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 polish
I picked this word for several reasons...
BUT the main one is
I need to make sure my words polish and not tarnish
love this!
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My word for twenty-twelve in MORE. Not having more money or more material things, but doing more with what I have been given. Finding the beauty of using my time more efficiently and making more time to do the things that are truly important. This past year has been difficult and I know that there is more out there for my family and for me.
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My word for 2012 is "Unlock". I feel like I've gone so deep inside myself over the past 20 years due to many factors; divorce, many moves, losing my daughter in a house fire, living with scars from that fire, and the list goes on. I've gone internal to protect myself and in turn feel like I'm so closed off now and missing out on MY life. So, in 2012 I want to unlock my spirit, unlock my soul, unlock my energy. And each month I want to work on unlocking different aspects of myself such as "Unlocking my smile" (learning to be happy again), "Unlocking my creativity", "Unlocking my love" and giving it freely instead of being guarded, etc. I turn 40 in 2012 and it's time to regain control of my life. :)
Thanks ladies! I'm looking forward to a productive year. :)
You go girl! Wishing you lots of good vibes to make 2012 the year you Unlock your potential!
Sherry, I really hope that you will unlock the wonderful, powerful, loving person inside of you! Wishing you a wonderful journey with your word!
Anneke
the Netherlands
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I think I am going to use the word "Relish". I am reading the book "The resolution for Women" by Priscilla Shirer. The first lesson in the book is to enjoy where you are at in your life and not to rush things. I want to work on this all year, as I feel I have been rushing things and not "relishing" each moment of my life. I am also going to be doing a project life by Becky Higgins. Relish-enjoyment of or delight in something that satisfies one's tastes, inclinations, or desires
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This is the first year I've been inspired to have a word, and my word is "moment". I am in my last year of living in South-East Asia, an experience I have absolutely loved, and will return home in 2013. But as I look back on our time here, I feel as though I didn't make the most of being here. There's a lot I want to accomplish, which I haven't, and I know I could have accomplished if I had put my mind to it. So in 2012, I want the moments which make up my year to be moments rich with enjoyment, satisfaction, and productiveness. I hope to enjoy and appreciate every moment, and I wish the same for you Ali in this new phase ahead.
Monument was my word for 2011 and it was perfect! Enjoy every moment!
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IN.
In the moment,
in the conversation,,
in my relationships,
in love,
in prayer,
in appreciation,
in my art,
in my home,
in my heart.
Very inspiring, I'll file that away for possible 2013 adoption. Thanks for sharing!
love
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Your positive attitude is such an inspiration, Ali!
This will be the 4th year I have chosen OLW. The first word spoke to me & was the easiest year of living my word. The next two were hard to decide on. I do believe I remember what those 2 words were, but I was never able to embrace them.
So, this year, I am chosing a word that has spoken to me. Possibility.
I like the positive conotations. Because of my unpredictable & sometimes life interupting health issues, I want to focus on the possibilities that are available to me no matter the circumstances.
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LIGHT.
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I've used relinquish, shape, and refine. For 2012 my word is deeper.
In my walk with God. Continuing to memorize 1 John, improving my prayer life, and submitting to viewing my time as His instead of mine.
In saving money. Attack food, coffee, and healthcare categories, and try to go all of 2012 without buying non-essential clothing.
In adventure seeking and exploring the Pacific Northwest. More hikes. More daytrips.
In my fitness journey. Move more, eat less. See the scale at my goal weight more often.
Thanks for the inspiration, Ali!
More hikes and daytrips are something on my list too.
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Last year I was reluctant to join in the OLW class because I decided to do Project Life, plus a few other classes, and I just didn't want to go in too many directions at once. I know myself, get distracted/overwhelmed/discouraged way too easily. So not doing OLW in 2011 was a smart step for me, but I was really sad not to do it.
As 2012 was nearing I got really excited to join this time and I was pondering what word to choose. I'm the poster child for setting the same NY resolutions each year but flopping after a few months. Every year I say I’m going to loose weight, eat better, exercise more; stop being a shopaholic, a chocoholic, an internet addict, a TV addict; spend more time with family and being creative. And every year same story. Start off with good intentions, with good momentum.....but then pitter out. Go back to bad habits, to the escape, to the easy way, to the same old rut.
I want to use the power of One Little Word to help me succeed this time.
I discovered The Paperclipping Roundtable in the summer, listened to episodes haphazardly as the titles caught my attention, but then in November just started listening from the very beginning. I got to episode 36 where you gals applied Zen Habits to scrapbooking. I was agreeing with everything, thinking that whole episode and Leo's whole philosophy pretty much summed up everything I'm striving for and I thought of lots of words that fit some part of my goals - breathe, simplify, action, move, less, intention, motivation....But which one would help me succeed in all that, which one encompassed everything?
And then Ali, you said THE Word, you were talking and I heard the phrase "when you slow down and focus".... that's it! My word found me through you! FOCUS. That's what I loose every year. I try to tackle too many changes at once, I get distracted by other things I need to do or want to do, I get involved in too many projects, I loose sight of what's most important and I scatter away.... I need to FOCUS.
I'm excited that I've seen some others choose FOCUS as well, excited to see how it works for them and how I gain support from others with similar goals. At BPC they are highlighting the OLW class and a member who chose FOCUS for 2011. Browsing through some samples is already helping me think more focused!
So this year, I'm in! And I'm ready for some FOCUS.
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My word for 2012 is LEARN. I am going to be a first-time mum and I have so many things that I will be learning and will have a massive learning curve!
I have collaborated One Little Word with Project Life this year so that I can do both and remember the whole year together!
Thanks Ali again for doing it this year, I learnt so much last year and can't wait to go through it again!
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My word for 2012 is JOY. I've experienced a lot of sadness in 2011 and I'm looking forward to a more joy-filled year in 2012.
xo
jeanne
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My word is Blossom. The idea of being in a place and condition of new development, to transform, to flourish, to open up to new possibilities after the challenges of this year really appeals to me. I'm looking forward to getting started.
Melissa,
I think I'm going with Flourish but I love Blossom. I had been thinking bloom was a good synonym for me but blossom is even better! Thanks for sharing!
What a great choice! Love it!
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MY word is ECONOMICAL. I want to waste less: money, time and resources
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My word for 2012 is Focus.
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Hi Ali, like your word. My word for 2012 is;
Celebrate
1. To observe (a day or event) with ceremonies of respect, festivity, or rejoicing.
2. To extol or praise: a sonnet that celebrates love.
3. To engage in festivities
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My word for 2012 is WRITE, after having DISCIPLINE in 2011. I've loved having a word for the year this year, its help me to focus my efforts on a small thing rather than 101 resolutions or changes I wanted to make. Thanks again.
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I love your new word, Ali. It sounds like it's made for a lot of new adventures...
My word will be butterfly. I'm using it as a symbol (or emblem) for the word METAMORPHOSE. Because it's such an abstract idea I find hard to visualize I choose to go with butterfly. I even ordered me a bracelet with a butterfly on it so I have my word right before my eyes everyday. My last years word was change and I hadn't connect to it in the way I wished... so I'm trying again this year with a similar (but easier to visualize) word.
I can't wait to start the new journey with our words in 2012.
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My Word of the year has come about from following Pat Sloan, now I see that You inspired her to have a word of the year. Last year it was "finished". This relates to my quilting. I wanted to have more Finished Quilts in 2011. I succeeded in a way, 24 finished quilts but I failed to finish the UFO's I'd hoped to. 2010 was "Done". This year I hope to be more "Focused". I don't want to have more UFO's at the end of the year than what I started with. So that is my WORD.
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My word is "create"
Creating a life I love...making it happen not just waiting for it to happen.
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My word is 'on'... as in: on task/focus on; 'keep on keeping on'; hold on; onwards; move on; switch on; 'on board'; onE; keep a light on.. etc etc.
Love your word and all it implies.
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My word is REST
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I am struggling a bit with my word this year, although, Reflect, and Note, have both come to mind. Would love to get some help if someone can think of another word that works to combine these.!
Reflect: take time to reflect, and also, reflect the spiritual light inside us all.
Note: similar to observe in being mindful each day, and also, noting these observations through art (writing, painting, letters, art journals, perhaps even start a blog?). I would like to write and sketch/paint daily in 2012 as a home/backyard project life journal.
Last year's word was: Treasure - to treasure each moment no matter where I am, who I am with, or what I/we are doing...
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My word is a two-word phrase that kept popping up throughout 2011 and has made itself abundantly clear in the last month. It's "travel lightly." Meaning we need to shed all but those few items we love so that we can easily and quickly relocate. This includes no longer owning a home. I've always been one to move every 5 to 7 years but this is different. It's about staying somewhere for just a short time. Maybe a few months. Perhaps a year or two - and then moving on. As an author, speaker and consultant, I look forward to seeing all the words aggregated together in a posting!
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Ali,I LOVE your word and the meaning behind it. You continue to inspire me, especially how you handle yourself in a difficult situation. Thanks for sharing your story!!!
My word for 2012 is "now". Living for now, enjoy my kids fully right now, get things done now. I tend to live too much in the future and what if's. I'm going to strive to live more in the moment.
Thanks for asking for our words. Writing it here helps me commit and make a decision "now" :0)
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