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.
I'm trying to choose between two words - progress and trust. Both would be great for my life right now. My 2010 word was change.
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Wonderful words. I chose Nurture. Nurture self. Nurture family. Nurture friends. Nurture strangers.
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Ali Edwards and liz lamoreux, Josephina Mydreama. Josephina Mydreama said: One Little Word 2011: My 2011 necklace from the lovely Lisa Leonard. Get one for yourself… http://goo.gl/fb/zACdD [...]
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My word is: order. Not a beautiful word, but an important one. So little of it around here with two little ones. Life would be so much easier around here if there was more order and less chaos.
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I think mine is the opposite of "Focus". The word which I find keeps whispering to me is "Possibilities". Being aware of them, looking for them and perhaps even creating them.
I only wish the word was shorter and used up fewer 'S's.
(I hope this posts in reply to Karen's comment on #202). I considered potential as a shorter, more alphabet-sticker-friendly alternative to Possibilities, but felt it wasn't *active* enough.
how about potential?
that sounds like such a fun word! all tingly-like. and i vote to mix up the alphabet stickers, and us a whole bunch of colors/fonts/styles to highlight the possibilites in your stash :D
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My word is START. This year I want to start my projects with no fears and not wondering if I will have enough time to finish them, or if they will turn out as I imagined or just being too lazy to start. These feelings completely block my creativity and have stopped me from starting so many nice projects I had in mind in 2010.
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My word is "groovy". Now before you laugh and I am sure you will, let me explain.No I am not an overaged hippie, overaged maybe but hippie no. lol. Groovy is a word I have used for years and years much to my familys amusment. To me it means something that is really wonderful or something that makes me really really happy.Happy was my first choice for my word but I decided I wanted my year to be more, I wanted it to be groovy!So I plan to try and let go of all things that drag me down and have a groovy year. Now go ahead and laugh.:)
No laughing here. I really like that you chose the word that means the most to you, not the word that everyone else would use in a similar situation.
love your choice!
LOVE!! I say Groovy all the time too :)
I think that is awesome.
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I can't wait to see what 2011 brings, thanks for being such an inspiration.
My word this year is "Intention". I'm going to start doing things with intention, instead of because I feel obligated, etc. I'm going to surround myself with intentional things, rather than clutter and "stuff". I'm going to teach my children about doing things with intention, rather than because so-and-so said/did it.
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my word is free. free of the past and the ideas of who i was/am. and free to be anything i want to be.
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I look forward to this every year! Love to read every ones choices and why they were chosen. My word is BE. This is my year to BE more,to BE less to just BE me.
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I've been mulling this over for a few weeks and finally landed on my word: CONNECT
Feeling like I need to make better connections in so many areas of my life: family, friends, myself, photography, church, commmunity... and the list goes on.
Looking forward to OLW! Just signed up :)
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This has been on my mind - narrowing down my word! I have had three words floating around, but last night, while vacuuming, I was talking to myself about how I was sick and tired of just 'surviving' and then poof! My word popped up! I want to THRIVE instead!
It has to do with lots of things! Thrive in my work, my body, my dreams and daily choices..
And I am registered for the OLW class!
oooooh, been reading lots of words but that one made me go ooooh! I will have to try to remember that one for another year.
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My word is HOPE. Last year it was accept and I wore my word necklace a lot, which kept it in my mind. I had a medical diagnosis a couple years ago, and felt I needed to accept it. But this year, I'm going to HOPE even in the midst of deterioration. I'm so glad you are doing the class, Ali.
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hi Ali! I am really excited for the class!!
my word this year is GO.
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My word chose me too. I kept trying to come up with a word that I thought would help me reconnect with my normal life now that I finished grad school. One Sunday morning our preacher said the word GOOD as part of his message and it just resonated with me. I want to get back to all those GOOD moments I feel like I missed out on while I was chained to the computer with course work for the past two and a 1/2 years.
So GOOD it is.
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My word is ORGANIZE. I am a little scared about it but each time I try to stray away to some other fun, exciting zippy word, I keep dragging myself back here...so 2011 is the year to ORGANIZE!
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All signed up for class! My first year choosing a word as well.
The word I'm most leaning towards at this time is 'Embrace'. I want to focus on living in the moment, not stressing about tomorrow (or money! a big issue in my life right now). I need a word to encapsulate pretty much everything. I want to embrace life and everything in it in 2011.
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In 2009 my word was THANKFUL and there were 3 little Grandbabies born in that year! 2010 was RECREATE and I made changes to just about every room in my home and in my heart!
My One Little Word for 2011 is ROOTS. It will be a year filled with "digging", organizing and expanding on the Genealogy my parents started as well as finding out who I am, my essence and purpose for being.
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My word chose me--faith. There is a lot going on that I have no control over (health issues, etc.). I know that God will not give me more than I can handle, and I need to just have faith. I feel so right and happy with my choice!
Faith is my word, too! There wasn't going to be anything else this year - I have a baby nephew with serious health issues needing surgery and my husband's job will be made redundant. Like you said, these are things I have no control over, so I've got to have faith that God will see me/us through this.
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Mine is ATHLETE. It chose me, but I'm struggling a little with it because I was recently diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my feet, so I feel like if I can't run, I'm not really an athlete. I think the challenge in embracing this word is finding another sport that I love, and I'm looking forward to the challenge. :)
Thank you for continuing to inspire me, Ali.
Thank you Ali! I'm definitely looking forward to finding another sport I can be as passionate about as I was running. :)
Sorry to read about your foot Crystal - athlete definitely covers more than running. I'm excited for you to learn all about that this coming year!
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I've been doing this since 2007: my words have been open, flow, accomplish and horizon. For 2011, my word is HEALTH.
Rinda
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My word for this year is THRIVE. I kept pushing it out of my head trying to let another word find me and this one kept coming back.There are so many areas to thrive in this coming year. Thrive in school adn finish my masters which has been my dream that I put off to have children. Thrive in my marriage, thrive in my job I love. Iam excited to see where this word will take me this year!
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After a year long battle with breast cancer, I have decided my word for 2011 is peace. 2010 was filled with fear, chaos, stress and change. Next year I want to find peace inside and out.
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I have two words for this year: Patience and Present. I really need to bring the art of patience back into my life with my kids! And I feel like so much is focused on schedules and activities that we are constantly rushing from one thing to the other. Rarely am I present to absorb what is happening NOW. It always seems to be about what I have to do next.
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I love this OLW thing!! My word this year is 'BLOOM'. For me it means get healthy, eat less, move more, grow and blossom, and being content in my own skin!!
Very well said. I have similar intentions.
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