My One Little Word : Story
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Lovely word of the year necklace from Lisa Leonard Designs. Look for a giveaway from Lisa this weekend.
For 2010 I have chosen the word STORY.
Ever since I started scrapbooking back in 2002 I have been capturing life and telling stories. Over the years I have learned that for me, it is the words and the photos that are the most important parts of gathering and documenting our lives (vs. the products that make the albums pretty and the process visually creative).
The Yesterday & Today workshop I have been leading at Big Picture Scrapbooking for the last three months really solidified and increased my specific desire to get the most meaningful stories told. The preparations for that class and the resulting pages I created left a lasting impact on me.
One of the things I realized through the duration of that class is that I have so many stories I want to tell from the past and the present. Some are big and some are small; some detailed and some only faint memories. I don't feel anything but excitement when I think about working through the process of telling them. I am not upset that I haven't told them yet or worried that there are too many. I just want to make it a priority to get them recorded.
With all that in mind I am giving myself an assignment this year. I am going to aim for one layout (one story) told per week in 2010. Some stories will be long and some will be shorter but I am going to make the time to go through my list and proactively tell those stories that are most meaningful to me. I will be posting my layouts here weekly and will be inviting you to tell your meaningful stories along the way.
The other inspiration for my word this year are two books I have been reading over the last few months: A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Life
by Donald Miller and Storycatcher: Making Sense of Our Lives through the Power and Practice of Story
by Christina Baldwin.
Both are all about stories: telling, listening, characters, sharing, living.
Both have inspired me to focus more on the concept of story and what that means in the context of my work and my life.
The Storycatcher book has a really nice companion website here. This is a good initial read: Becoming A Storycatcher. You can find excerpts from the book here.
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years has inspired me to look at my life differently. To literally see myself as a character in the story I am living and that I can make changes to impact the outcome of my own personal narrative. I think in some way or another I have always known this and lived this way at some level, but something in Donald's words solidified and clarified some things for me and has given me a new path forward - a new way to think about myself and my story.
One of the biggest things is that I have a couple threads in my own story that I would like to weave in a different direction. I hope to talk more about these storylines in the coming months as I begin writing & living new chapters for myself.
Story is a powerful word and concept. I am excited to continue investigating it throughout this year and throughout the rest of my life.
ONE LITTLE ACTION
One of the thoughts I had as I read the list of words (and the wonderful reasons and stories) over the last couple of days is that it's really not enough to just choose a word. Some sort of action is required to really make a difference. That action may be simply thinking about your word every couple of days. What sort of thing can you make or buy that will serve as a reminder to you? Here's a post from 2008 with a few simple ideas to get you started. I invite you to consider one action you will take related to your word: one little action to go along with your one little word.
EDITED: I just came across this really nice free download "Word of the Year Discovery Tool" from blogger Christine Kane. It's a worksheet for thinking through your word and essentially telling the story of your word. Totally recommended. This is a great action step.
Happy New Year! Peace and blessings to you and yours!
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110 comments
I love your word Ali!
You're class at BPS has really inspired me to look at documenting my life differently as well! In the last month in a half, I have become overwhelmed with the amount of "stuff" that I have accumulated and as much as I love the products, I've truly loved the process of photo and words. I'm looking forward to seeing how this evolves for me creatively as well as following along with you weekly.
Here is to wonderful happenings in 2010. Happy New Year to you, Chris, Simon and Anna!
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Happy New Year Ali! I woke early this morning and my first thought was new year new word. Last year I chose consolidate so I could build on the achievements of the previous year including improved health. This year I want to choose resilience. I need thicker skin sometimes and the courage to believe in myself and to keep going. So reslience is my word.
thanks for sharing your story as always.
Judith (Adelaide)
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I am looking forward to learning the role {story} has to play out in your coming year. Its interesting that you posted about action that must go with our one little words. The action is a good part of what I toyed with in my mind as I selected my word. And while I did not post specifics today when I shared my word and photo, I did solidify a couple of actions that I will be working on throughout the year. I have not done this before and thank you for sharing this. :>
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Hey Ali! Have been thinking about my word for a few weeks...was going o choose control,, cuz I really need to get some control over most-if not all areas of my lif - house, clutter, weight, feelings... read Monica's msg - her word is clean....hmmm, maybe I need to rethink my word!
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Thank you Ali for the continued inspiration!!!!!! Yesterday and Today workshop was amazing. Such gratitude for the creative growth. I wish you and your family a wonderful New Year!!!!!!
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I just finished my blog post about my word-SLOW- and it's so interesting to read why each of us choose the word we do. It sounds like your word will suit the life you want to lead this year. Those two books sound good...I'll have to check them out. And I LOVE the necklace!
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Wow! A layout a week from you. Such wonderful inspiration! And I can't wait to see them here. Best wishes for a story-filled and incredible year.
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Oh I love this pretty necklace-Thanks for the chance to win and have a happy New Year!!
Gretch
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Thanks for the link to LL's site, I gave myself a late X-mas present with my word "health" on a wishing star. Since it can be two sided, I added another that I need to remember..."live". I rush through my life just to get to the next great thing, and it's time to slow down and take care of myself, my son, my husband, and my career. Here's to 2010 being a year of health and living in the now! Great post, as ususal!
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LOL...I just printed out the worksheet by Christine Kane earlier today! I haven't started filling it out yet, but it looks awesome :)
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Such inspiring thoughts Ali! All the best to you and yours for a wonderful 2010.
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I am so glad to have found your blog!! This is my first year picking a word, and I chose "release". I cant wait to read more of your blog and see how your word unfolds this year!
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I have chosen my 2010 word. It will be "faith." I love that you reminded us that it's more than just choosing the word, we need to act upon it as well. My family has found a church and I bought myself a new bible in order to be able to spend more time exploring my faith this year.
Thanks for the gentle reminders and inspiration.
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So inspiring! Thank you and Happy New Year!
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I have been going around and around with a few words. I think I have finally landed on the word HAPPINESS. All I want out of 2010 is to be happy. Life has been hard for me emotionally the past couple years as things I really wanted to happen didn't. I just need to take the life I am blessed with. The one kiddo I am blessed with. And just find that happiness again.
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Thanks for the call to action. I needed the kick in the butt. Tomorrow my word and I become one as I create reminders of it to motivate me around my home.
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I was surprised to see the word you chose this year, Story, because believe it or not I chose that word also. (Before I read that you chose it) It made me feel that I chose well this year, plus I can get ideas from you! Last year my granddaughter chose "Imagine" for me, and I used that word to guide me in resuming the writing career I had once abandoned. So I chose "story" this year to inspire me to finish the stories in my life. Thanks, Ali, for all of your inspiration. You have a lovely family.
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I look forward to watching the stories unfold and see how your layout style has always been more about the story. My word for 2010 is going to be Live. I have been struggling with depression and become a bit reclusive. I want to live from the small actions to the big adventures. I am going to also add my word to my banner, scrap a layout to frame and hang where I will see it often and ask some close friends to encourage me if they see me back sliding. The necklace is beautiful and would be a great reminder to me to live every second. Happy New Year to you, Chris, Simon and Anna.
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Thanks for the inspiration -- just what I needed for today!
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Ali, Thank you so much for all of the inspiration that you bring to us all. I love your word and the idea of creating a lo a week that captures our stories. I am still working on my word of the year...I am thinking it is action. I am on my way downstairs to print out the worksheet you recommended. I need to take action in so many areas in my life that this seems like a good fit, but I guess time will tell. I hope that you and your family have a wonderful new year. Thank you again for all that you do for all of us.
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