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.
Love choosing a word for the year. I have been thinking about my word for the new year, and the word I have come up with is "Renew". I want to renew my desire to be in shape, I want to renew my marriage, I want to renew myself spiritually, emotionally, and physically, I want to renew my outlook on life... I have so many different thoughts and ideas of how I want to use this word "renew" in my life. Thanks for all of your inspiration Ali!
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Happy New Year Ali!
My "word" for 2009 is BELIEVE. Looking around my little Studio spot I found I had the word Believe on my inspiration board, on stones tucked on book shelves, on my desk etc ... so it seems like the "message" is there ~ I just have to believe :-)
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My word for 2009 (and forever) is "Believe".
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"LIFE"
This year I hope not only to live life to its fullest, but also to bring a new little life into this world.
Praying for a baby in 2009,
Melinda
Waco, Texas
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Happy New Year Ali & Family! :)
This is something I've thought about for quite some time, to find a word that encompasses everything your feeling and hoping for is a challenge!
Vitality
1 a: the peculiarity distinguishing the living from the nonliving b: capacity to live and develop ; also : physical or mental vigor especially when highly developed
2 a: power of enduring b: lively and animated character
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My word for 2009 - EMBRACE
I hope to embrace opportunities as they come my way in 2009 and learn from them, both good & bad.
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My word for 2009 is gratitude (or simplicity, still deciding). It's so easy to miss the fact that it really takes very little to feel content, and whatever is superfluous is wasted. My family, a cozy home, simple meals, playing the piano... a good book and a cup of tea in front of the fire... hmmmm, sounds like a scrapbook coming on. I love your blog, Ali!
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My Word for 2009 is Create
create change, create art, create happiness, creat joy,
Kathran
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Ali,
I think my word will be strength. Strength to take care of myself, my family. Strength to make changes and to grow and become better. Kari
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Alot can change in the just a few months, my word is Perseverance. This is what I need to get to where I want to be...
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Hi Ali - I had a hard time coming up with my word at first but in the process, I got really clear about what hasn't been working in my internal world and what it would look like if it was. I made a list of words that communicated what I wanted my new year to embody but oddly there isn't a single word to express, steadfast, renewal, health, contentment, generosity and abundance. I was leaning towards "Moxie" when I went to sleep last night (but mostly because I liked the playfulness of the word) but when I awoke this morning I had something completely different engraved in my mind. BE. My husband lovingly said - "I don't get it"; I replied, "That's OK, I do" and that is what matters. Thank you so much for this challenge. It was incredibly useful in so many ways. - love your word and wish you many, many days of nurturing for you, your family and soon, your little one. Happy New Year!
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Patience.
Patience with my children....because they learn from me.
Patience with my husband.....because I can't expect him to understand things I don't tell him.
Patience with my mother......because she loves me.
Patience with my neighbors...because I don't walk in their shoes.
Patience with everything.....because hind sight is 20/20.
It will take alot of work, but I need to embrace "Patience".
j.
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I think my word for this year will be "peace". 2008 was such a tumultuous year for us, I want to be able to seek the still, small, peaceful moments in the midst of difficult times.
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I am having a hard time with just one word. Actually when I think about it these three words kind of go hand in hand for me. First off I need to BELIEVE in myself which will help when I DARE to make the changes that I need to make to be HAPPY. So I guess I am going with HAPPY which is what I want the end result of my life to be but those other two words will be there in my mind as well to help me along.
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Trust. Trust that my future is before me. I must merely walk confidently into it...
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Faith.
Faith in everything.
Thanks,Libby
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I think my word will be PEACE. Finding peace in all parts of my life. Even every day to find peaceful moments with the kids, my husband, myself, my relationship with God. I feel this year I was so caught up in the busyness, many days went by without any peace in my heart.
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Patience...three kids and I work full time. I want to work on the patience aspect of my life so I enjoy it more. Happy New Year to all.
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My word is integrity. I have several things I want to work on this year and it all comes down to integrity.
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My word for 2009 is FOCUS. I am going to focus on what is important, my family, my health, my friends and my job. Let the rest take care of itself. I am wasting too much energy on everything around me and I am now going to FOCUS on what is most important.
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Thank you for the inspiration you always give your readers. My word for the New Year is JOY.
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I have been thinking really hard on this..and my word is "believe" for 2009. I want to believe in myself more, and stop second guessing myself.
Happy New Year everyone!
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my word is: now
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Hey Ali!
My word for this year is Blessed. I feel like so much is going to be changing this year and bringing a new set of challenges as I try to figure out how to be a MOM and still be a wife and a photographer and a normal human being. So I want to focus on counting my blessings every day!
Last year's word was Bliss for me, so I think it's pretty cool to transition from following my bliss to counting my blessings
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Oh, there are so many words...I am thinking of today...it makes me focus on what I need to do today, rather than getting tied up in all of the challenges of tomorrow...
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