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.

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1654 thoughts

  1. Kate aka stinkydudette says…
    01/01/2011

    My word is LIVE. More action, less procastination. I need to experience life more, and enjoy it.

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Sheri says…
    01/01/2011

    My word this year will be courage.
    The courage to become ME
    The courage to face CHALLENGE
    The courage to find TRUE MEANING
    The courage to tell my story.
    The courage to live my story,
    The courage to stand tall in who I AM, and who I am in HIM.
    The courage to stand in confidence.
    The courage to be the person God created me to be.....

    And the list is endless.
    Thank you Ali for such inspiration.
    I am excited about this class!

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Lucille says…
    01/01/2011

    My word is NOURISH. I had decided that not only did I need to NOURISH my BODY better in the coming year (by eating healthy foods on a regular basis----I had really slacked off in this regard, to the point where some days, all I'd have eaten is some toast in the a.m. and then be wondering why my stomach would be growling at night in bed), but that I also needed to NOURISH my SOUL better too (through prayer, quiet, solitude, etc). I need to NOURISH my SON by being present to him more. I need to NOURISH my SPIRIT by making deliberate choices and finding the joy in little things.
    So NOURISH it is!

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. quinna says…
    01/01/2011

    Free is my word for the year,.... looking forward to the class!

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Melissa Rhodes says…
    01/01/2011

    This year my word is "Gratitude". I want to focus on seeing the best of any experience I go through this year!I am grateful for all that I have!

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Karn says…
    01/01/2011

    My word is "Satisfy". You know when you're craving a cheeseburger and french fries, but instead you eat soup and a salad because it's a healthier choice. After you've eaten you are full but not satisfied.
    I hope to explore all the areas of my life where I might be holding back and not satisfying my hunger for adventure and fun, for relationships, and to even look at what it means to be feminine. I want to live a rich and full life.
    I'm really looking forward to the class to see how this word is going to be integrated into my life in 2011.

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Melissa says…
    01/01/2011

    My word is "focus" and it actually screamed at me from the third comment in this post. It's stuck with me for 24 hours and is my official word after thinking on it and how focusing would impact my life.

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Move More Eat Less « HowPeculiar says…
    01/01/2011

    [...] Word of the Year for 2011 is nurture, and I’m hoping that it will help me focus on nurturing my health as well [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Meri says…
    01/01/2011

    My word for 2011 which has only just popped in my head while reading your blog is MAGIC. Like you, it has appeared in so many forms over the past year that i really believe magic will happen in so many beautiful and suprising ways. This word excites me, it creates a hope in me that everything will be ok and that with this belief MAGIC happens. Thanks Ali for an inspiring blog and that you forever share your creativity and story. Happy Magical New Year ...

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Sponsor Giveaways | simplify101, Lisa Leonard Designs | Ali Edwards says…
    01/01/2011

    [...] you’ve selected your One Little Word, then you’ve decided to improve your life in the upcoming months. If you’re struggling with [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Jules says…
    01/01/2011

    I've chosen change. There are so many things in my life that I need to change - my weight, my exercise routine, my scenery, the colour of my walls, my beliefs, my clutter, and the list goes on. I started today with the clutter. (-: My house is so much "lighter", so to speak, lol!

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Cath says…
    01/01/2011

    Mine is ACTION. It found me - I had thought it was going to be balance but I got back from a run this morning and was talking to dh about a canoe we've been talking about buying and this word came into my mind. Like you, I've seen it around a lot, on blogs and in magazines and I know this is what I need to achieve the changes I want in my life. Thank you for the inspiration.

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Leanne says…
    01/01/2011

    My word for 2011 is CHERISH. My first baby is due to arrive in January and I want to remind myself to simply slow down and cherish her and the time I spend with her during her first year. Can't wait!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. marilyn kennedy says…
    01/01/2011

    My word this year is deliberate. It has come to my attention that I too often do things because I always have OR it just seems to be the thing that needs to be done. This sometimes leaves me feeling exhausted and unpleasant. I need to be more deliberate in my selections and I am going to focus on that process. I did a great job following my own advice for Christmas and had one of the most amazing holiday seasons in nearly 20 years. By the way, my word for last year was amazing. Look how it made its way all the way to the end!

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Lady Aga says…
    01/01/2011

    My word for this year is CHANGE:)

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Shawnnita says…
    01/01/2011

    my one little word for the year is: Healthy.

    Thanks again!

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Jolande says…
    01/01/2011

    My word for 2011 is CREATE

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Jolande says…
    01/01/2011

    My word for 2011 is CREATE.

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Miranda says…
    01/01/2011

    my word for this year is enjoy. I really want to take more time to enjoy little things in life.

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Rebecca says…
    01/01/2011

    This is my first time choosing a word - I've chosen FOCUS as my word for this year. I have felt a bit adrift, and perhaps pulled in too many directions. So FOCUS on what is important is going to be my guideword.

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Kim D says…
    01/01/2011

    My word is health - health for my body by stopping bad habits like eating the wrong things and starting new habits like moving more, health in my relationships by tending to them more, health in my attitudes because I sometimes think I sabotage myself with my attitudes and that brings the whole house down. Yes, my word for 2011 is health.

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Lisa Browning says…
    01/01/2011

    My word is DOWNSIZE. Just when I thought a word wasn't going to come to me, I was replacing my Lowell Herrero "Cows, Cows, Cows" calendar in my kitchen for the new 2011 one, and I saw a message that Herrero wrote in the back of the calendar. He asked, "Do words ever get stuck in your head?" He went on to explain that about 4 years ago, the word "downsize" got stuck in his head, and in his wife's head, too. They wanted to simplify their life, and they started making changes to do so. I retired on October 1,2010, and since then, decluttering and simplifying has been my goal. This word is perfect for me in 2011. Downsize. :-)

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Joan says…
    01/01/2011

    My word is Balance. The goal is to find balance between work, home, photography, scrapbooking, learning Photoshop, exploring new recipes and friends!

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. christen says…
    01/01/2011

    COMPETENT

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. kellystar says…
    01/01/2011

    LOVING...loving every minute, finding "loving" moments, recognizing "loving" when it is almost overlooked, and loving me too.

    Reply 0 Replies

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