the concept of a guiding word for the whole year. Last year was "perspective," and this year I'm thinking a lot about balance--between work, health, hobbies, etc. I'll post back when I decide for sure... :)
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I toyed with the words complete and fulfill as I want to finish some UFOs this year and to do some new things that I have been thinking and dreaming about. But after spending time reading through an old thesauus and a dictionary of synonyms, I decided my word would be REALIZE - the definition is to give concrete existence to that which has existed either as an abstraction, a conception, or a possibility. It "implies emergence into the sphere of actual things as of that which has been a dream, an ideal, a hope, or a plan". Thanks for the opportunity to win such beautiful and inspiring pieces.
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I've been thinking a;lot about relationships, some of which have been strained, so based on that I would like to RESTORE or REESTABLISH this year.
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ahh this is always so hard for me and something that halfway through the year I kind of forget about. How do you keep it up and in your mind?
I have several i am thinking about right now- grow, patience, do, and lots more.
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Simplify... is what I am leaning towards.
I think it will help me in many aspects of my life.
Love Lisa Leonard! Her jewelry is so perfectly beautiful!
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Can I just say that I've been doing your one word since the inception and it's a beauty. I love setting out a major goal like that. One that I can work on throughout the year, something that will change my life for the positive. Thanks.
With that being said my word for this year is going to be Patience. I need to aquire more of it. I need to ramp down my incessant need to do things immediately. I need to slow down, be patient and think things through. I need to be patient with others, realize that they don't run on my schedule. I need to be patient and work through things to make them happen.
so I'm working on PATIENCE
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