One Little Word : June 2010


Ali_bike

My one little word for 2010 is story.

From the very beginning my word has had a slightly different meaning for me than you might think. When I first wrote about it back in January I talked about the obvious idea documenting stories from yesterday & today but I also hinted at my deeper truth: "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.
"

The real truth is that I chose the word story because I wanted to focus on changing my story.

My secret word for 2010 been athlete.

My journey so far this year has been about finding a piece of myself that's been missing since I stopped being an athlete when I left the pool in 1994. I was done with the practices, done with the competition, done with the time it took away from all the other things I wanted to be doing in college.

For many years I didn't miss it at all. Not one little bit.

After Anna was born I started to wonder what it would be like to be an athlete as a full-fledged adult. What would my life be like if I took the time to exercise and got in shape and liked the feel of myself in my own skin again? What if I could get to the place of seeing myself as an athlete again? I began having visions of myself as a super fit grandma. I liked the idea of myself as a positive fitness role-model for my kids.

I decided I wanted to make a change in the way my story was being written.

Since January, in ways little and big, I've been returning to this unfinished piece of my own story. A chapter I want to continue and add to in the years to come.

Most of the action steps in changing my story have been small. They've been little daily choices to get up and get out and move my body again. Some days and weeks I'm successful and others, not so much. So much of it for me is a mental game.

I've gotten back in the pool. I've bought a road bike. I've started running (with some serious daily support from Cathy). And I registered to participate in the Danskin Sprint Triathlon in Seattle in August. Crazy? Yes, totally. I found that for me I needed something to aim for, something to move towards, in order to start making the changes I want to see in my story. I am finding that I love the variety of swimming, biking and running so much more than when it was all swimming all the time.

Really, I just want to show up and participate.

So that's where I'm at with my word right now. My words in years past have been undercurrents, with less real-world action. They have ebbed and flowed with me throughout the year and existed as a place for me to come back to when I felt like I am drifting too far off my path. This year has been different in a really good way for me at this time in my life. I am on my way...

If you left your word back in January or February or whenever, you can always reconnect with it. You can also always choose a new word. It's never too late.

Anyone else happen to have a secret word you are ready to share? Or a
new word that evolved out of your initial word?

Dottedline


IMG_2040
My 8x8 Rejoice photobook arrived in the mail from Shutterfly yesterday. I love it. And more importantly, Simon and Anna went nuts over it. It was all about the photos. Going to make a couple extra copies for a few other people I love.

You can view my completed book here and purchase the layered template package through Designer Digitals here.

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124 thoughts

  1. Kristen says…
    06/02/2010

    Woot Woot, Ali! Way to go! I, too, am on a mission to become an athlete for the first time in my life...and it feels awesome!

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Diana says…
    06/02/2010

    Good for you! Interesting how we test ourselves. I was a track athlete and did my first sprint triathalon a couple of years ago--I wasn't competing against anyone else but myself--it felt great to find ME again after 16 years! :) Good luck to you, chin up--stay STRONG!

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Stephanie Wheeler says…
    06/02/2010

    I don't have a word and I was never an athlete, but I took Memorial Day to bike 16 miles with my husband. It was the first, but I hope it won't be the last.

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Beth says…
    06/02/2010

    I purchased the rejoice template (love it)! But wanted to know how you added the word pages to shutterfly. TIA!

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. kristyn says…
    06/02/2010

    Ali, I've read and re-read this post several times tonight (many with tears in my eyes). I so relate to it! I love: "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 have several threads I want to weave in different directions yet find myself stuck and unable to move. So for now, I will continue to be inspired by you and your journey. Thanks for being so open and transparent with all of us!

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Lori says…
    06/02/2010

    awesome, awesome, awesome :) what more to say!

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Jillian says…
    06/02/2010

    Ali,
    I too did the Danskin Women's Tri as my first. You will love it! They are so supportive of first timers. I started after college when I no longer loved the daily grind of training and competing. I've been "Tri-ing" ever since. Hope you love the moment!

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Molly Irwin says…
    06/02/2010

    You know I've been thinking you are looking incredible. Really!
    After having ruled-out some medical stuff,(thankfully) I'm ready to take control. This month I've begun a 30-day run/walk/move challenge, but my real goal is a 5K in early October. I haven't made it public yet ... until now.

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Deb J says…
    06/02/2010

    Love the Shutterfly book. Love your kids.
    Don't have a secret word. I'm doing good to get through the year with my main word--Intentional.
    I like what you are doing with your secret word. I think you have a great idea.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Meghann says…
    06/02/2010

    Good luck with your goals Ali! I am rooting for you. My secret word has been "revive" and it really is a word for what I need to do in all aspects of my life, my marriage, my career & my ways of thinking about myself.

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Amy says…
    06/02/2010

    Your photos are just awesome. The last picture in your book actually made me teary-eyed. I just had my second baby a month ago and I look forward to lots of pictures like this of my two boys. Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Melanie says…
    06/02/2010

    You are such an inspiration to so many of us out here in blogland. You are just wonderful.

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Sherri P eh says…
    06/02/2010

    Congratulations Ali! Love your secret word and what you've done with it.
    My word for this year is RENEW, with big plans to renew everything, myself, my health, my friendships, my art, everything. I lost steam for awhile, as many of us do. Almost 7 weeks ago I received a diagnosis of breast cancer. Shocking. That same day, while indulging in a vanilla latte at Starbucks, I noticed that had a mug with my word on it. RENEW. I took that as a sign. A good sign on a day on which I'd received pretty crappy news. So I bought it, and right now, I'm working at renewing my health and my life. Surgery 3 weeks ago, prognosis is great, still facing more treatment. This year wasn't what I thought it would be! I think next year's word just might be survivor!

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Mikki McGehee says…
    06/02/2010

    This year I chose "Explore". It meant a lot of things to me. Explore myself, my desires, new challenges, and travel... even if it's traveling to my own back yard. I have started hiking and seeing new things. I'm learning and growing every day. Thanks of inspiring me to choose One Little Word.

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Jocelyn says…
    06/02/2010

    What a fun picture of you. I have never commented before but I have been following your blog for quite some time. I love your hybrid scrapbooking and I am very excited about doing "a week in the life" when I can get myself organized. I LOVE LOVE LOVE to roadbike so I got really excited to see you in your gear holding a super cool road bike. I wish you all the best in your pursuits. I did my first half iron man a couple years ago and it was the best race I EVER did. Have FUN!

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. JennV says…
    06/02/2010

    Yay for you! It has been my goal this year as well to get in shape and to eat right. I haven't signed up for any triathalons yet because I haven't learned how to swim. But I have been biking and running. I find that when I am the most active, I am also the most creative. I just wanted to congratulate you and your awesome "athlete" outlook. :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Michelle K says…
    06/02/2010

    Wonderful book, Ali.
    And good-on-ya for getting out there and re-discovering the athlete in you. I've always thought there was one in me as well, but as of yet, I've not discovered where.

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Keri B says…
    06/02/2010

    Love the book. I just downloaded it and plan to make one for my husband for Father's Day. We have 5-week-old twin boys, so this will be something that I can do quickly, but I know will look amazing.
    Thanks for the daily inspirations; I just love your style and your willingness to share pieces of your life with us.

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Autumn says…
    06/02/2010

    Hey Ali! You inspire me. I've been wanting to do a triathlon for awhile and the one in Seattle sounds totally doable. I'm not much of a swimmer and the triathlons I've looked at require a long swim so that makes me nervous. Good luck! Have fun training for it!
    A

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Stacy says…
    06/02/2010

    Hey Ali!~
    First off I want to say CONGRATS to YOU! Way to go girl! For some reason I keep coming back to this post on your blog today. It is really inspiring to me. I was on a quest to become a runner earlier this year and then b/c life got busy and injury and excuses, excuses, excuses, I threw in the towel. I've NEVER been athletic, but always WISHED i was. This post about you getting back to athletics and the theme of "changing your story"...it just really hit me today and struck a chord. It inspires me to get back out there and keep on keeping on. I've always LOVED your blog and your wisdom. Been a scrapper for many years (but that has taken an aside for awhile to, just not "feeling" it or in the "groove" right now with that). Thanks for sharing so freely! It truly is an inspiration to others. Thought i'd share this as it may be of interest to you (if not just disregard) when I took up running earlier this year I got myself a road id, so as to be safe. Good for all athletes, smart idea. Maybe you've heard of them, but if not, just passing along the info. roadid.com . once again! way to go!
    Blessings,
    Stacy

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. leslie says…
    06/02/2010

    ali. i love your story. and wanting to show up and participate. such a great reminder. at the perfect tim. and i absolutely love that rejoice book. my gosh.

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. anna says…
    06/02/2010

    whoot! go you ali!
    i have to share that two years ago, i decided to see if i could be athletic and started to train for the 5k. the next year the 10k and this year i just completed the 21!!!! turns out i can be athletic if i put my mind to it.
    good for you to train! having a goal or race day really helps motivate :)
    enjoy!
    a

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  23. jmbmommy says…
    06/02/2010

    I like what you are doing with your word. Really inspiring, thank you! About your book, how is the quality of the image on the pages. I have had some books made through Snapfish and they were OK, but didn't have the glossy vibrancy that I really desired. (sometimes the pics were a bit grainy and I had uploaded a HUGE file) So, I was just wondering what you thought...

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Rani says…
    06/02/2010

    Awesome Ali!!! Go for it is all I can say! I am doing my first tri July 25 and am so excited to get back into my athletic self too! Who's to say we can't have more than one word...it's all part of the same thing...the same self I am striving for! Have a blast and I will do the same! Happy training!

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Erin says…
    06/03/2010

    Sending a loud and proud "ATTA GIRL" your way. More than any other influence, Cathy, has been inspiring my fitness this year - I've lost 13 lbs by swimming and walking. I think there is something very powerful about hearing from a real person...thanks for being an additional voice in that fitness chorus.

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