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!

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986 thoughts

  1. Maria says…
    12/30/2011

    Hi Ali,

    My word is FAITH. This have been a hard year for me and my family and I need to focus on my FAITH and believe in the power of GOD! HUgs and HAPPY NEW YEAR.
    http://mirinconcitodescrap.blogspot.com/2011/12/fe-faith.html

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. MelissaL88 says…
    12/30/2011

    My word is FOCUS.

    My word didn't stick with me this year (persistent), but I think this word will help me through some personal challenges this year. Looking forward to the class again, Ali.

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Heather P. says…
    12/30/2011

    Hi all! I'd love to put a button/badge up on my blog for One Little Word 2012. Does one exist? Thank you!

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Nina F says…
    12/30/2011

    Celebrate! through the ups, downs, ins, outs, and mostly the mundane, I have family, home, friends, health and a loving God. Many, many reasons to Celebrate! :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Robin Dake says…
    12/30/2011

    My word is possibility.
    I have survived a year of divorce and a year of adjusting to singleness and single parenthood. I am breathing once again and the word joy is no longer just a distant mirage.
    So now, I am ready to open my heart and soul and breath to possibilities.

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Glenna says…
    12/30/2011

    I have been torn for weeks between TIME and LIFE. I chose Life. Oprah's challenge to 'live your best life' helped me make up my mind.

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Jules Hollis says…
    12/30/2011

    My 2012 word is start.
    Love this concept more every single year.
    Can't wait to see where it takes me.

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Liz F says…
    12/30/2011

    Open

    I just looked it up in the thesaurus and I realized there was so much more to the word than when I first thought of it. It seems so fitting right now.

    I want to be open to new possibilities.
    I want to be open to change.
    I want to be open and honest.
    I want to be open and uncluttered.
    I want to be open to begin something new.
    I want to be open and approachable.

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. P.J. says…
    12/30/2011

    ACT -- this is the year to make things happen that Husband and I need to have done. The past several years have spent doing for our parents or our grown children. We have put many of our own things off. This is the year for us to ACT on things we need done for us or our home or our careers. It seemed selfish at first, but it's time for some OUR/US/ME time.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. cristina tonon says…
    12/30/2011

    My world this year will be share. I'm very close in myself and i need to all can see my like i'm so i will share my self, thougths, fellings ...

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Carolyn says…
    12/30/2011

    My word would be "Understanding" I would love to understand where I fit in my world around me and to understand my children, husband, family and those I work with. I would also like to be understood by my family and friends. I would also like to be someone who understands the hopes and dreams of others.

    I hope this is an upbeat word for me. First time I have thought about a word for myself.

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Jen Matott says…
    12/30/2011

    This year I plan to focus on working on my SELF. I need to change some bad habits, give myself time to create, and become more mindful of my inner self. In the past year, I have worried about everyone else and not given my body and health the attention it deserves. I think my word needs to be SELF>

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. PhilosYphia » Not My Word says…
    12/30/2011

    [...] recently passed this link about “one word for 2012” on to Her Highness, who wrote on her own perspective on her [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. scrappysue says…
    12/30/2011

    Ali, your word is really great and I wish you all the very best with it in 2012! My word for next year is ILLUMINATE. 2011 was a rather "dark" year for me and I just know that 2012 will be sooo much better!

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Kristine says…
    12/30/2011

    My one little word for 2012 is AUTHENTIC. My 14 year marriage ended this year and I recently learned about months of lies and deception. I am letting go of the past, of the hurts and misery and moving forward with love for myself, grace and forgiveness for my part and embracing the choices I can make on my journey. AUTHENTIC choices. My OLW for last year was TRUTH and I believe that will go hand in hand for this year as well. Thank you Ali and Happy New Year. You have a beautiful spirit. XO!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Stacia Reiger says…
    12/30/2011

    My word for this year is going to be ENJOY....Something I haven't had much time for over the last few years....To just simply ENJOY all that life has to offer. My life has been quite stressful over the last few years....Now that I've graduated from college with my BS, and I have a wondeful fiance and my life is settled, it is time to ENJOY.....

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Julie says…
    12/30/2011

    I'm coming down to the wire and I think my OLW for 2012 will be RECONNECT. I'd like to get back to some old friends (people friends, hobbies that have been cast aside, getting out in nature, etc.).

    Thanks for all the inspiration you give, Ali!

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Sallie says…
    12/30/2011

    Just found your website linked from Lisa Leonard's blog and love this concept! My word for 2012 is....abide....i am already making every effort to abide in Jesus as He abides in me, a branch not apart from the vine.

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Anita says…
    12/30/2011

    PRIDE

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Beth Smith says…
    12/30/2011

    My word is "solid".

    Safe, secure, stable, resilient, real, unbroken. Solid in parenting, in my marriage, in my life, in my job. Just a very needed word in very many aspects right now, that I will be working on.

    And, I will still be working with last year's word, which was "whole". They kind of go together, and I think the latter is something we continue to work on throughout our lives.

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. One little word for 2012 says…
    12/30/2011

    [...] people already know of Ali Edward’s One Little Word. For those that don’t, it is the idea of choosing a word for the coming year. Using it to [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Erin says…
    12/30/2011

    Embrace. Embrace the successes, failures and challenges of goals I make. Embrace the people I love. Embrace those that need some encouragement.

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Cherie says…
    12/30/2011

    My word for this year is "Balance"

    Last year my word was Choose, which helped me to accomplish many of my goals. One was starting my own Etsy shop. So far my business has been keeping me very busy (which is a good thing) but now I just need balance in my life!

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Amanda says…
    12/30/2011

    This is my third year to have a word, my word this year was CREATE and has been an amazing year culminating with expecting a new baby in the next few weeks. With the new baby coming and all the changes with expanding our family the words CHERISH and NURTURE keep popping up everywhere recently.

    There are many aspects of my life which need nurturing this coming year
    our new baby
    my daughter
    my relationship
    my friendships
    my dreams
    my memory keeping and not least myself.

    I just signed up for the OLW course as with so much transition looming the monthly prompts will help to keep NURTURE in focus.

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Amanda says…
    12/30/2011

    ENERGY - I am so lacking in this commodity - I really need to make it my focus of 2012. What a great idea the one word is - I have loved reading all the other comments and words everyone has left.

    Reply 0 Replies

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