One Little Word 2013

One Little Word necklace from Lisa Leonard.

My word for 2013 is open.

Last year I had a great story about how my word came to me. This year it was more of a whisper and to be honest I'm not really sure what it means for me right now, or what it will end up meaning for me 12-months from now. And I'm okay with that.

Open is an attitude and an approach. It's a reminder to live wholeheartedly, to enter the ring, to live the length and the width. It's how I want to tackle this year.

I love that open is an action & a re-action. I can act with an open heart; I can re-act with an open heart.

I want to be open to it all - the amazing and the challenging. Wide open.

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 2013. 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.

If you’re new to the concept of One Little Word, you can read some of my previous posts here: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

One Little Word necklace from Liz Lamoreux. Use ONELITTLEWORD and receive 15% off through Jan 31.

ONE LITTLE WORD WORKSHOP

Registration is open for 2013 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, 2013.

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916 thoughts

  1. Steph H. says…
    12/31/2012

    My word for 2013 is "Change". There are a lot of things I would like to change. Whether it is habits or attitude to changing the paint color on my walls, I think 2013 is the year of change for me.

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. CAROL ALBERS says…
    12/31/2012

    SIMPLIFY!

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Kristyn says…
    12/31/2012

    My OLW for 2013 is "enough." Thanks for posting your new necklace. Just ordered one for myself. Happy New Year Ali!

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Angie says…
    12/31/2012

    my word is light- it just keeps coming to me, so that' s what it will be.

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Molly Eleen says…
    12/31/2012

    My word is Improve. There are many things I can improve on, and looking forward to finally doing them

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Cathy S says…
    12/31/2012

    COMMIT

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Marygail says…
    12/31/2012

    I found mine earlier today

    fe·lic·i·ty

    /fəˈlisitē/
    Noun
    1. Intense happiness.
    2. The ability to find appropriate expression for one's thoughts.

    We've had a full year of changes, and will have another year of challenges. But I aim to have felicity through it all.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Emily says…
      12/31/2012

      I absolutely love this! Hope your journey is amazing!

  8. Marlo says…
    12/31/2012

    My one word is "CLARITY". "The best way to succeed is to have a specific Intent, a clear Vision, a plan of Action, and the ability to maintain Clarity. Those are the Four Pillars of Success. It never fails!" -Steve Maraboli~
    I really need clarity in my life and Awareness! But clarity is the word I have chosen.

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Life Art Journals With all of us says…
    12/31/2012

    [...] we go, I would like to check if you have thought of a “little word” for the year. My word of 2012 was Embrace, this year of 2013 its Calm. What’s [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Brandy says…
    12/31/2012

    This is my first time to participtate in OLW. I've given this word a lot of thought and I have thought about changing it on several occasions; trying to make it more appealing. My word is REVOLUTION (a sudden, complete or marked change in something). I am taking back my life. I am a mother of 17 month old twins and life has been chaotic for 2 years--I'm taking control (or at least attempting to). I need to get healthy again, my house needs to be a well oiled working machine and my kids need the structure.

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Erin S. says…
    01/01/2013

    My word this year is MINDFUL

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Theresa Merkling says…
    01/01/2013

    been wracking my brain trying to come up with the "right" word for me for this year... last year was nurture, and I feel like I did actually use it as a touchpoint. Think this year I'll try ORIENT - both for my upcoming visit to Japan in March, but even more for the compass imagery. My baby is graduating high school this summer and my brain is swirling with thoughts as I sort out all that I am and have and come up with a vision for my future direction. Some goals can't be rushed, so making this my 2013 focus might actually be helpful in some way.

    Best wishes to you all as you go about envisioning and developing your focus for the new year!

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Happy New Year — “Surrender” my little word this year « This is my beautiful life…. says…
    01/01/2013

    [...] the last few years I have been inspired by Ali Edwards to choose one little word at the beginning of the year to be a focus for the year. Rather than a [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. And a Purposeful New Year! « beautiful objects says…
    01/01/2013

    [...] you don’t know about One Little Word? OK, go check it out. It’s [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Chrissy says…
    01/01/2013

    Free is my word! I choose to be free to take care of me, free to spend time creating, free of drama & those that create it.

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. deb says…
    01/01/2013

    My word for 2013 is ME.

    Sounds selfish but 2012 was a stressful year for me - planning and executing a contentious family reunion; a forest fire that burn down 350 homes in Colorado Springs (I had to evacuate); and then a 4 month basement finish/remodel. I didn't get to do the things that I find relaxing and enjoyable. I want to concentrate on finding myself again - exploring my joys, expanding my horizons in photography; continue my journey of getting healthy/fit; and enjoying my new craft room in my newly finished basement.

    2013 will be the year of "DEB"!

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Katherine says…
    01/01/2013

    My word is grace. It represents how I want to live my life no matter what the circumstances are.

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Susan says…
    01/01/2013

    I wasn't going to do this. As I read through the comments and the words, I realized I had already done it. In my resolution for next year, I decided on a particular thing that I'm not going to do any longer. The word release went with that, but release doesn't say it exactly, and can mean other things. So my word is LET GO. Let go of the hurt, let go of the pain, let go of the grief, let go of the need to do it all. Just let go.

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Emma says…
    01/01/2013

    I stumbled across the concept of OLW on twitter and have been pondering for a little while whether or not I could manage to live by a word for a year. And that is when it came to me: I spend too much time thinking about the yet ahead and what the future holds. What matters isn't whether I can keep this up for a year, but whether I want to give it a shot right NOW.

    So, my word is: NOW. I think it's goig to be about living in the moment and not fretting so much about what's comin up next. I think my word is going to be good for me!

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Laura says…
    01/01/2013

    DARE.

    To dream bigger
    To get fit.
    To worker harder.
    To make better food choices

    To be successful in every endeavor and to get back up when failure happens.

    DARE. My olw for 2013.
    ~Laura

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. One Little Word 2013 | The Words | Ali Edwards says…
    01/01/2013

    [...] Thank you so much for sharing your words in the comments of my first 2013 One Little Word post. [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Judith says…
    01/01/2013

    This year I am thinking rhythm is my word. I need to find my rhythm in my day, in my week, in my life. It is like routine but more of a driver, more fundamental. I need rhythm to my health, my work, my friends, myself, my scrapping. Cos the rhythm of life is a powerful beat!

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Stephanie says…
    01/01/2013

    My word for 2013: true. It came to me last night just before midnight.

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Shelley says…
    01/01/2013

    Confident and engaged...

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Mandee J says…
    01/01/2013

    My one little word for 2013 is release. I'm ready to release a lot to make room for amazing things this year!

    Reply 0 Replies

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