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.
HOPE
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My word is "YES." I feel i have been saying no alot lately. No to getting together with friends because of time, no to trying new things, no just because i didn't want to do something. So this is the year of yes. Yes to having more life experiences and my word should stick with me because every time i have to make a choice, i will try to make yes my answer.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
WELLNESS
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My word this year is CREATE. As in, I create my life, rather than just letting it happen to me. I create my circumstances. And maybe, just maybe, this is the year my husband and I create a family together.
I really hope that you do get to create a family this year too!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Openness. To be open for new influences in my life, to be open for new experiences, to be open for new impressions, to get out of my comfort zone and to embrace the unknown, to be open for new ideas, to be open for new social contacts, to be open for a new way of living.
I hope that in to be more open to myself I will feel more comfortable around things that are unknown to me. I've lived a very secure life and have lived according to the 'rules' of that life, but now I would like to start living my own life, with my own decisions and my own choices. It feels very deliberating to be able to do so!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Breathe - My word for 2011. I really need to let things go and thought if I can remind myself to breathe it will be okay. Have signed up for your class and made my title page. I even bought a pretty strawberry color cover (WRMK album) and when I opened it I was hoping it was going to smell like strawberries. :) it is absolutely beautiful.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
UNBURDEN, both physically ("stuff") and psychologically (I had a falling out this past year with someone who, as it turned out, was not really the friend I thought she was. And although it was a long time coming, I have had trouble leaving it all behind).
Sign in or sign up to comment.
my word for 2011 is life. I chose this word because we are expecting our first child early April and everything in our house is revolving around this breath of fresh air coming into our lives.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Open
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Ali, your word light. was my word a few years ago. Check out my OLW canvas projects to see the way I created a way to focus and remind me of the light.
Thanks for leading us in this, looking forward to your class!
http://dianemarra.typepad.com/
http://www.adorehimcreations.com/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/adorehimcreations
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Hi Ali,
I am still thinking and mulling my word over....the fore runners are simplify and purge...they go hand in hand. We are looking to move closer to my husbands work. I would like to make this transition as smooth as I can for me and my family. To that end I need to simplify our home and my life...
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My little word for 2011 is......Balance....
Too much of a good thing can definitely be too much sometimes and I've experienced that first hand recently. So during 2011, I'm going to do my best to strive towards a place where I can truly balance work, school, family, and yes, even my hobbies. This is definitely a realistic goal since I've had a great opportunity to cut back my hours at work, spend more time with the little one, and go back go school. I'm also going to take balance a little further into my workouts and try to get on a regular schedule and add back in some pilates into my workouts. My expectation isn't perfection, just to try and find a good balance each day. I really believe that recognizing the balance in our lives is a good way to self-reflect, which for me, is just so important to being happy and really appreciating the little things in each day that are so special.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My word for 2011 is "Refine" - “To free from impurities or unwanted material; to improve or perfect by pruning or polishing; to free from what is coarse, vulgar, or uncouth; to make improvement by introducing subtleties or distinctions.”
This applies to so many areas of my life...eating, exercising, school, work, relationships, simplifying....
I'm very excited about 2011 and where my OLW will guide me!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My word is Balance--whether that be home and work, the budget, my diet, my time. Things seem to always be out of sync and not where I would like it.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Pregnant with twins and already mother to a 2yo, I was looking for the right word. I looked at the list of words Ali posted last year and when I read NURTURE, it all just clicked!
I'm going to do a lot of nurturing this year:
- nurturing (=feed and love) these two babies during my pregnancy and then during their first months
- nurturing (=raising up/educate/spend time with) my 2yo
- nurturing (=protect/develop) my relationship with my husband: I need to make time for US in the next few months/years!
- nurturing my body now to stay healthy during my pregnancy then after the birth to get back in shape
- nurturing my soul/creative mind: trying to find a few minutes here and there to keep doing what I love
I'm really looking forward to Ali's class and to what this new year (and this new word) will bring!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My One Little Word this year is Complete. I thought long and hard about this word and even was going to change it a few times but I think that this word has chosen me as well. I am still thinking about your OLW class and I might just sign up!
I pick the word COMPLETE as well! Tried some other words, but they just didn't ring. I am seriously considering taking OLW too!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My word is "IMPROVE" = to increase in value, excellence, etc.; become better; to make improvements, as by revision, addition, or change - Looking forward to the class.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My one little word this year is RE. I know it's not a word per se, but I will use it in this manner:
Reduce.
Reuse.
Recycle.
Repurpose.
Regift.
Recall.
Rearrange.
Restyle.
Remember.
Fabulous choice! I love it!
What an interesting idea, to choose a prefix and then find words to attach it to. Could be interesting to take a root or suffix and do something similar as well.
Totally LOVE this concept Sherry.
I think this is rather facinating.
Thank you! Ali, you truly are an inspiration!
I thought long and hard about this and the more I REthink it, the more I add to the list. I even added another portion to this ---- how I want to feel in the end. Rejuvinated. Revived. Recharged. Rejoiced.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
my word is
acceptance and it kind of just fell into my lap and felt like the perfect word for me...at this point in my life....
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My word this year is HOPE.
2010 ended with the need for more happiness and joy in my life and while I considered both of those words as possibilities, I decided that the hope for them and the hope for embracing life was truly needed.
Looking forward to the class, Ali!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My word this year is Incarnational. Our pastor did a series of sermons on this and it really hit my heart. It means latting Christ live ina nd through me. to be saturated with Him.
I am taking your One Little Word class and very excited about it. Looking forward to Jan 1 and the opening of the classsroom.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
still debating on a few . . .
focus
journey
simplify
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My word is REFLECT.
This has been a journey of sorts to find this word. It started out as 'intention' and I just kept plugging away until I found MY WORD.
I remember seeing that your word was light, and I thought "That is a strange word. I'd never pick a word like that." Ha Ha! Never say never. My word is now, in a way, based on the Light I am reflecting. I think it was a good lesson in being open to what is around me!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
mi word for 2011 is peace ... 2010 has not been a very peaceful year for me ... would like 2011 to be a peaceful year ... also, for me to find peace in myself :)
Sign in or sign up to comment.
This is the first year I'm doing this. I've read about it on your blog for years and just never did it. So my word seems very appropriate: DO. I am hoping it will inspire me to DO so many things that I have been putting off.
Sign in or sign up to comment.