One Little Word 2012
Poster print via Poster Inspired.
My word for 2012 is up.
It came to me one day last month while I was working in the kitchen and the kids were watching the movie Up. My initial connection to the word stems from the part towards the end where the old man is looking at the scrapbook his wife made and a note she wrote to him at the end which says something along the lines of "Thanks for the adventure. Now go have a new one." (Found the clip here.)
That's the attitude I'd like to be working towards and embracing in 2012 - giving thanks for the things that were great about my marriage and then moving forward and welcoming whatever is coming next.
Up | ready, eager, open, awake, into a happy mood
There were so many words I could have chosen for what I want for myself in 2012. This one simply feels like a good starting place. I will also be carrying three of my past words close to my heart again in 2012: light, story, and peace.
Are you considering selecting a word for yourself (or letting one find you)? 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 2012. 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 days I'll combine all the words into a single post - super inspiring to see all the words in one place.
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, 2010 and 2011.
Above is an image of all my prompts from my album that I made for my One Little Word class at Big Picture in 2011.
Registration is open for 2012 and you're invited to join the journey.
Each month you'll receive a prompt with a simple creative, writing, or photography 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, 2012.
TODAY'S POST SPONSORED BY | Simplify 101 Online Workshops
Regardless what word you select, choosing a word means you want to make your life even better than it is today. The very essence of One Little Word is improving your life, which is why this online workshop is perfect for you. It gives you the foundation, ideas and inspiration you need to dream about a life you love, plus concrete action steps to help you make it happen! Use code: ONELITTLEWORD through January 6, 2012 to take 15% off any simplify 101 workshop (may not be combined with other offers). ABOUT SIMPLIFY 101 | Founded by Aby Garvey, the co-author of The Organized and Inspired Scrapbooker, simplify 101’s mission is to make getting organized fun!
My word is YES. It's time for me to start saying "yes" instead of "I'm afraid," "I can't," "no," "this is safe/known," etc.
Love it! I've been thinking about "yes" for a few days now and was looking through the comments to see if anyone else has chosen that word. I want to say yes to more things this year: opportunities, adventures, experiences.
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I would love to take the class this year. I think it will help me with my goal to CREATE more and FINISH what I start. Haven't quite decided which word it will be ... but it will be one of these... maybe both. (can we do that?) Love all the words I've seen submitted to far, especially yours Ali - very UP-lifting and positive. :)
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[...] path of One Little Word for the year. My mentor and friend in the practice is Ali Edwards. Read her One Little Word Story here. And then consider taking her One Little Word class at Big Picture Scrapbooking. It will help you [...]
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My word for 2012 is 'present' (as in 'be present' in the moment)
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My word just came to me - ME. Such a small word but with so much meaning. I signed up for the OLW workshop hoping that my word would find me and it did. Looking forward to the start of 2012.
I have been reading some of the posts and I can feel the energy being created by everyone and their enthusiasim for this project.
Can't wait to get started!
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FLOAT. As is relax, breathe, be. You've done your part to get in the river, now trust the current to take you to the next right destination. No panic. No frantic. Just Float. You can read my full blog post, if interested, at: http://justbebeth.wordpress.com/2011/12/27/learning-to-float/
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I can't really afford to join the class but I chose a word to hold on to this year: forgiveness
I'm grateful for even coming across this concept through you Ali and Big Picture Classes.
I feel a bit apprehensive to be honest...anticipating some changes in me and hopefully healing.
Thank you.
Anna from Australia.
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Fearless
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My word is JOY.
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I've been thinking about my word for the last couple of weeks and it literally just came to me. "complete"...comes to mind after spending an afternoon in my scrapbook room. I want to "complete" all unfinished projects. I can't believe how much unfinished projects takes away from living a more full and complete life.
Beth
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My word is clarity. This year went so fast for me and it seemed like most of the time I was in a fog. I want to clear away and simplify to get to what matters most in my life.
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I've adopted the word 'aroha' with the charity'adopt a word' which helps childen with communication problems. It is a Maori word which broadly means love, but has several layers of meaning and is now used in New Zealand English. AROHA, my word for 2012. :)
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My word is health. For myself, and those I love. The day before christmas eve my mother in law suffered a heart attack. It did a number on our celebrations this past weekend. Fortunately, she is going to be okay but will have to focus on herself and her bad habits (smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise). It is a wake up call for me to take better care of myself and make healthy choices. Also to lead by example for my children.
Ali, I too love your word choice. We watched Up last week and that part of the movie is so poignant and moving.
Here's to 2012!
Anna,
Thank you so much for you thoughts and the book recommendation. I will be sure to look for it.
Thanks again,
Jill
A great book to read is Dr Caldwell Esselstyn's book, 'Prevent and reverse heart disease'. There is hope. God bless.
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Ali, I love your word and I love your outlook. This post really got me thinking seriously about the power that words have on our outlook. The word I really want to pick for 2012 is discipline, but I don't know if it seems negative. I want discipline in my life...what I eat, how much I exercise, how I shop, how I raise my kids, and the list goes on and on.
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My word is Better.
We've had a very challenging year and a couple of weeks ago I had a very nice day and said out loud: Ahhh, this is so much....better. And the word just stuck. There are many areas of my life that need to be better: home and family, friends, faith, and my health to list a few. I'm excited to begin One Little Word...
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My word for 2011 was perseverance. I purposefully picked it because it has been a guiding word throughout my life, and particularly the last few years of dealing with a major disability. The OLW project was just what I needed to bring the word into the foreground of my life. I've posted most of my pages in the BPC gallery and hope to post the rest soon. For 2012, the word seems to be choosing me. I keep seeing the word joy pop up, more than one might expect at Christmastime, and in contexts that have nothing to do with the holidays (most recently in the post that I missed where you first talked about the divorce). I'm not sure where joy plans to take me. I think it is similar in spirit to your "up", If you haven't seen where National Geographic tried to replicate the floating house from Up, I encourage you to check it out. Your family will be in my thoughts through this time of big transition.
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My 2012 word is Complete. The five years I've been doing one little word have been an amazing testament to the power of that one little word and the impact it can make on your choices for the year.
http://www.lifeephemera.blogspot.com/2010/01/one-little-word-connect.html
http://www.lifeephemera.blogspot.com/2011/01/one-little-word-health.html
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My word at the moment is NOW. To live in the now, not the past – to do things now, to explore who I am now. My word found me this morning so I am still exploring it.
Love how you explain your choice.
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up is a great word, and what a great attitude!
my word is: brave. a word that found me, thanks to YOU! after seeing your project life post with kelly rae's 'brave in sadness, brave in love' quote on it, i knew that brave was my word for 2012 -- brave in having to leave a company i've worked at the last 12 years (i'm laid off at the end of january = brave in sadness). brave trying to find a job. brave in my recent new relationship (brave in love).
i'm excited for a new year and new adventures. for both of us! :)
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Great post and wonderful word Ali! My word for 2012 is Fortify, but I'm keeping action (my word for 2011) close to my heart this next year too.
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Ali, I'm so looking forward to the BP class-my word is light.
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Last year my word was Patience. For 2012, my word is Celebrate. I'll be 30 this year and just started my dream job, so I have a lot to celebrate!
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Renew is my word for 2012. I feel very much as though I'm going through a transition in my life right now, a renewal of spirit, creativity and living life to the fullest. When I envision RENEW, it is very much in a positive light with new goals to reach for and new adventures.
It's exciting to visualize my refreshed spirit as I continue on this journey. RENEW - my symbol of renewed family time, renewed work life, renewed creativity, renewed passsions - renew life.
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Grace - I want to live in the grace I've received through Christ and show that grace to others, grace in all the changes coming into my life this year, grace dealing with my father-in-law and his Alzheimer's. My word for 2011 was peace - and through all the changes the year held, peace just seemed to flow. Grace just seems to be the next step for me.
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conscientious
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