One Little Word 2010

I am a fan of welcoming the new year with open arms. I love fresh starts, new opportunities, clean slates, possibilities.

Back in January 2007, as a way to celebrate these beginnings, I started a public tradition of choosing a single word to focus on over the course of the year.

Many of you are familiar with this tradition and have been joining me in selecting a new word each year. If this is your first time reading about the idea of one little word I recommend taking a few minutes to read my original post here.

Here's a look at my words from the past three years with links to the original posts.

2007 : Peace [ read my post for 2007 ]
2008 : Vitality [ read my post for 2008 ]
2009 : Nurture [ read my post for 2009 ]

Essentially the idea is to choose a word (or let it choose you) that has the potential to make an impact on your life.

Maybe you want to invite something or maybe you are hoping to subtract something. Maybe your word will be practical or hopeful or creative or fanciful. Maybe you need a big word, something in-your-face that will challenge you everyday. Maybe you need something smaller and quieter that will whisper gentle tidings as you make your way throughout the year.

Whatever word you end up with, make sure it is your word (not your sister's, mom's, partner's, child's, etc). You can share it publicly or keep it close to your heart.

My word for 2010 is STORY.

I'm planning to do a post with more details on my thoughts about this word on Wednesday (look for the finishing pages of my December Daily tomorrow). I am hoping to use my word as a springboard for a variety of different projects and inspirations, in my life and my scrapbooking, over the next 365 days.

Have you chosen your word yet?

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669 thoughts

  1. {pam} says…
    12/29/2009

    your word made me smile!!!!! thank you!

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  2. telisj says…
    12/29/2009

    I love this exercise! I chose STORY in 2008, my first exposure to the one word concept, and it still needs to be a part of my one word for 2010 but I find such a big pull for the word ORGANIZE in 2010. I need to come up with a better word though...maybe MINIMAL is better? Minimal as in trying to declutter, to organize and to get rid of the nonessestionals in my life. ESSENTIAL is such a great word too! Hmmm... Getting down to the essentionals of my life via decluttering and organizing so then I will be able to tell, share, create and live my STORY. That's it! Yeah for writing!
    Thanks Ali!

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  3. kathy (kathyb) says…
    12/29/2009

    My word for 2010 will be "time" I need to give my time and I would like to receive "time" from others.

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  4. {pam} says…
    12/29/2009

    the part about completing your christmas cards made me giggle!!! i managed to get three made this year about 2 days before christmas. decided that i will make the rest and use them for next year!!!! love your word!!!

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  5. Jane Ann says…
    12/29/2009

    My word is Gratitude.
    I am a cancer survivor and feel gratitude for every day of my life! I read something recently - "Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.."

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  6. Adriana P. says…
    12/29/2009

    My word for 2010 is "Present." I want to strive to be present in this life as much as possible...with my children and husband, at church, at work...in all facets. Concentrating on the task at hand, following it through to its completion.

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  7. me says…
    12/29/2009

    just finished reading all of the posts before mine and feel so very inspired! last year i intended to pick a word . . . kinda chose one and then forgot about it! this year i WILL do this! my word is SERENITY!!! i read this post about OLW yesterday in the midst of finding out my boyfriend had a relapse and has been using again. i was devastated!!! i spent most of the day and night in tears and being angry . . . today i know that SERENITY is what i need in my life . . . in all areas!! i am working on a list of ways that i can find SERENITY! thank you so very much for all of your inspiration! i am looking forward to a positive productive happy 2010!!!

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  8. Brenda says…
    12/29/2009

    I have been intrigued by the word of the year idea since I first heard of it a couple of years ago, but never played along. this year I'd like to give it a shot. My word is "excellence". I want to strive for excellence in all areas of my life, from the time I spend in my daily quiet time with my God, to mothering my kids, to being a wife and friend, to my crafting pursuits. I want this word to remind me to chose the more excellent way. When I have a choice to make, when I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness, when I am tempted to eat another piece of chocolate when I know I shouldn't.
    This word means striving for better and challenging myself to be the best i can be.
    I hope to re-evaluate where I'm at with my word periodically and challenge myself to stay on track.
    Thanks for the challenge, Ali!

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  9. radish says…
    12/29/2009

    I am going to choose the word POSITIVE. I have had trouble this year with politics. This seems to spill to other parts of my life. I have been reading the book, THE YEAR OF LIVING BIBLICALLY which I have loved on many levels. But A J Jacobs wrote that he noticed when he reduced his negative thoughts, he WAS thinking more positively.

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  10. Christina A. says…
    12/29/2009

    I've never picked a word for a whole year before, but I think my word for this year would have to be "overcome". We are in a new country, with a new language, and new places to find and experience, and new people to meet...it's all exciting, but to a slightly shy girl all those fun things are also hurdles to overcome. I want to BE here, not just exist until we go home in three years.

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  11. Andrea says…
    12/29/2009

    My word is FRESH.
    more fresh air, fresh foods and a fresh look at things.

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  12. Gina says…
    12/29/2009

    Hi Ali
    I love this idea and it was hard to pick one single word, especially after reading all of these beautiful comments. I keep coming back to one word for me this year...Confidence. I struggle sometimes in this area, and I have decided I don't want to feel that way anymore. I will be confident as an artist, as a photographer, as a friend, and especially as a wife and mother. I also want to remember to be confident in the blessings that God has stored up for me in 2010!

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  13. Pam says…
    12/29/2009

    I think my word will be "connect" (although it doesn't really seem to fit).
    DD and her family now live in another hemisphere. DS and his family now live 100's of miles away. It's too easy to lose touch with each other. It's going to be another year of big changes for all of us.
    How do people get through without the Lord?

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  14. heidi d. says…
    12/29/2009

    Thanks for inspiring the one little word! My word for 2009 was create...
    I have landed on the word VISION for 2010. I'm feeling it in my gut - time to set some goals, make some changes, be more authentic and true to myself...all of this takes vision. Seeing things how they are, AND how they COULD be.
    It's going to be a great year!

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  15. Kathi Hall says…
    12/29/2009

    The word has found me - EMBRACE - the year ahead promises many things and how I embrace them all will be the challenge. My daughter plans to get married next summer - and all the heart strings attached to that - I will EMBRACE and rejoice but deep down she is the 11 month old Ali describes. Ahh the memories! I also hope to EMBRACE new opportunities as in finding a job. I will EMBRACE my life with my husband as we experience an almost empty nest once again. Embrace is just right for me - EMBRACE love, happiness and life. This is one tradition I will continue! Thanks Ali!

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  16. Carol Trejo says…
    12/29/2009

    My word is Gratitude. I take so much in life for granted. Not just the big things, but so many little things. I don't want to just list things off i'm grateful for, I want to go deeper and really meditate on the feeling of gratefulness.

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  17. Beth Holmes says…
    12/29/2009

    My 2009 word was AUTHENTICITY. While I still want to focus on that I feel drawn to add or move on to the word COURAGE. I want to have the courage to be the authentic self that God made me to be.

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  18. Emma says…
    12/29/2009

    my word for 2010 is BE - Be Happy, Be relaxed, Be a better gardener It has so many ways to use it.
    Emma

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  19. Fleur says…
    12/29/2009

    My word came to me through my favorite show "GLEE" meaning "Jubilant delight; joy". I am hoping to live this year with glee and also share that with my family. 2009 was a struggle for all of us in many different ways so I wish for everyone in 2010 GLEE :)

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  20. Lorie says…
    12/29/2009

    Ok, please don't think I've lost my mind (although it is a possibility), but my word for 2010 chose me.
    My word is "Shine".
    I don't understand why, but this word keeps showing up in my life in unusual places. Today I got a Christmas card from a web site that I subscribe to for my job. When I pulled the card out of the envelope, it had "Shine" written in big letters across the front. The inside says "May your brilliance shine for all to see."
    I give in! The universe wins. Shine it is. I'm not sure how that will happen, but it should be interesting to see how it unfolds throughout the year. :-)

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  21. Kathy Aylward says…
    12/29/2009

    Hi Ali
    My word for 2010 is going to be BELIEVE. Believe that I can eat healthy and get back to my weight watchers goal. BELIEVE that I can have more patience with my 6 and 3 year old on a daily bases. BELIEVE that everything will work out in the end and BELIEVE that life is good.
    Kathy
    Australia

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  22. Jen Chesnut says…
    12/29/2009

    "RE-DIRECT" - that is the word I am choosing for myself. After 4 years of having 3 shoulder surgeries, moving 3 times, changing jobs 3 times (due to the moves), and still living with tons of boxes in the house I feel lost, overwhelmed and soooo far behind (and that applies to my scrapbooking as well). I used to be the most organized person and my house reflects that. Now is looks like I reconstruct scenes from World Wars throughout my house. With the surgeries my love & passion for working out & eating clean subsided because the workouts hurt. With the new nerve pain killers I was put on, weight gain & slowed metabolism came on...and with my lose of passion for working out (AND MIND YOU, I work in the fitness and athletics business and was training for a fitness competition when I was hurt) - well, you know where that is going. So this year, 2010, I need to re-direct. Which means I need to re-prioritize, re-organize, re-evaluate, and re-work every aspect of my life. My files need to be kept up to date and back in an orderly fashion, the stack by my bed (on the floor) needs to be gone, my scrap room needs to be usable (a bomb went off in there), my house needs to be attended to & cleaned more often, my passion & desire for working out & eating clean MUST be re-instated, I have to go through all the boxes in the house & throw out what I don't use, and I need to find happiness again. I have felt so overwhelmed and lost that I am miserable with myself for letting it get this far out of hand. So there is a book on my word!

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  23. Verona H says…
    12/29/2009

    My word is ACCEPTANCE. I like what you have kept saying that we don't have to be perfect in our scrapbooking in YesterdayToday. I was never praised, only criticized, growing up because my mother wanted me to strive for perfection. So, I am going to be more about accepting of things I make,and accepting of medical diagnoses and just enjoy life anyhow. It could also be called Embrace, but I think I'll go with acceptance. My word for last year was Grace.

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  24. Maggie Ann says…
    12/29/2009

    For me, 2009 was a year of great CHANGE. At times, it was difficult to embrace. I moved - twice. Lost my husband of only one year to cancer. Changed jobs. Lost "friends." Found old friends. Made new friends. Helped my daughter start high school. And began my life again.
    My word for 2010 will be HARMONY.

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  25. Ricka says…
    12/29/2009

    I really really like to read your blog. You give me energetic & rejoicing day after reading your blog in the morning. It seems my habit everyday. Being SAHM & home-base mom, it is not easy when you have two kids at home. If you don't have too much energy or any mood in the morning. You couldn't stay your good mood in your whole day. So, I would like to pick my word this year is "Enjoy".

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