One Little Word 2009 & Giveaways

2008 word was Balance
2009 word is TODAY...
We plan so much for every other day, and for the future, I want to live in the today, laugh, & enjoy it ....like there is NO tomorrow.

I think my word this year will be "ZEN". Last year my word was focus, and I feel like I could still use more focus, but maybe in a more gentle way...

I think my word this year will be "ZEN". Last year my word was focus, and I feel like I could still use more focus, but maybe in a more gentle way...

My word for last year was FOCUS and I think my word for this year will be MINDFUL. I'm determined to be a better human being than human doing! Karen

My word is "relax". Relax about the things I worry about all the time. Take my life less serious. Relax about all the items on my to do list. Relax and slow down. Life for everyday.

I have several words--Plan and Simplify are biggies, but the central word for me for 2009 is PATIENCE. (Patience with everyone, including myself.) Happy New Year!

So good to read your blog first thing this morning, in the quiet reflectiveness of the new year. I'm teetering between two words: GRACE & SERENITY. I've entered a stage of my life when things have slowed down as far as responsibility & commitments, giving me more time to pursue my own needs & interests. But some health issues are creating anxiety, ironically, & I find myself unable to accept "stuff" with grace & serenity. I find myself reacting to stress with my old flight or fight knee-jerk. I want to instead be a person who is calm, centered, full of grace. Maybe both words? Thank you, Ali, as always, for helping me focus & home in. I'm praying for you, the new baby & your family. Also for our country & the world in these times of turmoil. Wish I had time to read all these comments!

Hi Ali!
I have chosen 2 words for 2009. The first is completion. I need to finish things that I start this year and give myself a sense of completion and satisfaction. My second, and equally important word is balance. I am seeking balance between my home life, my work life (teaching), and my scrapbooking life. Happy New Year!

Haven't had a chance to read all the comments; however, my word is free. It's not the get a deal free. It's the spirit within me that will be at peace when I follow my inner self as it speaks to me. It's also a letting go of the daily irksomes that creep into ones life and rising above it.

Acceptance....I have many changes coming in 2009 and I have to be willing to accept them. Happy New Year and may yours be the best ever Ali!

My word for 2009 is "HOME". As a busy mom, wife, and professor, I often find myself involved in lots of "stuff" at school, and with the kids' activities, and with volunteer opportunities, but this year, I want to be extra-intentional about nurturing our home life and family. Happy 2009!

My word is SIMPLIFY...for me this means less stressing about unimportant things, more abundance, focus on what is important, my home, family, art. It means I want to streamline my life and eliminate the things that don't make me happy and that are unnecessarily complicating my happiness. SIMPLIFY!

My word is: VISION
I want to create vision, see vision, understnad vision--what that vision is I do not know, but I plan to find out!

Love the idéa with a word for the year. Never tried it before and after reading a bunch of your comments here I find out that the word "Believe" fits me very well for 2009.
Believe in there is new good things around the corner everywhere.

My word for 2009 is positivity..I've had such a bad year with lots of tough things happening so I need something good in my life, therefore this word.

I want my word to be "diligent." I want to grow in being more disciplined spending time praying and studying God's word and serving others selflessly.

I have been comtemplating this for a few weeks and can not find a focus on one word, there are a few that keep cropping up, so far not one has stood up; opporunity, faith, explore, to name a few. However, as I am typing and thinking mine will be a phrase. I am going to use the old Nike commercial; Just do It. Stop letting fear get in the way, Just Do It. When I get an Idea, Just Do It. Stop getting all caught up in the head, Just Do It. Stop Over Thinking. Yep that is it, Just Do It.
Thank you Ali.

Hi Ali!
Happy New Year to you and your family! Thank you for your inspiration and generosity :) My word for 2008 was "Enjoy", and my word for 2009 will be "Achieve".
Cheers to you!

My word for 2009 is "reduce". I need to reduce my dress size, my house clutter, and my stress level. If I can accomplish a year of "reducing", my word for 2010 can be "enjoy"!
Sue in Alexandria VA

After reading what others have chosen as their word, several stand out for me, both Focus and simplify. I have in my list of goals to de clutter my house, yet I want to focus on the everyday also. And after reading Deb's comment above about the letters in FOCUS each having their own meaning really hit home.