One Little Word 2009 & Giveaways

Balance
Hope to find balance for the new year!

my word for 2009 is shalom.
i've grown up hearing it means "peace". but it doesn't. literally, it translates to: "nothing missing, nothing broken". the POWER of that phrase has wrecked my life. in a good way.
God desires me to be whole, complete, fully satisfied. and while i don't see it or feel it or even at times believe it, i am seeking my shalom in Him.
i even just got it tattooed on my wrist two weeks ago so it would serve as a permanent visible reminder to me...

Nice way to make a new year's resolution concrete.

My word for 2009 is FRESH. I'm not sure it fits in with all of the other inspiring words but, for me, it is. I just love that feeling of being organized and having things clean. It gives me a sense of well-being. I can't say it's always that way, but I try and plan to do so even more in 2009. So the word FRESH came to my mind last night as I was thinking of what I like:
FRESH sheets
FRESH fruit & vegetables
FRESH air
FRESH magazines (always gotta get the one at the back LOL)
FRESH flowers
FRESH ideas
FRESH scrapbook supplies
and for 2009...
FRESH start

Courage.
Cheryl
Jacksonville

Hey, Ali! Happy New Year!
My word for 2009 is LIVE. I am going to have a lot going on this year, moving is going to be the first one. I want to really be there, everyday. I don't want to rush things like I always do and wait for tomorrow.

Hi Ali, I love reading your blog every day. Love all your great ideas and creativity. You are very inspiring to me!
I did the one little word in 2007: BALANCE
Last year, 2008 it was: BE
This year it is: FITNESS
Having a word did help me focus on what was meaningful to me throughout the year. Of course it got lost in all the daily shuffle from time to time but then I would bring it back to the forefront. I made little booklet journals with the word on the front and made little notes to myself in the journals. I'm going to do one for my 2009 word today.
FITNESS in both physical state, emotional health, and choosing what is right for me every day.
Thanks again Ali! Looking forward to hearing about your new baby. (I'm a Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner and work with moms and babies every day. I hope your birth goes smoothly and quickly. A baby girl, lucky you!)
Sincerely,
Nora
Anacortes, WA

Happy New Year!!!
My word for 2009 is ENJOY ...i really need to focus on my family and life and not just work and stress. I really want to ENJOY this year; the good, bad and the ugly of everything, I just want to ENJOY :)

Courage.
Cheryl
Jacksonville

My word for 2009 is Joy.
I want to refocus on the most important relationships and activities that truly bring myself and others through me, Joy.

hi Ali.
i didn't know you knew you were having a little girl. yay, congrats!
my word for this coming year is NOW
with our pending adoption it has been way to easy to keep focusing on the future and then 'when it happens' instead of enjoy the NOW where i am so blessed already.
I'm focusing on the now this year with hope for the future. But now has to be what matters most... its all we are really guaranteed.

happy, magical new year! wishing you so much joy with all the excitment of your new arrival!
my word for 2009 is {be}
thank you for inspiring this wonderful tradition.
xo

EMBRACE! When I mentioned this to family/friends, they laughed- said it sounded like I wanted to spend the year hugging others (not such a bad idea) but I was thrilled to see your first commenter also choose embrace!
I take it to mean embracing who I am while embracing the idea of improving to become a better me.
thanks for this inspirational activity-
last year's word was faith and I loved having a "word of the year"

Hi Ali -- Thank you so much for this. Last year my word was stronger...little did I know how much I would need it throughout the year. Having it made a huge difference. This year I'm going in a different direction...my word is joy. I want to put things in the past, relax, think positively and live in the moment as much as possible.
Best wishes to you and your family in 2009.

My word for 2009 is going to be Joy. I have had a lot of Joy stolen in 2008 and I need to just move into a more joyful, less stressful place.

Hi, My word is 'courage'. I have changes I NEED to make this year and I know I am going to have to find the courage and strength to make those changes this year. Thank you. Happy New Year!

My word for 2009 is CHOICE. It is my choice to do housework or be lazy; to nurture myself or ignore myself; to spend time with family & friends or withdraw. My choice is to be the best I can be and to encourage others to be their best.

My word for 2009 is the same as 2008 - it's something I'm still working on - "deliberate." Making better choices by thinking things through and being "deliberate."

Happy First Day of 2009!
My word: ACCOUNTABILITY
For the longest time I've been in and out of my dungeon of resentment not knowing the reasons why. It's not a place I enjoy being in so I consciously made myself become aware of what causes my resentments. I realized that almost always I decide it's another person's fault/doing. To be rid of resentments, I need to become accountable for things in my life.

Happy New Year.
This is my first year choosing a word. I think it will be REALIZE for 2009.
Realize
verb
-be fully aware or cognizant of
-understand: perceive
-make real or concrete
-give reality or substance to
Realize how lucky and blessed I am.
Realize that life is beautiful even when things aren't going smoothly.
Realize my potentials, my dreams.