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.
I have loved reading the different words. After the death of my mother last year and the death of my father this year, my word is STEP. Each step leads us in the direction we are to take- in life, love, with family, friends, and with God. Thank you Ali for your words and for the work you do, it often makes my life easier as I attempt to express my words and thoughts through pictures and pages.
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My word is REMEMBER.
I want to remember the way we danced in the kitchen, even though I was in such a hurry to get the pie in the oven.
I want to remember the goals I have made, the changes I need to make to become the person I hope to be.
I want to remember life.
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Oh, boy. I thought and thought this morning what I would like to choose for my OLW for 2011 and I'm stuck on 3...happy, calm, and proactive because these are all things I would like to be. If I'm honest with myself, I just haven't been all that happy over the last year or so. If I could just allow myself to see the happiness or joy in the little things maybe I could move that much closer to just being an overall happy person. Probably one of the reasons I'm not all that happy is because I overreact to the littlest things. I just need to chill, calm down. And finally, I am a champion procrastinator, which contributes to my overall unhappiness with everything and stresses me out. You know, after writing this, I'm thinking my biggest problem right now is procrastination...I'm always stressed because I always feel three steps behind. That's it! Proactive is my OLW for 2011!!! I'm going to challenge myself in January to do one thing every day that's earlier than I need to do it. Yea! Thanks Ali!!!
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My friend Megan guided me to your blog. I have a similar post today and I chose the word EXPOSITUS - Latin for "open". Expositus=open, accessible, exposed.
xoxo
Pammy
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My word is PAUSE.
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My word for 2011 is harmony. This is also my first year with a chosen word. I think of harmony as a way in which I would like to live my life, not just in 2011, but always. Although the musical definition of harmony is pleasing, I am thinking more about the achievement of balance of all parts of a whole, my whole self. I am looking forward to participating in your BP class this year.
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My word is Serenity. I was trying to find a balance between peace, calm, letting go, and balance. Something to encourage the inner me currently overwhelmed and over-burdened by the many life changes, losses, and heartaches associated with this past year to find ways to breathe and move forward. Courage was a word that came to mind, but did not quite capture what it is I need to aim for to care for myself in the upcoming year. So, I shall seek serenity.
And maybe a little more health and intention as well. :)
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[...] concept is totally from Ali Edwards. I have found this works much better for me than [...]
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My word for this year is... savor. It just came to me & is so perfect. I need to slow down & savor each moment of each day good or bad.
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In an attempt to do more this year, I want to stick with the one I chose for 2010 and go deeper: sustain.
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Mine this year is Grace. I have a chronic illness that is rare and non curable and find that I need the grace of God daily- so hence my choice of this New Year's One little word.
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My word is Become. I want to focus on what I need to do to BECOME the woman that I really want to be.
This is the word that's resonating with me this year. I know I can do it...become all that I think I have in me to be. Good luck to you this year with your goals!
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Not sure just yet, as there are a few words tumbling around in my head. I am gravitating toward the word BE, just as a reminder to slow down, stop trying to do a thousand things, stop performing and hoping to gain acceptance from others, and just BE who I am, who I was created to be. And be content with that, because it's more than enough and fine just as it is.
Wow ... I chose BE as well.
Be who I am ... be thankful ... be kind ... be brave ... be in the moment ... it just resonates in so many ways. Glad to see a kindred spirit.
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synergy syn·er·gy (sĭn'ər-jē)
n.
The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.
I've been doing this with you since 2008 and it sincerely positively changed my life!
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peace
peace of mind, inner peace, seeking peacefulness and a calm in my heart, nurturing peace around me - with family, in my work and in the world
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i've never done this before, but this year i believe i will. not wanting to overthink it, i'm going to go a little outside the "one-little-word" idea and choose "focus forward". i've lived with my heart in two worlds for almost 5 years now, and it has been impressed on me that i need to be wholly one place. so i'm going to focus on going forward...forward with friendships that have potential, instead of trying to nurse along those that don't; forward with God where He wants to take me (which means i'm going to have to work on focus, because i'm very distractable); to focus on what's in front of me, not what's already happened; to focus on what's happening in a moment, instead of wishing to be somewhere else or waiting for something seemingly better.
come on, 2011!
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my word for 2011 is CHANGE.
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My word this year is POSITIVE. I am scrapping my word as we speak, and will post it to my blog when I am done. :)
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I have chosen "Power". I plan on ordering the necklace by Lisa Leonard and wearing it all the time so that I can be reminded that I am all powerful, created in HIS image and likeness, and that I can always be, do, have, and create all that is meant for me to be, do, have and create. Looking forward to this exciting new year!
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I am debating between two words yet, although they go together for me. So, I may end up choosing them both in correlation with each other.
Change
Motivate
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My word is Opportunity... Ephesians 5:16... make the most of every opportunity (can also be translated 'time')...
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Hi Ali,
my word for 2011 found me just a couple weeks ago:
rhythm
I'm in the process of making a collage canvas of the word so I can hang it on the wall. I intend to move it around the house during the year so I dont stop seeing it. I think your One Little Word class is another creative stroke of genius! I'll enjoy being part of it.
Happy New Year
Sarah
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My word is TREASURE! 1trea·sure noun \ˈtre-zhər, ˈtrā-\
Definition of TREASURE
1a (1) : wealth (as money, jewels, or precious metals) stored up or hoarded (2) : wealth of any kind or in any form : riches b : a store of money in reserve
2: something of great worth or value; also : a person esteemed as rare or precious
3: a collection of precious things
To see the treasure in my life...and open up new treasure and find the precious gifts I have been given!!
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I was set for a few weeks with the word "courage." I have just started a photography business, and I need to have the courage to believe in myself for that, but I also feel I need courage to get through other things--like I have some sort of sixth sense about things to come this year. Then I saw "confidence" above, and I think that is the word I was originally looking for. But I am wondering if courage spoke to me for better reasons...I have signed up for the class, so maybe I will find the answer through that.
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Mmmm, can't decide whether to choose determination or change. I want both. There are many things that I want to change about my life - i know what they are and what needs doing but sometimes (most of the time) I lack the determination to follow through. Or maybe my word should be persevere? Gee I'm making things harder
I too want to change things in my life, I know which things I want to change just can't decide on a word. Change sounds hard, scary and maybe a bit negative. I like accomplsih or achieve, revive or renew.
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