One Little Word 2009 & Giveaways

My word for 2009 is INSPIRE. I am an art teacher and I was recently frustrated with a student who called her own work 'stupid' because she didn't like the project we were working on. I told her, "I am here to inspire you".
She said, "You do inspire me Mrs. Mitchell."
I think she was just saying it because she could tell that she had hurt my feelings with her attitude about the project.
It is my goal this year to live a life that will inspire others. I want to inspire my students, friends and family members to follow their creative ambitions and do things that make them happy. I hope that I can do this through my blog and my scrap books, but also in my classroom.

i'm still mulling it over, but i'm leaning towards some word having to do with being mindful...to those around me, to my actions, to the environment. thanks, ali! hope you have a great new year!

My word for 2009 is "renew".
There are new things that I will love to try this new year, but also reinvent or renew old things that I have left behind and or have skip or taken for granted.

Wow...lots of great words out there already...like many others I'm going with FOCUS....FOCUS on what really matters. FOCUS on what really counts. FOCUS on what I can do to make a positive difference with my family, friends, myself and my community.
Happy New Year! Thanks for all your great ideas and inspiration!
~ Kathy (Hillsboro, OR)

My word for 2009 is Flourish!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
bless(ed) |bles|-verb [ trans. ]--to confer or invoke divine favor upon; ask God to look favorably on
Let us enter this New Year reflecting on all our many blessings from 2008 and the ones to come!

Hi Ali and Happy New Year.
CONFIDENCE -the quality of being certain of your abilities or of having trust in people, plans, or the future.
I have been thinking of this over the past few weeks and when I look at myself, my family and the people around me, I feel strongly in this word and the need for many of us to have more of it in our life. I will definitely be thinking of this word each day.
I also felt this definition best described how the word "confidence" feels to me right now. I am looking to go back to school this year, working everyday with my children to meet their needs, and doing my best to bring peace in to our home.
Jenn N

I've been trying to narrow this decision down for a week or so and the list has narrowed to 4. I've been praying for which word is the most beneficial. Last year's word was BELIEVE and it was so right on. I love that word! Now I am trying to decide between BALANCE, HARMONY, RESTORE, and SERENITY. Then one evening while praying about which word, it came to me that if I put them in alphabetical order, all four words work perfectally. Balance and Harmony Restore Serenity. Maybe I'm not just supposed to have one word, maybe I'm supposed to start working to restore balance in my life which will lead me to a more harmonious life which will restore me and bring serenity.
Thanks again for a great year and the prizes are a wonderful addition to the one little word idea.
Peace.

My word is JOY
Simple, three little letters I need to keep in my mind every moment of every day.
No pressure, no stress, just JOY.
JOY is what I seek in 2009. I pray I find it.

I think I will go with "patience" this year. Tough to choose just one word, but with a 9 year old boy in the house, I have to repeat this word to myself daily. Maybe he will learn to be more patient also.

SIMPLIFY
All the other words sound great... but I'm working on streamlining my life so I can do all the other things better... with a baby coming in March, the pressure is on to get rid of what doesn't work and replace it with what does... including clutter, habits, and activities. We're doing the same with our schooling, too. Back to basics. Focusing on priorities. Putting the big things first.

My word for 2009 will be BALANCE. I want to work better on balancing work, family, friends, hobbies, etc. Thanks for the inspiration.
I wish you the best in 2009!

I love this concept, my word last year was simplify and although I lost my way a couple of times, I was able to keep focused on this! My word for this year is going to be believe. I BELIEVE that things will be better in 2009, I BELIEVE that everything happens for a reason and will bring about the good!!!

I am still going back and forth about a new word for 2009. I'll probably make a decision today. I recently read a book by Debbie Macomber called Twenty Wishes and decided that it sounded like a great idea. 20 wishes for things I'd like to do or start in 2009. So I have been focusing on that and would like my word for the year to relate to it as well. Wishing you and your family a very Happy Nuturing New Year!

I've been thinking that my word for 2009 will be CREATE. I feel like I'm finally at the point in my life (and my kids' lives) that I can take my creating to a new level - learning new crafts (embroidering for one), scrapbooking MORE (maybe even teaching a class at my LSS?), opening an etsy shop?, giving MORE homemade gifts than ever before, and the list goes on!
PS I LOVE your word and it seems PERFECT for the wonderful adventure you and your family are embarking on in this new year!

"No new, make do" has been circling my brain for about a month now. I've been stuck home with sick kids in the house since the days before Christmas, so I have had LOTS of time to think about it. I guess Not A Word per se, I know but it speaks to where I am at trying to cut down on all the stuff in the house and clogging my brain.
Peace

ENJOY
family, friends, job, my new home & the time given to us
Keeping it simple with times like these, now is the time to just enjoy everything given to us.

Ali, I was so surprised to come and find that you have chosen Nurture as your word.. as that is what I have chosen also! I have been doing soul searching over the past two weeks. I feel short with my word last year, which was Pause, and really feel like I need to take care of me so that I can do a better job of taking care of others, hence my word. Thanks for this.. I am going to really put my word first this year.

Hi Ali,
My word is ACCEPTANCE. The last year has been a difficult one for me and I am just now starting to really accept and embrace the changes in my life. It's something I need to keep working on. I don't want to be sad anymore.

The last time I chose a word it was RELAX, and boy did I need it then?
This time around it's "SIMPLIFY" and I'm hoping to apply it to all aspects of my life (starting with tackling some serious clutter).
I wish you and your family a New Year filled with many blessings.
Liz