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 "care." After a long series of stressful and heartbreaking events, I pulled into myself and stopped caring about the world around me. At first I thought my word would be "give," but I'm not sure I'm ready for that. I think I need to be brave enough to let myself care first.
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de-stress.
http://thisbusygirl.blogspot.com/2011/01/happy-new-year.html
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i chose reduce.
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Balance, and boy do I need it!
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[...] year, I decided to choose a word via Ali’s One Little Word, but I couldn’t narrow it down to a word, so I chose the phrase, “follow [...]
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Hi Ali!
I´m doing this for the third year and I´m amazed how well it seems to fit every time.
This year I´ve been choosing between two words - fresh or balance - but I finally deciced to stick with fresh. I like the sound and feeling of it.
I really need a fresh start this year. Last year was such a rollercoaster in some ways so I´m happy to leave it behind me.
So yes fresh for me meaning new beginnings, healthier living and fresh looks .....
Happy 2011 Ali!
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[...] been mulling it over, and I think that if I had to pick one little word for 2011, it would be “begin.” Put one foot in front of the other. Just do it. And all that [...]
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my word for 2011 is "sacrament"-taking the common and making it into the extraordinary as an act of worship. My life is so full of regular days, regular tasks-and to think of them as extraordinary will surely change my perspective! I cannot take full credit for it-it came to me through the radio station K-Love.
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[...] you aren’t familiar with the one little word concept, go here to see what Ali Edwards has to say about [...]
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I think my word for this year will have to be NOW!
As in, living in the moment, not trying to anticipate the future all the time. As I am a planner and worrier by nature, this should be a good word to help me focus on each day as it comes.
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I went with a phrase for 2011 - let go. Let go of the past, let go of planning every moment, let go of things both mentally and physically. It's so freeing just to say it out loud :)
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My word this year is "TRY". I've found myself holding back a lot lately, but now I really want to jump into new experiences with both feet. No more holding back.
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so excited about this this year!and i have been thinking about this for a few weeks. my word for 2011 is BALANCE!! very excited about this and looking forward to implementing it in my life. as many others i feel it chose me, and i really would like to find balance in all areas of my life on a continuous basis! thanks fro guiding me on this amazing journey Ali!
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I have finally chosen my One Little Word for 2011!! I have been thinking about it for a week and nothing I thought of was doing it for me. I considered simplify, commit, joy and utilize among others. This morning I as I was journaling what I had eaten for breakfast,(I am on Weight Watchers) my word found me. My word is REDUCE. It is perfect for me. There are so many things that I want to reduce in my life! Debt, weight, stress, clutter, scrapbook supplies those are the ones that I am currently thinking of. So for 2011 I will REDUCE!!!
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nurture.
it's something that i feel that i don't do enough of in general, so this year i will be working on ways to incorporate more nurturing for myself, my husband, and my surroundings. . . i believe good things will come of it.
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My one little word for 2011 is "harmony". I am seeking balance in my life - family, work, friends. play...and will work towards creating harmony between. Harmony with our environment is vital also, as our world changes way too quickly, and we consume so much.
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Connect is my word for 2011. I want to connect more with myself, my family, my friends, my commnunity, my environment, etc.
This word has been at the top of my list for the lst couple of weeks and I just can't seem to fine a better one that suits where I am and where I need to be.
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my word is....SIMPLE
keeping everything simple.
remembering to enjoy the simple things in life.
understanding that simple is good.
learning to live simple.
embracing all that is simple.
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My word this year is STRENGTH. I need to be more dedicated with my weight loss plan and be happier with who I am instead of who I want to be or think I should be.
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My word for 2011 is "BE". I want to be happy, be creative, be productive, be me. Be is a strong word and I "believe" that is the word I will concentrate on for 2011.
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After reading thru the comments on words chosen and writing some down on paper the word that keeps coming back to me is focus. To focus on one day,one hour,one minute, one second of each day. I have a tendency to look at the whole big picture of things and become overwhelmed and discouraged. Feeling like I drift in and out of each day and accomplish nothing. I feel being focused will bring about some wonderful changes in my life.
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This is my 4th year doing this challenge and each year my word has been easy to choose. Not so much this year. I'd been struggling with a few words and none of them seemed to be "it". Finally my word has chosen me! For 2011 it is CULTIVATE. Then I saw this blog post: http://www.beckyhiggins.com/blog/2011/01/happy-new-year/2011-2/. The word just grabbed me and planted itself in my heart! It sums up my wishes for this year - cultivate my dreams, cultivate my relationships, cultivate the seed of who I want to become. I can't wait to start putting this idea into practice.
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I just love reading all the comments. I've known what I want my word to represent. I want it to help remind me to excerise and eat healthy, to keep up with my bookwork (we own our own business and I work from home), to stay on top of keeping the house organized and clean. Stop procrastinating and do things.
I thought of do, but that sounds bossy and negative as in "do this, do this, do that". I saw the word become as in become the women, wife, mother I'm meant to be but that sounds quite big and daunting.
So I finally decided on ACCOMPLISH. I know that everday I by 'do'ing small things I can ACCOMPLISH my goals and 'become' who I want to be.
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Content
I think I'll just leave it at that.
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Last year I made a lot of progress with Release. This year my word is Explore. I'm going to explore new ways of cooking, getting out of debt, handling fear, trying new things.
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