One Little Word 2011
My 2011 necklace from the lovely Lisa Leonard. Get one for yourself here.
My word for 2011 is light.
This year my word sure seemed to choose me.
Most years I start thinking about my word for the following year in November or December. I think about it in passing and start listening, looking, and being open to the possibilities of a new word.
This year the word light seemed to be trying to catch my attention.
I found it in books, in magazines, in music, in conversations and in quiet moments.
So I'm going with it. It's already surprised, delighted, challenged and sparked some new things within me.
Some years I've had to look harder or listen longer or simply choose one that fit with what was on my mind and heart at that moment. There's no right or wrong. The main thing to remember is that this is your word. It's not for your child, parent, partner, spouse, sister, etc.
And what do you do with this one little word?
You live with it. You invite it into you life. You let it speak to you. You might even follow where it leads. There are so many possibilities.
I'd love to read what word you've chosen or are considering for 2011. In the comments feel free to simply leave your word as your comment or write a bit about why you are choosing this word.
In a couple of days I'll post a compilation of the words as an inspirational reminder to us all.
If you’re new to the concept of One Little Word, you can read some of my previous posts here: 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010.
NEW FOR 2011 : ONE LITTLE WORD at BIG PICTURE CLASSES
I'm excited to be offering a brand new One Little Word online workshop through Big Picture Classes in 2011 as a way to connect with and honor our words throughout the year.
Each month you'll receive a prompt with a simple creative project and a gentle reminder to check back in with your word. By the end of the year you'll have compiled the contents of an 8.5x11 album that documents, defines, celebrates and generally makes your word more visible. Workshop materials include printable elements, full-color PDF handouts, and video presentations.
People have been asking me if you have to be a scrapbooker for this class. My answer is no. Even though we are making an album it's really more of a journaling/record keeping/thinking/exploring project. I'm excited to see how people interpret the prompts and make them meaningful for their own lives.
This is not complicated and it's not time-consuming. It's simply a way we can come together to share our experience with our words throughout the course of the year.
The One Little Word classroom opens on January 1, 2011.
My word is evolve, and it found me a couple of nights ago when i was making my list of goals for 2011.
Good luck to everyone on their one little word journey, and may the last few days of 2010 be filled with happiness and fun!
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PLAY. My quest for perfectionism cripples me. I just want to have more fun & shake up my daily routine every now & then.
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My word this year is HOPE.
Lg Brooke
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EMBRACE. 2010 was a year of unexpected changes and challenges. I learned a lot about myself. 2011 will undoubtedly hold new changes and challenges, and I want to embrace them - go with the flow, realize that some things are out of my control, and some things I can take control of. I want to embrace my strengths and weaknesses, my beliefs and desires, my creativity and passions. And in a more literal sense, I want to embrace my little family every day and never take them for granted!
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[...] wasn’t sure if I would join Ali Edwards in choosing a single word to focus on for the year. I’ve done it both successfully and [...]
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I am new to your blog and really looking forward to this project. My word that has also seemed to choose me is PATIENCE. I expect instant gratification with a lot in my life and as far as family I am a mom of 5 and I have absolutely no patience. I am curious to see what happens.
I pray for the gift of learning PATIENCE every day, and not so patiently, I might add. ;-) Good luck!
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As I was reading your previous post on One Little Word, RENEW jumped out at me which I accepted immediately, a very fitting and powerful word for where I am at this point in time. I am, however, realizing that this year is also going to be a CHALLENGE for me in many ways. I believe I will consult the dictionary to help see which word applies more to my life. :-)
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i was browsing through each little word and just by examining the life experiences of 2010, "renew" flashed in front of me. since most of what i am does not really need to be changed, renew is the fitting word in all aspect or my life.
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my word will be *CHANGE!*
my soul cries out for it.I've woken up each day with that word in my mind.And I've realized as I go through blogs, magazines I'm constantly seeking words or pictures that represent some sort of change.So,that will be my word for the coming year,nothing but change! :)
Thank you for the great post.
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I've been following Ali for a while via RSS feed. I always enjoy reading her posts. I kind of fell off the scrapbook wagon after my father in law passed this summer yet the One Little Word challenge caught my attention. So for the last week I've been searching for MY word....last night I "found" it!
My word for 2011 is EMBRACE
EMBRACE life
EMBRACE my family and friends
EMBRACE the chaos
EMBRACE the workload
Kat
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Discipline. As in the self kind, not the nasty one. I've struggled with sticking to things, exercise, healthy eating, balance... Discipline feels like what I need right now. If I can get that on track, I feel that it will have a ripple effect on so much of my life, my family. My eldest starts high School and my youngest school this year... Seems the perfect time for a reset!
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My word for 2011 is "inspire". Not sure what it'll bring but this little word won't leave me alone so I am going to go with the flow and see what happens xxxxx
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My one little word for 2011 is actually a little word: "do".
I'm a thinker. Nothing wrong with thinking except that lately I've realized that I was living too much in my thought world and it was drastically different from my actual world. I'm hoping "do" will be a bridge connecting my two worlds.
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My word this year is Accomplish.
I had actually chose this word last year then my world sort of fell apart and I lost focus. So this year I intend on accomplishing many things. I think signing up for your class will help keep me on track too.
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My word is "Savor." I want to savor every moment from now on! Life is too short to not make every minute count.
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[...] have big plans for 2011. Ali Edwards, a scrapbooker and blogger, chooses one word every January for the year ahead. A word that is [...]
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My word is PURPOSE. Since quitting my job a few years ago and not not being able to find another during this economic slump, I've been feeling adrift, aimless. My job (writing, reporting) gave me some sort of purpose. I want to find purpose again.
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My word for 2011 is MORE. I want to do more, be more, see more and so MORE is it. Last year it was change and boy did I for the better! I think that this year will bring MORE changes into my life and I want them all to be very positive. I am looking forward to the BPS class. I asked for it as a Christmas gift, and can just see myself doing more this upcoming year. Thanks Ali for all you constant inspiration. I have been following OLW since the beginning and each year it just gets better.
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I have choosed "remember". I want to start 2011 off remembering my friends a families special days and remembering to mail them cards and do phone calls.
I also have been working on our geneology. It still has a way to go but I believe that people are never forgotten, no matter how many years go by, as long as they are remembered.
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my word is rhythm and i already made my own necklace with that word in it.
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My word is "Release". The word kind of found me...so much that needs to be released inside of me; hurt, pain, love, forgiveness, gifts, the perfect will of God on my life...
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I found you through Joy Tanksley, who introduced me to Christine Kane's Word Of The Year. Until recently, I had never heard of this practice, but I love it! I am not a traditional resolution-maker or goal-setter and so I often resist stuff like this. But choosing a word (and creating a vision board around it) speaks to me. And so my word for 2011 is AWE! In all areas of my life, I want to feel and experience AWE.
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My word is HEAL.
2010 has been an amazingly rough year, and in 2011 I need to heal again...
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Your idea of "one little word" inspired me so much last year. More than making New Year's Resolutions ever has. That word sat in the back of my mind throughout every situation that arose.
This year my word is Flourish. 1. to thrive; prosper 2. to be at the peak of condition 3. to be healthy
While in the middle of hardship I want to know deep down in my bones that it will be o.k. and I will come out a better woman. A stronger woman. A wiser woman. The best woman I can be.
This year, I will flourish.
Thank you so much for this beautiful concept, it has affected me in such a positive way.
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I'm going with purposeful this year. There are many things I want to accomplish, and I'm going to have to be purposeful and intentional to accomplish them. Celebrations, organization, physical changes, revitalizing areas of my life--all will take acting on purpose. Looking forward to taking charge and seeing some things through!
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