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.
Here it is the first day of 2011 and as of last night I still did not have my word. (I have had a word for the last 2 years). Alas on my run this AM (about 6:30 and the sky was just barely starting to turn pink) my word came to me - PERCEPTIVE. I have always struggled with a disposition that leans toward the negative side and I realize this has prohibited me from truely having joy in my life and being present to my husband and boys. I believe by changing my PERCEPTIVE on my life - I will gain contentment and joy.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My word for 2011 is Hope...hope for a year of good health for friends and family; hope for a year of fun and experiencing pure joy; hope for a year of learning and self-improvement; hope for a year where I can be more creative; hope for a year where the world moves more toward peace....my hopes are endless as I embark on this year. Hope.
Hope is a wonderful choice, and I really like your intentions behind it. Have an amazing, hope-filled year, Holly :)
Sign in or sign up to comment.
[...] you heard of One Little Word? It has given me pause. At dinner we talked about words and resolutions. Ada would like to have [...]
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My word for this year is "listen." As I began to think about my word for this year, it just popped into my head! I pondered awhile and knew it was the right word. I am looking forward to all the places my word will bring me.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
FAITHFUL
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I think about it since many days now and my life right nonw drives me through it : new.
So NEW will be my word for 2011 ...
and to go with it, there's also ORGANISATION ...
Sign in or sign up to comment.
[...] to Abbey, I found myself choosing one word to define what I want out of this new year. One Little Word to capture my goals and plans for 2011. My word came to me almost immediately: FREEDOM. 2010 [...]
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I am grateful for the upswing in our economy on 2010. Finally I feel as thought we can breath, like we are above water. We are definatly still having to work hard, as a matter of fact harder than ever. But my word - peace- has been a state of mind this past year. And I think it will continue to be my word. When you come to realize that there are so many things that just don't matter, you come to - peace! Happy Nw Year.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Motivate is my word. I like the implications it holds for me as well as the potential. I also hope to inspire others to be motivated.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Got my word, I am ready! thank you so much for all of your inspiration!!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I struggled with my word this year. Each year I have known what I had to do... and I finally did it. Last year's word was JUMP.
I've mulled around a few words; ONWARD, UPWARD, UP
But I think this year's word is mountain. I need to conquer the mountain. I've been down, I've gone up. MOUNTAIN represents the ups and downs that inevitably follow all the change of 2011.
MOUNTAIN. It's not a molehill.
It's both good and bad. It evokes thoughts of uphill and downhill. Hiking. Mountain biking. Overcoming. Making. The trip I've always wanted. Struggle with accomplishment.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
400 comments read and I'm not sure if I can keep going!
Anyway, my word was going to be RELAX but having read (400) posts, BALANCE is another word that sums up what I want to achieve in 2011. I originally choose RELAX because that's what I want to do with my friends and family but also because I find little things that stress me out unneccesarily and therefore I need to not sweat the little stuff so much. Balance seems to sum that up nicely though. I think i might think about this a little more.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My word is CALM- I tend to let things, especially things I can't change, bother and frustrate me. This year I am going to try to not let that happen. I want to realize that some things are just out of my hands and that I need to take a step back, calm down, and enjoy a life without freaking out.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
[...] 1, 2011 Ali Edwards chooses one little word to focus on each year, and this year I’m playing [...]
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Ali you are such an inspiration...I will be joining your class also. I have chosen the word STRENGTH.....for several reasons, one: building strength in a very weak back and leg from a previous hip replacement, two: building strength within my family, a blended family that needs strength to grow strong as one, three: building overall strength in my health, I am a breast cancer and melanoma survivor. I will looking for STRENGTH in this beautiful New Year!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I have two words that keep coming up. One is Revive. The other one is Believe. Still haven't chosen one yet, they both fit!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
As I read all of these posts, it struck me that what I should really espouse in my life is BALANCE. I tend to be all consuming in whatever it is I am doing, perhaps even a bit obsessive. It is time for me to BALANCE my life. That is the word I will carry with me this year.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
truth- in everything. truth about my feelings, truth about my intentions, truth about my needs. floating that truth out to all that will nurture my truth.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I am so grateful to all the talented women, who through their blogs share their talent, inspiration and themselves with all of us.
Thank you,
Angel
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I'm still working out my word, at the moment 'nurture' is really coming to the fore. Nurture my creativty, nurture my spirit, nurture my body, nurture my family. Although nourish is also on the list for conisderation.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
This year I've chosen HEALTHY. I had mixed feelings about leaving my 2010 word PURGE, but then I realized that my emotional health was as important as my physical health, and that purging would continue this year as part of being healthy.
I primarily focused on the physical last year, but this year I'm looking inward also.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My one little word for 2011 is "heal"..... The word found me while I was listening to "My Sweet Lord" by George Harrison. 2010 was a hard year for me, both physically and emotionally. I want to work on healing and moving forward. I'm looking forward to this year long project!!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
choice... we all get it... how we use it determines much about our happiness (and the happiness of the people around us)
Sign in or sign up to comment.
[...] year’s one little word came easily to me: [...]
Sign in or sign up to comment.
[...] you are familiar with Ali Edwards, you may know about her One Little Word project she started a few years ago. She has started a class at Big Picture Classes that I am [...]
Sign in or sign up to comment.