One Little Word® 2014

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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.


AE_Thrive

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.

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938 thoughts

  1. Amy B says…
    12/30/2013

    enough.

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. Sue says…
      12/31/2013

      Me, too! Love how this word can go either way!

    2. Zaiya says…
      02/24/2014

      I much prefer inavimftroe articles like this to that high brow literature.

  2. Alison L says…
    12/30/2013

    Deliberate.

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. orange gearle says…
    12/30/2013

    Ali and Elise are the first two blogs I read each morning. I love seeing you together! :-)

    This is my third year with the class -- my word is Fearless.

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Kim U. says…
    12/30/2013

    This is my first time doing One Little Word, but I am very excited about it. Up until about a week ago I was going to choose the word "Less," but then after going through some of the old lists for OWL I found a word that encompasses what I am trying to do even better: "Curate." I want to spend this year cutting back so I can appreciate the things I have more fully.

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. Peg says…
      12/30/2013

      Ooooh, I like this one. Thanks for sharing!

    2. Doreen Guilfoyle says…
      01/01/2014

      I have been tossing around a few words including Simplify, but I LOVE your word "Curate". Beautiful way to simplify and focus on what is important. Thank you for the added inspiration.

  5. Ali Gitt says…
    12/30/2013

    Hello...I love it. So many possibilities and I plan on incorporating it into my title cards of project life each week. Can't wait. First page. Hello Everyday.

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. OLW {One Little Word} | Celebrate life! says…
    12/30/2013

    […] You may not know of Ali Edwards if you aren’t a scrapbooker. She was my inspiration to do the December Daily project.  She’s amazing and inspires me to be more than I am.  A few years ago I embraced her One Little Word philosophy and I was happy to see her blog post today about it.   Read about it here. […]

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Courtney N says…
    12/30/2013

    Two words have come to me for 2014: action and enough. Action is something I need to do more of in many ways: Being physically active, as well as acting on tasks at work and at home as opposed to procrastinating or putting off.
    Enough came to me in the last week or so. Having enough "stuff" is something I want to be more conscious of in the year ahead, and reminding myself that I am enough is something I need to do more of.
    Thanks, Ali, for sharing this concept with us and for the inspiration you provide to those of us who follow your blog.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Kathy L says…
      12/30/2013

      Courtney,
      ACTION is my word as well for all of the reasons that you mentioned and more. So inspired and excited for 2014.
      Kathy

  8. Gayl says…
    12/30/2013

    My word is FINISH -

    This marks my 6th year of doing a simple word. I read Elise Cripe's blog post today and I agree,knowing how influential my words have been in guiding me through the years. I love how they are a constant reminder, how they keep me authentic, how satisfying it is to reach year end and realize I followed my word through-out; one of the best personal exercises ever!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Sarah says…
      12/31/2013

      Finish is my word, too. This is my first time doing One Word & I'm hoping this will help me finally follow through & actually *finish* all sorts of projects I have lying around as well as finishing or at least following through on various life goals.

      I considered many words, like organize, but realized they were all more like New Year's resolution words than ones that resonated with me. Then all of a sudden I heard "Finish" & realized that overall my life is really good -- except for all the things I haven't finished. I want to get better at actually finishing the projects I care about & also learning to let go of the ones I don't. I also hope to learn to tell the difference between the two so I will be less likely to start projects I end up abandoning!

  9. Wendy says…
    12/30/2013

    Strong!

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Katrina says…
    12/30/2013

    MY 2014 OLW is Forward. I blogged about it recently - http://bit.ly/1d3b9mW

    Love this practice, Ali!

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Laura says…
    12/30/2013

    As much as I am resisting it, I think Fitness needs to be my 2014 word. :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Leah says…
    12/30/2013

    Gratitude

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Flora says…
    12/30/2013

    Live

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Tiffany says…
    12/30/2013

    My word for 2014 is BELIEVE.

    I hope for a lot of things to change for me in 2014, to make some daily struggles a little bit easier. I am choosing to BELIEVE that everything will turn around for me if I stay positive and work for it.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Marilyn says…
      12/31/2013

      This was my word in 2013. You will be amazed at how this will affect your whole life. I kept my word visible all year long. It was the screen saver on my computer, it was printed and placed in strategic locations - my wallet, on my bathroom mirror, as a bookmark, and I even set up emails that I sent to myself that I pre-programmed so that I would receive them all year long. I even received a Christmas present with my word in a frame, and this person knew nothing about OLW. I hope your experience with your word will be as rewarding for you as it was for me.
      Good luck and happy new year.

  15. ksmou says…
    12/30/2013

    Choice.

    This year for the first time in 33 years how I spend my time and days will be up to me. My choice.

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Jessica Wilson says…
    12/30/2013

    EXPLORE

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Alicia says…
    12/30/2013

    This year I've set "embrace" as my word. I plan to embrace my life, myself, my heart, everyday, moments, memories, opportunity, etc....

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Nicol says…
      12/30/2013

      That's a good one. I thought I had chosen my work but now I think I'm going to wait a bit to decide.

  18. Tinkster says…
    12/30/2013

    My word is shine. I'm going to shine this year. In so many ways. My kids are going to shine. I want my marriage to shine.

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. Carol says…
      12/31/2013

      I love this - making your marriage shine. It's beautiful. It's spoken to me, this word is on my shortlist now. Good luck and thank you for inspiring me x

    2. Chrisy@GoodNorthCoastLife says…
      12/30/2013

      Awesome word and intentions. :)

  19. Kim N says…
    12/30/2013

    simple.

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Alissa says…
    12/30/2013

    My word is prosper - it found me while I was staring at last year's list. I had several others but after reading the definition I know this was my word as it encompasses two things I want to focus on in 2014: financial stability and fitness.
    This is the first year where a word as felt very right from the beginning.

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. marynbtol says…
    12/30/2013

    Be

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. Debbie says…
      01/01/2014

      Be was a good word for me...if you need quotes or images check my Pinterest board "One Little Word:2012 Be"
      So many good things out there for "BE".... May it BE all yu hope it will BE :)

    2. pam says…
      12/30/2013

      BE is one of the words I'm considering. BE brave, BE compassionate, BE kind, BE me. The other word is FIND. I'm really struggling with finding my authentic self after years of taking care of others first. Either way I believe it will be a powerful word full of change.

  22. Tashia D says…
    12/30/2013

    This year I chose the word CHOOSE. We have so many choices in life, big and small, and I need to embrace that on a daily basis.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Heather says…
      12/30/2013

      This is the word I'm leaning toward as well. It was "choose" or "embrace" for me, but for me "choose" sounds a bit more deliberate, and I think that's how I'd like to approach the coming year.

  23. Karen L. says…
    12/30/2013

    I have the word "Focus". This past year I seem to have just "flitted" around and feel like I have not accomplished very much. So this year I am focusing on my health(diet and exercise), finishing scrapbooks for my grandkids(5 not done), organizing my house and most importantly focusing on my relationship with God. It's going to be a busy year but one I look forward too.

    Reply 4 Replies
    1. Dionne says…
      12/30/2013

      This is my second year doing OLW and I also chose FOCUS for my 2014 OLW. Many of my reasons are similar to yours. There was a definite feeling of not doing all I could and being easily distracted. I'm looking forward to the journey this year and all that may come with FOCUS.

    2. Rachel says…
      12/31/2013

      I've chosen focus as my word too. With a new baby and a whole new array of things to do I felt as if my brain was all over the place 2013. Focus is what I want to do this year.

    3. Gabrielle says…
      01/02/2014

      This is the exact word I need & for all the same reasons. This time next year I want to feel I have achieved things & for that to happen I actually need to focus on lots of different aspects. Thank you :-)

    4. Melissa says…
      12/31/2013

      This is me -- exactly! I've been thinking about my OLW for the past several weeks and just couldn't put my finger on what it would be...Seek, Legacy, Learn, Grow, Minister, Move, Pray.... I so badly want to get my priorities back in order instead of like you said, "flitting about"! :) And yet, I still couldn't decide on a word. I've spent the morning contemplating what I wanted 2014 to look like. I want to move more and eat less, give more and spend less, take more time with my family & friends, ministering to them -- rather than worrying about things that are not in my control. And I want to do more scrapbooking -- and actually FINISH what I start! :) More than anything else, I want to trust God completely and make Him the center of everything I do. Funny thing, as I was journaling & researching, I received an invitation from a facebook friend this morning to an Online Bible Study entitled: Focused. And that was my lightbulb moment. Focused is my OLW for 2014.

  24. Carrie says…
    12/30/2013

    Shape.

    "This is your world. Shape it or someone else will."

    2014 will be a year of actively shaping my life into what I want it to be -- professionally, relationally, physically, emotionally.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Peg says…
      12/30/2013

      Carrie,
      This is a good one, I just got a glimpse of lots of ways it could apply to the things I'm thinking about. Thanks for sharing!

  25. Mel says…
    12/30/2013

    Listen.

    This is my first year joining in. In past years I have pondered choosing a word but it never felt right. This year I was reading Karen Grunberg's blog a few weeks ago and noticed that she had updated her 'word' to the 2014 one. Her word is listen and something just clicked with me too when I read her word.

    Listen picked me and I just knew I was going to undertake this year long journey.

    Thanks Ali and Elise. Love you both for constantly inspiring me.

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. karen says…
      12/30/2013

      here i was checking if anyone else picked listen!! :)

      Listen spoke to me midway through 2013 and would not let go. Even though other words came to me, too, listen was always the strongest.

      I like that listening can happen on many levels and they all require me to be present and pay attention:
      Listen to myself: My body, my soul, my heart, my brain/thoughts, and my gut
      Listen to others: be open, stop and hear as opposed to preparing a reply, choosing to receive
      Listen to the universe: Pay attention and see the signs, listen to messages, listen to what the universe is whispering, the sounds of nature

      here's to a year of listening :)

    2. Ang says…
      12/30/2013

      LISTEN was my 2013 OLW. Great word, good luck with it in 2014!

      I wasn't thinking about a word for 2014 until I saw Elise's post and BREATHE was the first thing that came to mind. It just popped into my head as soon as I saw her blog post title. It feels right so I'm not going to over-think it.

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