My One Little Word : Story
Lovely word of the year necklace from Lisa Leonard Designs. Look for a giveaway from Lisa this weekend.
For 2010 I have chosen the word STORY.
Ever since I started scrapbooking back in 2002 I have been capturing life and telling stories. Over the years I have learned that for me, it is the words and the photos that are the most important parts of gathering and documenting our lives (vs. the products that make the albums pretty and the process visually creative).
The Yesterday & Today workshop I have been leading at Big Picture Scrapbooking for the last three months really solidified and increased my specific desire to get the most meaningful stories told. The preparations for that class and the resulting pages I created left a lasting impact on me.
One of the things I realized through the duration of that class is that I have so many stories I want to tell from the past and the present. Some are big and some are small; some detailed and some only faint memories. I don't feel anything but excitement when I think about working through the process of telling them. I am not upset that I haven't told them yet or worried that there are too many. I just want to make it a priority to get them recorded.
With all that in mind I am giving myself an assignment this year. I am going to aim for one layout (one story) told per week in 2010. Some stories will be long and some will be shorter but I am going to make the time to go through my list and proactively tell those stories that are most meaningful to me. I will be posting my layouts here weekly and will be inviting you to tell your meaningful stories along the way.
The other inspiration for my word this year are two books I have been reading over the last few months: A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Life
by Donald Miller and Storycatcher: Making Sense of Our Lives through the Power and Practice of Story
by Christina Baldwin.
Both are all about stories: telling, listening, characters, sharing, living.
Both have inspired me to focus more on the concept of story and what that means in the context of my work and my life.
The Storycatcher book has a really nice companion website here. This is a good initial read: Becoming A Storycatcher. You can find excerpts from the book here.
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years has inspired me to look at my life differently. To literally see myself as a character in the story I am living and that I can make changes to impact the outcome of my own personal narrative. I think in some way or another I have always known this and lived this way at some level, but something in Donald's words solidified and clarified some things for me and has given me a new path forward - a new way to think about myself and my story.
One of the biggest things is that I have a couple threads in my own story that I would like to weave in a different direction. I hope to talk more about these storylines in the coming months as I begin writing & living new chapters for myself.
Story is a powerful word and concept. I am excited to continue investigating it throughout this year and throughout the rest of my life.
ONE LITTLE ACTION
One of the thoughts I had as I read the list of words (and the wonderful reasons and stories) over the last couple of days is that it's really not enough to just choose a word. Some sort of action is required to really make a difference. That action may be simply thinking about your word every couple of days. What sort of thing can you make or buy that will serve as a reminder to you? Here's a post from 2008 with a few simple ideas to get you started. I invite you to consider one action you will take related to your word: one little action to go along with your one little word.
EDITED: I just came across this really nice free download "Word of the Year Discovery Tool" from blogger Christine Kane. It's a worksheet for thinking through your word and essentially telling the story of your word. Totally recommended. This is a great action step.
Happy New Year! Peace and blessings to you and yours!
I just finished my blog post about my word-SLOW- and it's so interesting to read why each of us choose the word we do. It sounds like your word will suit the life you want to lead this year. Those two books sound good...I'll have to check them out. And I LOVE the necklace!
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Wow! A layout a week from you. Such wonderful inspiration! And I can't wait to see them here. Best wishes for a story-filled and incredible year.
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Oh I love this pretty necklace-Thanks for the chance to win and have a happy New Year!!
Gretch
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Thanks for the link to LL's site, I gave myself a late X-mas present with my word "health" on a wishing star. Since it can be two sided, I added another that I need to remember..."live". I rush through my life just to get to the next great thing, and it's time to slow down and take care of myself, my son, my husband, and my career. Here's to 2010 being a year of health and living in the now! Great post, as ususal!
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LOL...I just printed out the worksheet by Christine Kane earlier today! I haven't started filling it out yet, but it looks awesome :)
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Such inspiring thoughts Ali! All the best to you and yours for a wonderful 2010.
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I am so glad to have found your blog!! This is my first year picking a word, and I chose "release". I cant wait to read more of your blog and see how your word unfolds this year!
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I have chosen my 2010 word. It will be "faith." I love that you reminded us that it's more than just choosing the word, we need to act upon it as well. My family has found a church and I bought myself a new bible in order to be able to spend more time exploring my faith this year.
Thanks for the gentle reminders and inspiration.
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So inspiring! Thank you and Happy New Year!
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I have been going around and around with a few words. I think I have finally landed on the word HAPPINESS. All I want out of 2010 is to be happy. Life has been hard for me emotionally the past couple years as things I really wanted to happen didn't. I just need to take the life I am blessed with. The one kiddo I am blessed with. And just find that happiness again.
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Thanks for the call to action. I needed the kick in the butt. Tomorrow my word and I become one as I create reminders of it to motivate me around my home.
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I was surprised to see the word you chose this year, Story, because believe it or not I chose that word also. (Before I read that you chose it) It made me feel that I chose well this year, plus I can get ideas from you! Last year my granddaughter chose "Imagine" for me, and I used that word to guide me in resuming the writing career I had once abandoned. So I chose "story" this year to inspire me to finish the stories in my life. Thanks, Ali, for all of your inspiration. You have a lovely family.
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I look forward to watching the stories unfold and see how your layout style has always been more about the story. My word for 2010 is going to be Live. I have been struggling with depression and become a bit reclusive. I want to live from the small actions to the big adventures. I am going to also add my word to my banner, scrap a layout to frame and hang where I will see it often and ask some close friends to encourage me if they see me back sliding. The necklace is beautiful and would be a great reminder to me to live every second. Happy New Year to you, Chris, Simon and Anna.
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Thanks for the inspiration -- just what I needed for today!
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Ali, Thank you so much for all of the inspiration that you bring to us all. I love your word and the idea of creating a lo a week that captures our stories. I am still working on my word of the year...I am thinking it is action. I am on my way downstairs to print out the worksheet you recommended. I need to take action in so many areas in my life that this seems like a good fit, but I guess time will tell. I hope that you and your family have a wonderful new year. Thank you again for all that you do for all of us.
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Story is a great word for 2010. It makes such sense after taking the YT class. I was so very inspired by
your YT class and am shifting my focus in my scrapbooking
to really include meaningful stories. Stories are really
the glue for the photos. I am lucky, in a way, that I
had gotten behind in your YT class because I am still working on it. I do not want it to end. Please consider
teaching more classes.
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What a great word Ali, and so eloquently put... happy new year to you & your family, keep on inspiring :) here's to good health, laughter and happiness in 2010!
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Ali, this is the best gift ever for this year 2010 and thank you so much for sharing the links to us. We can't thank you enough for sharing anything that's valuable in your life except to pass it on to others and I will do just that on my blog. Thank you again and all the best this 2010.
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I'm excited about the coming year and what you will be sharing with us. Thanks for the link to the Word of the Year Worksheet. I went right away to the site, signed up for it and received it. I am excited to work with it. Of your 2008 suggestions I am going to make the Card and also make the painting. I will share them with you when I have them done. Happy New Year and many blessings in 2010.
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Happy New Year Ali!
thanks for all your inspiration. May your new year be filled with health and happiness ::
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Okay Ali...you may think i am crazy because i posted the other day that my word for 2010 would be "cherish". i changed my mind...good thing i decided before tomorrow, right? my word for 2010 is "beauty". i need to see the beauty in life, in my family, and in myself especially. thanks ali! you always inspire me. i can't wait to see your story every week.
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Ali-
I'm curious on how you document your thoughts, things you want to do/say/plan and so forth? Do you keep a journal and then put it all together later or jot them down in various places?
I'm making it my goal to get order back into my life (My word was restore) for several reasons. I'm not much of a journal person so I'd love to hear how you or anyone else documents the things for a very quick and handy guide/reference that is looked at often.
Thanks.
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one little word...
EMBRACE
1. to take or clasp in the arms; hug.
2. to take or receive gladly or eagerly; accept willingly: to embrace an idea.
3. to avail oneself of: to embrace an opportunity.
Every year you inspires me to chose a word to live by...
This year my word it "EMBRACE"...I chose to embrace life, my family, my photography, my travels, my work and my friends....Start living the life I have always imagined! It's never too late. xo
Happy New Year...
peace
Kim Bolyard
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Thank you for sharing these books. I always look for a great read and recomendation. Happy New Year.
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THANK YOU for sharing the WOTY Discovery Tool. I never would have discovered Christine Kane. I love her and just scooped up two of her cd's. My word for 2010 is pursue.
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