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. alissa says…
    01/01/2011

    my word for 2011 is PEACE.
    i'm looking forward to finding peace in all aspects in my life and hoping to will carry over for years to come.
    also excited for class to get started!
    i can't wait to see what comes of it in 2011.

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

    My word for the year is "connection" - I can't wait to see just how it happens!

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Sarah Giles says…
    01/01/2011

    My word for 2011 is TRANSFORM. I'm planning lots of positive changes this year. (I've written about them at http://bit.ly/hRlQgQ.) Last year my word was GENTLE. It was a rough year and I found it so helpful. Thank you!

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

    My little word für 2011 is *time*, or Zeit as we say here in Germany.

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Jaque says…
    01/01/2011

    My word is one in portuguese and two in English (I'm not sure):
    conviver = live together.
    How about it?

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Angie D in Ohio says…
    01/01/2011

    My word for 2011 is "celebrate". I will rejoice in life, I will honor each moment and not allow them to slip by, and I will participate in it. 2011 will be a year filled with celebration.

    You can find my jouhttp://angiebeth.blogspot.com/2011/01/one-little-word-2011.htmlrnal page celebrating my word at:

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Angie D in Ohio says…
    01/01/2011

    My word for 2011 is "celebrate". I will rejoice in life, I will honor each moment and not allow them to slip by, and I will participate in it. 2011 will be a year filled with celebration.

    You can find my journal page celebrating my word at http://angiebeth.blogspot.com/2011/01/one-little-word-2011.

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. joanne says…
    01/01/2011

    my word is...chance. take a chance on new things, experiences. chance to get things done, projects, goals. chance!!

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

    Responsible-- geared towards our whole family (yes, my husband has bought into the idea)

    To be responsible for our messes, our choices, our actions/ reactions, and most importantly, our mindset.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Wanda says…
    01/01/2011

    Beloved. More at my post.

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

    My word is LOVE. To love myself & my quirks; to treat friends, family and strangers with love and compassion; to love my life and be surrounded by love.

    love (verb) 1. to feel love for. 2. to like greatly, to take pleasure in having or doing something.

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

    Its taken me a while to settle on a word - there have been several that have been nearly right, but not quite.

    I think I have finally found it ...

    My word is Invigorate

    Thank you for the inspiration

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

    One word: INSPIRATION: to find inspiration in others and to search for it within one's own self. To encourage others to see and find inspiration in others no matter who they are on this Earth.

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Di says…
    01/01/2011

    I've been thinking about my goals for 2011 for a few weeks now and trying to come up with a word that encompasses my feeling for the year ahead. I have so much I want to do this year, so many things I want to change and create. 2011 is the year I will turn 40 and my ultimate goal for the year is to look like a fitness/bikini model, it's not impossible as I am already in good shape and a personal trainer, age is just a number. I am however the queen of procrastination, and have so many things I WANT to do, but haven't gotten around to due to getting sidetracked (Adult attention deficit disorder) and just plain procrastination.
    My word was almost simplify for this year but I have more I want to achieve than that, then I had the a-ha moment - my word for 2011 is going to be achieve! Each month I am going to do 3 things:
    1 - habit - create or break a habit, using my water pik for january
    2 - learn - something new, yoga instructor workshop is my goal for January :)
    3 - project - one "project" a month, January will be cleaning and reorganizing my office.

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Stacey Lopez says…
    01/01/2011

    REALIZE
    1. To comprehend completely or correctly.
    2. To bring into reality; make real.

    I was thinking of Dream or Believe, but I wanted something that requires action, not living in my head, and this came to me. I want to make a reality of my dreams. I want to show through my actions what I believe in.

    I'm so happy I found this site! What a great way to start 2011!

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

    Mine is Commitment. Sticking by what I say I'm going to do - more to prioritize myself in my life and finally doing what I planned on doing (like spend more time creating).

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Deb Zorn says…
    01/01/2011

    My word for 2011 is HAPPY. I want to be happy with myself, my surroundings, my photography etc. I am going to strive to not let the little aggravations of life bring me down. Hopefully, a happy attitude will rub off on those around me, too.

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

    My word for 2011 is mindful. There are a few reasons why I chose it, and I wrote about it in a post this morning. You are welcome to read more about it here: http://greenbirdofhappiness.blogspot.com/2011/01/hello-2011-and-my-word-for-year.html

    Thank you for sharing the idea of one little word, each year. It's something I've really enjoyed reading about and I'm excited to officially kick the year off with a word of my own this year!

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Jan C. says…
    01/01/2011

    I can't seem to choose just one word. Maybe it's because I'm in my 50s now, but I feel like there are multiple things I need to work on in order to be the person I want to be.

    So my list includes confidence, vitality, decisiveness, and (probably the most important on the list) follow through!

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

    My word is simple ~ as in simplify your life. The original plan was simple – the plan begins at birth – we breath in and out. No one tells us to breath, we do not have to purchase something, we do not have to collect anything, and we simply breathe. 2011 my word is simple ~

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Dyan says…
    01/01/2011

    My OLW for 2011 is going to be BALANCE. I seem to be all one way or the other in almost every aspect of my life and I hope to find the balance I need to bring peace.

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Charlette says…
    01/01/2011

    The word I choose is APPRECIATE. I want to appreciate my family more, because I am so blessed to have a wonderful one. Appreciate and the wonderful things around me and just appreciate life in general. Because each and everyday there is something I should appreciate and just did not think of it. This year appreciate will be posted somewhere so I never forget to do it!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Lisa says…
      01/01/2011

      Appreciate is such a lovely word. Something that we could all do well to remember - good luck!

  23. Nicki Schwormstedt says…
    01/01/2011

    My word for 2011 is BRAVE

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

    I had BREAKAWAY in my head for the last month or so as suggested by my husband (I need to recognise the need to breakaway from the stress of life sometimes) until I saw RELEASE here on the list. Suddenly, it's clear to me that RELEASE is perfect on so many levels (and also encompasses some of the original breakaway idea). This will be the 5th year I've done OLW - some years more successfully than others - and I am looking forward to the development of my new word.

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

    my one little word for 2011 is achieve

    Reply 0 Replies

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