One Little Word® | Choosing A Word From A Place Of Love

This year's workshop has been AMAZING! Thank you for always keeping things fresh and thought provoking.

Wow. I need more of this in my life!! Where's the podcast that is this kind of conversation everytime?? This was really helpful and has given me loads to think about.

Thanks for sharing this awesome conversation. This is the first year I have taken the workshop and really lived with my word. I have loved getting to know so many awesome women who guided us and inspired us. I just turned 69 years old (!!!) and I do have health challenges. My word for 2021 is SURVIVE. I really thought it would be all about me, but then January 6 happened along with too many shootings & racism & climate change & our democracy itself struggling to survive. It has been a powerful word for me to live with & explore. I'm really looking forward to a new year of workshops and exploration opportunities, with or without new products. It's all about the experience. Thank you.

This very well maybe the longest "comment" I've ever left anywhere. You both gave me so, so many thoughts I want to share!!! This is exactly what I needed to hear. So beautiful. I love you both for your honesty and thoughtfulness. For the first time since I started having a word for the year, I am having a little bit of trouble settling. My first year I chose PEACE, because after the previous year, I knew that's what I needed the most. The next year, I knew was going to be tough on a lot of levels (and boy was it X1000) and if I was going to look back at it with any sort of joy, I would need to take JOY by the hand. The next year I chose CONNECT...it came out of nowhere. That year was 2020. I quickly came to realize that if my relationships were going to survive, I was going to have to be very intentional and active in making and maintaining connections. This past year the word SPARKLE found me ...and I went with it despite some doubts that it was a bit "light" (see what I did there, ha!) ...and yet it gave and gave all year long. After 2 years of literal, global uncertainty, I have no idea what 2022 will bring...and no word has arrived unbidden and mysterious in its possibilities. So, I've been looking for a word (momentum? swimming? action?) ...and I have not been able to settle. At the same time, it's never taken this long before. Patience is not one of my virtues...and while I always need it, that word does not sit well with me as something I want to hold hands with for 12 months, or that could remind me of who I am. I'm very, very drawn to the word MAGIC...it is just that from a psychological standpoint, I do not want to give myself permission to give into "magical thinking." At the same time, I love being a "Magic Maker." I love the concept of "Deep Magics." I borrow that phrase from C.S. Lewis and The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. What I take from it, as an adult, is this: our choices, our willingness to give second chances, the faith we put into ourselves and others, our love for others, our actions, our sacrifices are all playing into the deeper turnings of the universe; AND even amid tragedy and our personal grief, we need not despair. The bigger outcomes are surprising. Our actions matter. Even the smallest mouse can chew through the ropes and set the lion free...I know I'm being a bit free with those images and working from memory, as it's been a few years since I've read the book or even saw the film, but perhaps that's okay...and maybe I've talked myself around to MAGIC, since for much of this year I thought that would be my next word, in consideration of how often it came up in 2021. I welcome any thoughts. Can I (could you) choose magic without inviting in the "I wishes..." and the "let's just all think about rainbows and unicorns?" or expecting "thoughts and prayers" to be doing "enough" in times of need? (Though, I do love a good wishing well, rainbow and unicorn story:-) I *think* I can. I would hope that after all these years that I could keep it balanced, especially since I actually skew dark/realistic/practical. One of my favorite films is Practical Magic...not all magic is fairy tales and instant problem solving -- HP taught us that, didn't it? Much like prayer, magic is in fact the active connection of clarity + energy + intention + words + practice/repetition + heart & soul.

Lastly, I would like to say, I think we need to embroider a quote from Ali from this recording on a pillow:
* We are word people.
* We believe in the power of words.
* Words have the power to heal and to hurt.
and I would add (paraphrasing much of the rest of their conversation *so choose yours curiously, carefully, gently, and with love.

If anyone made it this far, thanks for reading. I appreciate it.

Loved listening to your recording. So much Love there. It felt like a virtual hug!

Thank you so much Ali and Liz for sharing your conversation with us! Loved every bit of it! I love your thoughtful approaches to choosing your word (or letting your word choose you).

2021 has been one of the hardest years for me filled with loss but I knew it would be way back in late 2020 when I chose my word - JOY. Of course that's why joy spoke to me so much. I knew I'd have to be purposeful in finding joy in 2021. I'm happy to report that this has been my most successful year with having a guiding word. I've felt my word leading me all year. This project and my word have helped me find joy in moments I otherwise couldn't have imagined finding joy in.

I'm sad to say goodbye to my word but can't wait to see what word bubbles up for 2022. I have one that's started to nudge me but I'm letting it percolate and making sure another word doesn't speak more to me. Thank you both (and all the other instructors) for being such amazing teachers this year. I've loved having all the different voices and perspectives.

Can someone please lease tell me where is the audio file or video? When I click the link I get jibberish. I am looking forward to listening 😊

Hey Ali! My iPhone.

I really appreciate how hard you worked to share what you know. This really is a great thing to share https://iogamesfree.io

So excited for another year of OLW. I love all the ladies on this team, you all are so inspiring. Would it be possible to get the word art as a download? Choosing a word from a place of love. Thank you!