an end + a beginning + my word

My word is Grace and I'm also doing a pic a day, I've joined a Flickr Group (Big step for me..ha) http://www.flickr.com/groups/2008ayearinpictures/

My word is BELIEVE!
Believe in the posibilities.

This year my word is going to be ENJOY. This will be an eventful year.. I'll be finished with school (finally!!) and beginning my career. And if I'm lucky, buying a house. I just want to remember to ENJOY it all and not get stressed.
Thank you for the inspiration Ali. My word for last year was YES and it followed me throughout the entire year. I changed so much for the better. So thanks.
Leah

Wow! Lots of posts.
I love the theme word idea, and as I was thinking about it, the word PERSPECTIVE came to me (along with a couple others, I see!).
I'm in my early-20s, so for me, perspective means developing my own outlook on life and ways to communicate that. Simultaneously, it means keeping my work and the events around me in perspective because I'm very Type A and can get caught up in little stuff that ultimately isn't that important.
I'm also doing the photo-a-day thing this year and am encouraging another friend to try it who is big into theme months. (This month is "100 Things" [to get rid of in January]," and next is "Frugal February" where you buy only necessities instead of all the extra splurges.)

It's time for my little word... this is perfect timing in my life for some changes... my daughter just moved clear across the states and now it's time for me to regain myself - after 20 years of being mom (I know I'll still be mom, forever)... but it seems I forgot to take some time for me during that half of my life... so, I've been soul searching for the last few months and thinking of resolutions and what I wanted to focus on and change and how I wanted to spoil myself - so that I wouldn't focus so much on missing my baby girl... so when I found this concept of yours on several blogs - I decided it's just what I needed most in my life this year... I'm anxious to be the artist on the outside that I am on the inside - so I thought my word was going to be "create" but, then I thought of several other things that I'm working on changing and spending time doing... and my little word for the year finally came to me: COURAGE... that's my little word - because I want to create, inspire, encourage, be happy, have fun, enjoy, recover, and many other things that I want to change and focus on in my life this coming year - but without COURAGE, none of those would be possible... so I'm excited about this coming year... and having the COURAGE to LIVE it full!

My word this year is Create. Kinda boring but it is my year to create a new business opportunity, create a new body, create at least 52 layouts, create wonderful family memories. Create is the word for me this year.
Have to say that i love this choosing a word for the year, last year my "home" word really worked and unlike years when my resolutions were broken within days, this word concept allowed me to apply it to more aspects of my life making it seem more manageable and workable into day to day life. it gives you something to centre your life on, love this concept, thanks so much Ali!

Dear Ali
I have spent days thinking about what my word might be and how I might apply it in my mind and life. And I kept coming back to the same thought, that somehow I would like to integrate my word into my final year of studies.
So my word for 2008 is COLOUR.
I am obsessed with colour and have always wanted to have a website or something where I could write about colours, their history and meanings, and how they are relevant in my world and the bigger world out there.
Today, I started doing just that.
http://kassjane.typepad.com/thecolourblog/
I hope you might check it out from time to time :)
Kass

Hi Ali, sending Happy New Year wishes to you and your family over from sunny Dubai!
My word for this year is FOCUS, which was inspired by a mug the DH bought me for Christmas that says "Photographers always keep things in focus". It occured to me that I don't do this at all (camera or otherwise, LOL!). I am constantly all over the place, never finish anything, obsess, spend too much time on the computer etc etc. Wishing everyone lots of luck with their words! Sue

My word is HOPE.
I am hopeful that I will learn more about living with anxiety.
I am hopeful that baby steps will help us to declutter our home.
I am hopeful that I can enjoy each new day.
I started thinking about it when you posted about it last week or so. I have already found it so helpful- in stressful situations I can think positively, instead of falling apart. Looking forward to my year of hope.

I followed along with your word of the day last year, but never picked my own. I loved the idea, and in December decided to pick: ENJOY as my word of the year. I am a person who always plans for the future. I'm always looking ahead, and this year, I want to ENJOY the moments that each day brings. I get married in June, and want to ENJOY each day that leads up to "the big day" and stop planning for the 'after'. Off to go ENJOY today :)

I think my work to going to be BUILD ...

My word for the year is ADVENTURE as I am embarking on a year which looks set to make me step out of my comfort zone and try some new things. We as a family are thinking of moving to work in Cambodia! So the first adventure is happening this month when we take 4 children to visit it!
I also want to make my art and scrapbooking an adventure as I can get into a rut.

My 2008 word is ACTION. I have so many lists, so many plans that I never really get finished. Time to get those things off the list, out of the planning phase, and into my completed bank.
Thank you so much Ali for the sharing the one little word concept. I'm very optimistic that 2008 will be a very action oriented year!

Ali,
You have been inspiring me since the day you were born! Thank you for being the wonderful and inspiring person you are. I have been very involved in my 2007 "One Word" and have decided to continue the study of PEACE for my 2008 word. I started my Blog in April 2007 sharing the 365 quotes of PEACE that Trisha Daly shared with you. It started me on a quest of learning that continues today. Peace to you and all in 2008.
Mom
http://peaceeveryday.blogspot.com/

My word is FOCUS. I need to focus on what I want to do in this lifetime and do it. No more "maybe in a few years", I am going to focus and just do it now. No more somedays. Thanks for your inspiration.

I have been thinking and this year my word has got to be SELF. I need to take care of myself, believe in myself, find the time for myself, etc..
I have done a lot for other people the last years and now I really feel I should take care of myself a bit more. So SELF it is.

Wow, there are a lot of good words here.
I've been thinking about create, do, balance, act, organize, focus - really in my mind I think they all relate to the word I have selected: SIMPLIFY.
Simplify my surroundings and organize, de-clutter and create a harmonious environment (and mind!)
Simplify by not making things more complicated than they need to be, especially when it comes to creating/preserving memories. Just do it and get it done - less is MORE!
Simplify by getting to what really matters - life, family, moments, TODAY!
Simplify! :)
Thanks, Ali and Happy New Year

After struggling to decide between several words, I realized strength will be my word for 2008. I have been beaten down by chronic and debilitating physical pain and crippling depression. Thanks Ali for sharing this ritual with everyone. You are such an inspiration and reading your blog has given me the motivation I need to fight my way back. I want to wish you, Chris and Simon the happiest healthiest year ever!

HAPPY.
That's it. Happy.
Focus on what's important. Remembering what truly matters. Eliminating the should do's. Simplifying. Being grateful. Being true to myself and my family. Who I (and we) are. And all of this (and more) is just part and parcel of being happy. Me being happy. Doing my best to help my family be happy. And to bring happiness to others.
Huzzah for a HAPPY 2008.

I too have chosen the word "Balance". With two small kids, a full-time job (I am a HS teacher and am Advisor of 3 clubs!!), a photography business I am starting, I feel like I am running all the time (and not making time for myself). This is the year that I prioritize and take advantage of the important things in life: my faith, my family, my friends. I was not going to participate, but the word goes right along with my goals for 2008 (I don't make resolutions - I set goals!!). Thanks for the challenge!