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. Keri says…
    01/02/2012

    My word for the year is CHANGE. We need change in our family. I am praying about how to make these changes and all these changes will be beneficial to everyone. We are in a funk and need CHANGE!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Debbie W says…
    01/02/2012

    The past four years have been Me,Balance,Reduce,Create Joy. They have been good years. My word for this year is TIME - as in 'take time', 'make time', 'it's time to...', 'be cognizant of time', 'don't waste time'. I've spent a lot of that time just sitting in front of the computer this past year, with so much that needs to be done not happening. I'm not so much worried about doing more, just that I need to make a decision to do or not do, not just let it happen. I want to do the Important stuff, not just the Urgent stuff. I want to choose how I spend my time, then follow through on my plans and choices.

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. stephanie says…
    01/02/2012

    the word that chose me is "embrace." in a few weeks my husband will be leaving for a year deployment. i have never been alone that long with our two sons, who are 4 and 1. i feel like the word embrace will remind me that i can not control all the things that will happen in the coming year and it will also remind me that i shouldn't want to control it all. my boys will only be this age once and i should embrace everyday for both its ups and downs.

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. sue says…
    01/02/2012

    My word for 2012 is FAITH. I feel I need to strengthen by personal faith and that we need to have faith for our country, our soldiers and our fellow man.

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Amy Nabors says…
    01/02/2012

    Sufficient.

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Molly Jane says…
    01/02/2012

    My word is Masterpiece.

    Defined: The artist's best work. I'd like this year to do my best work. Emotionally, spiritually, physically and financially.

    Thank you for the opportunity to participate in the process. I loved my word last year and hope to gain as much this year in the process too.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ruth says…
      01/06/2012

      I love this word! What a great choice.

  7. sarah says…
    01/02/2012

    My word this year is spirit. 2011 was a very hard year for me. I was very sick during my (first) pregnancy, which ended in May, and that was followed by 3 months in the NICU with my very, very sick, and premature son. Anyway, I lost my spirit. There is just a dullness when you look at me. I want some life back, to rediscover my inner spirit, to get "me" back.

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. One Little Word 2012 | Life Refocused says…
    01/02/2012

    [...] 2012. That’s what I’ve been reflecting on for the past few weeks…what will be my one little word for this brand new year? Last year marked the first time I ever chose a word as a theme for myself [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Becky Jeffries says…
    01/02/2012

    My word this year is Home. I want our house to have more of a feeling of home.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Erin says…
    01/02/2012

    My word for 2012 is "steady." This is my first year to do this, but with my college graduation, my wedding, a move and a new career approaching, along with several goals to accomplish, I want to move steadily forward without exhausting myself. I want to steadily improve and steadily love, and be steady in my emotions through all of these exciting changes.

    Thanks to everyone for all of the inspiration!

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Lyn says…
    01/02/2012

    You have captured my word already, but I think my post never went through... It's RENEW.

    Ali, you continue to be a huge inspiration! All the best to you in 2012!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Word of the Year – Reach « This is the Thing says…
    01/02/2012

    [...] I wrote down on my list.  So it looks like "reach" will be my Word of the Year. (see this Ali Edwards post for more information about how I got this [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. my day in one word (x366) | Joy All Around says…
    01/02/2012

    [...] — a word chosen at the beginning of the year that sets the tone for the months to come.  She explains it best and I hope you sign up for her One Little Word class because I’m sure it [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Emily Cook says…
    01/02/2012

    My word is "Receive."

    All other commitments are fragile- I do not know what the year will bring. But I know whatever it brings, God will give and provide what I need. So I will receive.

    I wrote about it here: http://www.weakandloved.com/2011/12/new-years-eve.html

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. My Three Words for 2012 | Passing Thru says…
    01/02/2012

    [...] he shares the choices of others in his community who follow along. Other bloggers that I read, like Ali Edwards, are devotees of “One Little Word.” Ali explains the value this process has for [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. One Little Word: Gratitude | The Climbing Tree says…
    01/03/2012

    [...] cousin, Suzie, just shared the One Little Word that she’s living by this year, and it made me think that gratitude would be the perfect word [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Amy says…
    01/03/2012

    My word is "remain" from Jesus' words in John 15:9, "I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love." I wrote about it yesterday (before I knew of your One Little Word thing), but I thought I'd share anyways! http://www.amuslovesbutch.com/2012/01/come-thou-fount.html

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Annie~Savor This Moment says…
    01/03/2012

    My word for 2012 is THRIVE. I love the positive sound of it! I've written a little about it on my blog:

    http://savorthismoment.blogspot.com/2012/01/one-little-word-for-2012.html

    Thanks so much for your wonderful posts, ideas, and inspiration, Ali, and I hope your 2012 is a great year!

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Move – 2012 says…
    01/03/2012

    [...] might call it my One Little Word, or my resolution or whatever. For me, it’s just going to be my [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. maribel cisneros says…
    01/03/2012

    my word is SIMPLICITY i just want to live a more enjoyable and simple life....

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. ARC says…
    01/03/2012

    Thanks for starting this! You sure inspired a lot of people to comment! I just blogged about my word today - it's REDUCE. Covers stuff, schedule and weight ;)

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Elizabeth Harper says…
    01/03/2012
    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Joyce says…
    01/03/2012

    Although I'm still deciding what word to use, at this time I'm thinking of "commit". So many creative ideas to choose from, maybe to "commit" would be to accomplish more. Last year I chose "focus" and it was truly awesome.

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Deena says…
    01/03/2012

    Savor. With the hustle and bustle of everyday life, I want to remember to savor the little moments.

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Molly Phillips says…
    01/03/2012

    Hi Ali- I just wanted to share a lesson I did with my 4th graders pertaining to 'one little word'
    http://www.classroomconfections.com/2012/01/one-little-word.html

    Molly :-)

    Reply 0 Replies

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