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 will be illuminate. I didn't pick it, it picked me. Once I read it I couldn't get it out of my head. And when I started looking at my word list and definitions they all tended to come back to illuminate or its synonyms!
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My word is DELIGHT. I chose SHINE last year and it was a good word, although it felt a little selfish (but I needed a bit of that). This year I want to delight my little boys throughout the day, delight myself with accomplishments and growth and feel absolutely delighted about my life.
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My word for 2011 is EMBRACE. It's perfect.
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Intentional.
That's my word for 2011.
~kimmy
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This is the first year I'm doing this, felt a huge push to join in!! My word is JOY!!! I need a huge reminder to have and find JOY daily!!!
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TRUST - in myself, in others, in God, in life
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my word is ONE. Working on becoming more of one heart and mind with my husband and God. Becoming the ONE I'm supposed to be. Running ONE more minute. This word has settle into my heart and I'm so looking forward to the way it will guide me through this year.
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so excited for class to start!!! is there a OLW blog banner?
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With just a few minutes left for me in 2010, the right word popped up: embrace
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I enjoy my One Little Word last year so much that this you I am doing it again. Thanks Ali! After much thought I finally decided on the word FOCUS for 2011. I just have deep feeling that this word is the right one for me! Have a great New Year and I look forward to once again join you on this journey.
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My word(s) for 2011 is Soak in. I really want to Soak in all the things that make my life so much fun and feel it all around me. Great words everybody, happy new year!
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This past year my word was transition and boy did it show up in the last 12 months. It has taken us on some amazing journeys but also some scary ones as well. In the past two months my husband has gone through a lot of health issues and we have overcome them and are on the 'up' side of some pretty tough things. My word for 2011 is prosperity. We are claiming prosperity in a lot of areas of our life but most importantly in 'health'. I have been thinking about this word for quite a while now but with the recent health issues we have faced, just sealed it for me...'prosperity' is it for me.
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my word for this year is going to be renew. There are a lot of areas in my life that need renewal.
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PROGRESS-- Having been thinking on this for a few weeks now and it hit me ealier tonight! This year for me brings a new start in so many areas of my life. I know I can't expect to accomplish all of the small (and big) goals right away, I have to approach it bit by bit. Slow and steady wins the race (lol at least in my book). This is my word!
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My one little word for 2011 is EMBRACE. I need to embrace where I am in life, what my surroundings are, what experiences I will have, and life in specific. Not general because I want to be specifice about EMBRACing life!
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This is also my first year with OLW and I love the idea of it! My hubby & I chose OPPORTUNITY---he is going to do it with me (at least the prompts). There is so much opportunity around us--to change, to reform, to practice, to prosper. I can't ca't wait to get started here as well as on the Big Picture class. Thanks, Ali!
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How do i choose just one little word for the year when i want to accomplish so much in different areas ?
i finally settled on 'less'
less weight on my body
less stuff in the garage
less unpacked and unorganized bags of treasures from shopping
less stress about getting it all done
less piles
less wasted time
less worry about whether or not people like me
all a journey
as always, thank you my friend
Love the definitions and Jill's word! They are motivational!
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Brave
Last year was FOCUS. This year I've pegged as my year of NO EXCUSES. But I know I'll have to be brave to accomplish all that I want.
I have been singing Nicole Nordeman's song Brave and my favorite line is "the way it always was is no longer good enough" and this is exactly how I feel about all areas of my life!!
Thank you Ali!!!
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my word this year is persevere. i have struggled to find my word this year because there are so many things that i want to accomplish this year.
i want to take better care of myself. after having twin baby girls just 4 months ago, i don't feel good in and about myself right now, and i want that to change.. going to take work.
i want to gain control of my financial situation and be in a better place than i am right now.
i want to be a better more patient mother to my children, who are all 3 and under... i need to let go of the small stuff because who really cares?
i want to rid my life of excess that i don't really need... too many obligations that i don't want
i want to declutter my home, we don't need all of this stuff... it really just makes more work for me, and i don't need that either
there is so much to do, and knowing that it is not going to be easy, but really be a process that will be hard, very hard at times i am sure. so i think i will need to keep the end result in mind, especially when i think i "need" something or it's too hard, or i slip. i need to persevere. in the end, i believe i will be a much happier and better person, mommy, and wife for it.
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I have a love affair with words. And therefore have never been able to pick just one.
So for 2011, my two words are DANCE and FEARLESS.
I picked DANCE for so many reasons. I want to dance through my year: I want to live it joyfully, energetically, gracefully. I want to tell stories, as I do when I dance. I want to worship. I want to celebrate. I want to tackle the hard things, to try them, to do them slowly and well. I want it to be a year of learning and a year of beauty and a year of blessing others.
And I picked FEARLESS for reasons shared by many of you - I'm tired of fear holding me back, tired of it feeding me lies. I want to embrace changes, fearlessly accept the opportunities God gives me.
Here's to 2011!
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Faithfulness. To develop it more in myself and to look for it and appreciate it in others.
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My word for this year is "PACE". I find myself trying to do too much and then being frustrated when I don't accomplish it all. I have recently finished a "Functional Rehabilitation Program" for the disk problems in my back. Between disk issues and severe arthritis I find myself not being able to move many days....especially cold New England days. The biggest part of the program was to PACE yourself. Something I struggle with daily. I think lots of moms do. We have so much to do and not enough hours in the day.
When I finished the FRP group I realized how many things I was accomplishing in a WEEK...not a day. It's because I PACED myself and made it happen in a time line that worked for me. No one else. It's my word...PACE and with it I know will come relaxation, organization and fulfillment.
Thanks for the 1 little word Ali. I have done it every year since you started it and I look forward to picking it every year.
Happy New Year and may 2011 be everything you and your family want it to be.
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My word is soul.
Find it, see it, feel it.Open it and pour it into everyone and everything I do in '11
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{vitality} - And I'm so excited for your class to get underway tomorrow...
Here's to all that 2011 is going to bring.
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Happy New Year!
Really looking forward to the One Word class and 2011. My one word is:
SPARKLE
To me, it is happy, shiny, and bright
It is polishing some areas in my life that have been neglected
It is the twinkle of happiness & laughter in my daughter's eyes
Happy 2011!
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