One Little Word® 2014
Make your word visible: Order your own word from recycled matericals created by artist Colleen Attara here.
My One Little Word for 2014 is thrive.
This year, more than any other I can remember, I'm starting off the year with questions. What does it mean for me to thrive? What does it look like? What does it fee like? Are there areas in which I'm already thriving? What's realistic vs. visions of what I have in my head of what it means to thrive?
Open was an awesome word for me last year. It was a touchstone as I navigated my way through growing pains and man oh man did it work in a million different ways I could not have imagined when I started 2013. More often than not when faced with a decision, I chose to open more rather than closing off which was my number one intention last year. That said, I feel like I've been spinning in circles a lot this past year. I've been reacting vs. being proactive and have been dealing with a variety of issues related to stress and growth (totally all part of my own life journey).
To me thriving is optimal living. It's being present and awake and stepping up to be my best self physically, emotionally, spiritually, creatively and within my relationships.
It's not a quest for perfection. It's an opportunity to continue choosing to let go of things outside of my control and to figure out who that best-me-right-now really is.
It will be a whole new journey and I'm here to tell you I welcome it wholeheartedly.
Bring on 2014.
This year I invited my friend Elise Blaha Cripe to film a little video about her experience with One Little Word. One of the reasons I admire Elise is that she is awesome at follow-through and documentation. I've loved reading about her experience with her words over the last few years on her blog and she inspires me consistently with her projects and her real-life reflections.
Here's Elise in her own words:
Thank you Elise for sharing about your own journey here.
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.
SHARE YOUR WORD THE COMMENTS | I’d love to read what word you’ve chosen or are considering for 2014. 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, 2012 and 2013.
ONE LITTLE WORD® 2014 | To help keep your One Little Word® more visible throughout the year I offer a year-long workshop featuring one prompt per month. Read all the details and sign up here. Registration is $5 off until December 31.
resolve
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FIERCE. Not in an angry sense, but in the sense of being able to take on things that frighten or overwhelm me, of tenacity, of loving and protecting and nurturing with all my heart.
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"Discipline".
My word frightens me. I don't like it. I hope to be able to grow to like it. I need to get out of "comfortable".
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HEALTH
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MIRACLES. I like the way Gabrielle Bernstein uses this word - each time you choose to perceive a situation from a place of love instead of a place of fear is a miracle. Miracles come through small shifts in thinking. That's what I'm going to work on in 2014.
By the way, I've read your blog for years. I do Project Life because of you and I am taking part in OLW for the first time this year. I have never left a comment on anyone's blog before, but I'm embracing the OLW community this year! Thanks for all you do for your readers.
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PROGRESS - This is my 1st time doing OLW and I want to make progress in quite a few areas of my life. I thought this would be a great way to document everything and a great way to keep me motivated!!
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Kind
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Finally settled on my word- Enjoy!
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My word for this 2014 is Trust. Being two years out of college, newly married, and just starting my career I think that I will need to learn how to Trust myself more this year.
I posted about it today, http://houslovedogblog.blogspot.com/2013/12/one-little-word-trust.html.
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"Stop"...I think is my word for this year...as in "stop wasting time", "stop procrastinating", Stop putting myself last". I'm afraid that "stop" is negative and have been trying to look for a more positive sounding word but I keep coing back to "stop"...maybe I should stop looking and go with it?
I had the same concern with fierce. But it's YOUR one little word and if it helps you change and gives you pause when it should then go for it!!!
Your word caught my eye. I had this word one year because I wanted to "stop" and think more, "stop" and breathe more...it can be very positive. Go with it!
Thanks! I hadn't thought of it that way...I appreciate the comment.
What about pause? Pause may sound less negative and might indicate a temporary stop. Just an idea.
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My word for this year is Live. I like to consider not just existing or surviving for the purpose of being alive, but also to live each day with intention and purpose. I also like the idea of Live being used as an adjective as well, like a live telecast for example, and that reminds me to choose to be present and in the moment and aware.
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Coraggioso. (courage).
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My word is "heart."
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My word is "and".
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I've participated in your One Little Word since 2008 and it has become an important part of my inspiration toolbox. I love that my husband and kids do it also. You might enjoy knowing that Alex chose "Unwind" as his word. Love that!
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Thrive!
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Begin
This year I want to begin the projects that I've got sitting in my craft room. I want to begin my new life (I'm moving from Nevada to New Hampshire). I want to begin to love myself for who I am now, instead of always saying 'next year'.
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Graduating from Art school this summer and enrolling Ryan into a special needs high school... sigh... their is so much light, love, and happiness to look forward to but no one particular thing going on in my crazy life.
Last years word was sense and it really spoke to me and encouraged me to grow and experience my life fully.
This year for 2014 my word is
KALEIDOSCOPIC
i look forward to the prismatic experiences I am to encounter
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FOCUS...on what is really important, on the positive, on my family, on my marriage & on my photography skills.
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My word is "newness" and I commit to enacting and embracing "newness in the old and newness in the bold!" God bless you Ali and your sweet family. I thank you for being an honest and creative inspiration and a pure force for good in the world. Happy New Year! XO
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GRACE
I have never participated in this before, and for the last several weeks have been pondering it. Then, someone posted a link to something similar on my FB. 2013 was a very rough year for me--a lot of negativity, whining, complaining, crying, yelling at my husband and kids who are only 5 and 4...yeah, it was a bad year. I had lost faith in God and it took God taking two very capable vehicles away from us a month apart (literally) for Him to get me to come back to His light. I am far from a perfect Christian, but I know his Grace covers me--and the latter half of 2013 from September on hasn't been easy or perfect, but it was much better when I realized that if I wanted our situation and MY situation to change, I had to be the one to change. And it started by getting back into a Church and re-visiting Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life in a small group!
Sadly, I still overreact, and I yell, and I DON"T like it at all. I find myself apologizing to my kids a lot. And I don't want them to remember a Mommy who was constantly apologizing, I want them to remember a Mommy who LOVED them and let them LIVE and LEARN and Make mistakes and just learn to let it go! The one thing God/Jesus so freely gives me when I mess up is the one thing I struggle with giving the most.
So, my word and journey for 2014 is GRACE and I am actually looking forward to working on myself.
I am planning on making some type of scrapbook/journal of this journey and my title is going to be: A New Year, A New Me: A Journey Through Grace.
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Strength - this past year was one of the worst in my life. After 6 years of infertility and many IVF treatments I was able to get pregnant, but then it became ectopic. I was able to have one more IVF treatment that did not work. This coming year I will need the strength to cope with never being able to have my own child while many friends and family are set to give birth to theirs. Strength to handle what life gives me next- adoption hopefully. Strength as in my body, getting fit; my mind, getting into the right place. Strength as in my friendships and relationships; making them stronger. Strength is my word and it's what I need.
<<>> I know I am a complete stranger, and I don't know your entire story, but I think you have chosen a great word for yourself. I was told when I was 20 when I was diagnosed with PCOS that I would never get pregnant and if I did, none of them would be viable. And I'm not saying this to rub it in, and I feel so amazed and grateful that we were able to have 2 healthy children, but I just wanted you to know that there are people out there who may not understand your personal story, but are there to be there for you if you need it. I pray that you have a close support system. I realize that sometimes, those around us who have never struggled will never know the pain and suffering. And I think it takes a very strong woman to admit that she has infertility problems and is brave and strong enough to share her story in hopes of helping others understand their feelings and can empathize. I truly pray that this next year will be one of amazing strength for you!
Well, my previous comment said, hugs to you, but it deleted the word hugs. Sorry for that.
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My word for 2014 is Shine!
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Nurture...I am becoming a mom for the first time in 2014 and feel the word is fitting. However, I also need to nurture myself, my soul, my health and my relationships so it's an overall good word for me in 2014.
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My word is STRENGTHEN.
I hope to strengthen my mind and body. My faith. My relationships. My skills.
I love this word because it is so positive.
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