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. Madi says…
    01/01/2013

    I have been trying to decide all week what I want my 2013 OLW to be... I wrote out a list of words that spoke to me, and then eliminated until I got down to just a few. Commit, Choose, and Light. But the little voice in the back of my head kept telling me to use try this year. I fought it and fought it and while I was on pinterest I found the quote " Don't be afraid to fail, be afraid not to try." It was exactly what I needed, and exactly how I want to spend 2013...not being afraid to do anything, and to give everything a try! :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Megan Belcher says…
    01/01/2013

    My one little word is Determined. I often find myself being so frustrated in little thing that I am not able to accomplish my goals. This year, I want to be determined in all I do, to conquer whatever challenge is put in front of me without giving up.

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. jump « she climbed until she saw says…
    01/01/2013

    [...] way to get a hold on 2013 is to follow in the steps of many bloggers who I admire, bloggers like, Ali and Elise , who the past few years have picked one word to focus on throughout the year. These [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Many True Things and One Wish « A Thousand Shades of Gray says…
    01/01/2013

    [...] a word for 2013. This originates (for me anyway) with Ali Edwards and Susannah Conway. Last year I selected Retreat, and this year it’s [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Nina C. says…
    01/01/2013

    My word for the year is "Be". It's to Be in this moment, Be more loving, Be more patient, Be happy, Be me. It's just Be.

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. 31 Days of Improving by “Do”-ing? | says…
    01/01/2013

    [...] I need to work on. Nicole, also suggested we choose a word to focus on, an idea she got from Ali Edwards, “One Little Word” blog post. The premise - choose a single word to focus on, mediate on, and reflect upon as you go [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Jodi says…
    01/01/2013

    I first heard of OLW through Lisa Leonard Designs, but didn't choose one last year. I've intended for months that my word for 2013 would be Discipline, but as 2013 arrived I realized that wasn't my word afterall. I need something deeper, stronger, more passionate and more powerful. Before I can discipline myself to do something, I have to BELIEVE. Believe in myself. Believe I'm capable. Believe I'm worthy. My first reaction was that it's so cliche. But as I've read through the other responses here, it's continued to whisper in my ear. "Believe. Let go and just believe!"

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. New Year, New You! | says…
    01/01/2013

    [...] am also going to be choosing a word for the year. I got the inspiration from this post  and I have been making lists for the past week of all that I want out of this year. I came up with [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Larissa says…
    01/01/2013

    I am sure someone else has chosen my word as well but it is NEW. I had chosen Change but after writing my thoughts down about the word it really wasn't change at all. We will be leaving our small town this year for another. I have lot of things I will be starting. I want to start a healthy life style. Everything I wrote down speaks about NEW.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Katie Adams says…
    01/01/2013

    my word is beautiful. it's not something I would have naturally chosen but as I prayed it came to me. it's what I believe God wants me to more fully acknowledge in my day to day life, to seek hard after, and to create in a wild variety of ways. beautiful.

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Catherine says…
    01/01/2013

    I word for 2013 is FOCUS. I just finished a year of ADVENTURE, which brought a number of changes, and now it is time to really focus on them and make them happen.

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Terri says…
    01/01/2013

    My word for this year - "lighten". Last year it was pause, and a big failure. Working hard for this year.

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Suzanne says…
    01/01/2013

    My OLW is BEGIN. I was working on my list and NEW came up as well as transform, art, change, shed, declutter, open, forward, woman, start. And so I chose a word, but, it didn't feel right. I decided to doodle and draw in my journal, my brand new journal because I had written my last post in my old one on December 31. In my new journal, the very first word I had written was BEGIN. The quote that floated to me and I wrote on the cover, 'What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.' T.S. Eliot. After doodling and writing about my word for the year, I looked back at the beginning ofmy journal and the word dawned on me like a thunderdolt - BEGIN. It's everywhere. I am so happy I found the word for the year. I can hardly wait to begin.

    This is what I posted on my site :
    Why begin? Because I've been stuck. Stuck between doing things, moving on, letting go, starting again. Stuck between momentum of a movement and the defeat. Stuck because I haven't seen any fruit for 2 years of effort. Stuck because I want to do more, but, can't because I am already slipping from being able to help at all. Stuck between helping those whom need help as they move on, so they can move on and needing to move on myself.

    So, my word for the year is begin. Begin anew, fresh, just do, just begin. Every journey, every dream, every goal begins with the first step and then the next, but one must begin to progress. My word for 2012, in hindsight because I hadn't chosn a word, was stuck. My word for 2013, in foresight, is begin. Imagine the possibilities.

    Here's to all of you for a great new year - let's begin :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. JP says…
    01/01/2013

    Simplify

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. happy 2013. | 1 + 1 = 4 says…
    01/01/2013

    [...] and I did pick one little word this year.  I’m taking the one little word challenge. [...]

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

    Open was my word a few years ago and it served me well! This year my word is BIG! Happy 2013!

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Patricia says…
    01/02/2013

    Over the past years I have experienced many words, ponder, cherish, love, story, sacrifice (this taught me about cares of others), monkeys (the ones you carry on your shoulders) and last year change. The words always find me and this year my word is "delight". This should be an interesting year!

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Kathy says…
    01/02/2013

    I know what I want, but I don't have the right word for it. I want to let things go that get the best of me. I want to be able to not sweat the small stuff ~ to pick my battles, as everything can't be a battle. The words I am contemplating are FREE, CALM, & SILENT, but just not sure if any of those are the right word for what I am looking for in 2013

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. {Hello, 2013.} says…
    01/02/2013

    [...] The year 2012 has passed — it’s time to say hello to 2013. In celebration of the New Year I thought it would be so fun to take a couple of minutes to say thank you to the top 5 blogs that sent traffic to Gussy Sews, to share the top 5 blog posts published here, and of course: my word for 2013. [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Suzanne Trites says…
    01/02/2013

    I asked the Lord to show me His ‘word’ for me for 2013 and I believe He gave it to me this morning. It is ‘spring’!

    My goal throughout 2013 is, as I spend time with God, I can become a wonderful ‘spring’. Then I can be fresh, fruitful and useful to others. May I find the hardest places of my life’s experience in 2013 God’s greatest opportunities and faith’s mightiest challenges!

    I will press on toward this goal with the highest determination for myself and others!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. One Little Word | 2013 | Free | sunnysideup says…
    01/02/2013

    [...] started picking one word for the year when I read about one little word on Ali’s blog a couple year’s [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. {one little word 2013: focus} | {bliss} says…
    01/02/2013

    [...] chose “Focus” for my One Little Word for 2013, and will be trying to be mindful to focus on the things that really deserve my attention in the [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Riah says…
    01/02/2013

    My word is passion. :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Jen says…
    01/02/2013

    My OLW for 2013 is aspire. I can't wait to see what it will bring and I plan to take your class this year!

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Gretchen says…
    01/02/2013

    My word for 2013 is ASPIRE, it took me several weeks to come upon it, and I just posted a blog about why I chose it. Love your word too!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Jen M says…
      01/20/2013

      Can't wait to see how ASPIRE will shape us this year. You have a nice blog. I hope to do more with mine in 2013

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