One Little Word : June 2010
Tags:My one little word for 2010 is story.
From the very beginning my word has had a slightly different meaning for me than you might think. When I first wrote about it back in January I talked about the obvious idea documenting stories from yesterday & today but I also hinted at my deeper truth: "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."
The real truth is that I chose the word story because I wanted to focus on changing my story.
My secret word for 2010 been athlete.
My journey so far this year has been about finding a piece of myself that's been missing since I stopped being an athlete when I left the pool in 1994. I was done with the practices, done with the competition, done with the time it took away from all the other things I wanted to be doing in college.
For many years I didn't miss it at all. Not one little bit.
After Anna was born I started to wonder what it would be like to be an athlete as a full-fledged adult. What would my life be like if I took the time to exercise and got in shape and liked the feel of myself in my own skin again? What if I could get to the place of seeing myself as an athlete again? I began having visions of myself as a super fit grandma. I liked the idea of myself as a positive fitness role-model for my kids.
I decided I wanted to make a change in the way my story was being written.
Since January, in ways little and big, I've been returning to this unfinished piece of my own story. A chapter I want to continue and add to in the years to come.
Most of the action steps in changing my story have been small. They've been little daily choices to get up and get out and move my body again. Some days and weeks I'm successful and others, not so much. So much of it for me is a mental game.
I've gotten back in the pool. I've bought a road bike. I've started running (with some serious daily support from Cathy). And I registered to participate in the Danskin Sprint Triathlon in Seattle in August. Crazy? Yes, totally. I found that for me I needed something to aim for, something to move towards, in order to start making the changes I want to see in my story. I am finding that I love the variety of swimming, biking and running so much more than when it was all swimming all the time.
Really, I just want to show up and participate.
So that's where I'm at with my word right now. My words in years past have been undercurrents, with less real-world action. They have ebbed and flowed with me throughout the year and existed as a place for me to come back to when I felt like I am drifting too far off my path. This year has been different in a really good way for me at this time in my life. I am on my way...
If you left your word back in January or February or whenever, you can always reconnect with it. You can also always choose a new word. It's never too late.
Anyone else happen to have a secret word you are ready to share? Or anew word that evolved out of your initial word?

My 8x8 Rejoice photobook arrived in the mail from Shutterfly yesterday. I love it. And more importantly, Simon and Anna went nuts over it. It was all about the photos. Going to make a couple extra copies for a few other people I love.
You can view my completed book here and purchase the layered template package through Designer Digitals here.


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124 comments
Good luck in the tri!!
I have recently started to try running again...I too am a former high school/college athlete and I'm trying to get back into shape. It's so much harder now, and I get very discouraged because I can't do what I used to do. But hopefully I'll get there. Hope you post more about this journey...love reading about Cathy and Donna, would love to hear your story too.
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I did Tracy - can you please email me again? ali@aliedwardsdesign.com
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after a few years of being a runner, I have come over to the dark side of triathlon training and I love it. i love what I ask of my body and what it gives back. My first sprint tri is in two weeks and I can't wait. I learned to swim! I couldn't swim from one end of the pool to the other in January and now a fish, well maybe just a small fish but I am so happy. it's amazing what you can do when you set your mind on something.
instead of a word, I picked a quote this year
it's not what you achieve
it's what you overcome.
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You truly are a great motivator Ali. I used to be an athlete as well, though one can't tell looking at my post baby body. I've been wanting to do something for my body and myself for so long - it's time I make my resolve and follow Cathy and you and get back in shape.
PS the Rejoice photobook is beautiful.
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Hooray for another Seattle Danskin participant! :-) I was talked into signing up for the same tri this year and it'll be my first one too!
It's crazy training, but feels so great. Awesome that you're doing it! WTG!
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That book is just beautiful!
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My world started out as relax, but lately is been moving towards enjoy. I was and sometimes am worrying about too many little things. I wasn't enjoying life. These next 6 months will be all about enjoying my life. Thanks for the inspiration Ali!
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What a beautiful book. I love your templates and think I need to create a similar book. Thanks for your inspiration!
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This is so awesome Ali!!! Good for you for getting real and making it happen....so so awesome! I can't wait to hear about your journey.
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awww, i'm so envious you're actually doing it. so i guess my word of choice would be focus. i want to do this and that... and then i lose my focus. where art thou focus? wilt thou please come and visit me... :)
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That is AWESOME! After I had my 2nd (my little girl) I took on the triathlon scene as something to do for myself. Just me. Alone on a run, a swim or a bike ride. I felt as though I had given so much of myself for so long, that it was time for me again. I wasn't even sure what a triathlon was, but I signed up, bought a bike and made time to do it. The first one was all about just finishing the race. Then what everyone had told me came true...once you do one...it is hard to stop. I competed for 4 years and had a blast. I still run, swim and bike, just not for competition anymore. Your post hit me like a ton of bricks. I was there at one time. Wondering where that side of me had disappeared to. Could I feel good again in my skin? Could I finish the swim leg of the race without looking like an idiot, or worse, drowning? I am so proud to hear another voice echoing those same thoughts. GO ALI GO!
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My word was/is BEGIN. I have had that as my screensaver for a couple months and the undercurrent issue was fitness.
Yes, I'd like to lose weight, get thinner, but mostly I want to be fitter - at 65.
I started out well, joined a local gym, went daily and started to ...gasp...enjoy it. Then came the snows of February, then came a pulled back muscle and weeks of physical therapy... I realized I could begin again, which I did. A European vacation and I began again tho I noticed walking in Italy was easier than the last trip.
I have never been an athlete, nor wanted to be one. My competitiveness comes out in other ways and still hate to have my hair soaked with sweat but each day I begin anew, and boy do I feel good about that!
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Thanks for the inspiration Ali. I actually never really thought about my own ability to change my story. Like "Duh!" When you've come this far in your life story, sometimes it's easy to get caught up in the past, and wallow in certain things that happened back then. I have the sole ability and responsibility to my children to change my story for the better. No one can do that for me. Wow! How inspiring! Great thought for today. Thanks!
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Congratulations, Ali, on making such great progress toward your "athlete" goal. My word is "appreciate" (I wear it most days on a necklace), and it has been a great word. I have been revisiting it each month in a mini-book just to touch base with my thoughts on where I am with appreciating all of the good things in my life. You and Cathy Z make me want to concentrate more on being healthy so that I can "appreciate" the value of good health and good habits.
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Ali, that is so, so awesome! I noticed your "hint" about athletics and wondered what all you were up to. I too am taking on a sprint triathalon this August. I am a homeschooling mom of a dozen and our baby is now three so I am entering a new "season" of life for me. It has been a blast to get out and try some totally new things. I have worked out for years at home doing aerobics, etc, but tackling triathalon has been a real stretch for me, way outside of my comfort zone. And that is completely good~ good for me and I hope a good example for my children as well. I'll be cheering for you from Missouri! You go!
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when my youngest started full day kindergarten 2 years ago, i decided to pick up a tennis racquet and start group lessons. i have never looked back, and the women's team i play on has just made it into the playoffs! i can't tell you how wonderful it is to have something that is "all mine" and to watch my body grow strong as a result of the hard work and dedication i put in. if i have a "cranky" day now my kids ask me, "mama, did you get your tennis in today?" love it!
xoxo
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Ali! Congratulations on your progress!! And I have to say...THANK YOU again! Your post today has caused this gigantic [and I mean pilates-ball-gigantic] lightbulb go on for me! I am totally inspired to start directing my story rather than telling it after the fact. Looking ahead to the story I want to tell about myself rather than back and telling what's happened. Cool and empowering. Thanks for sharing this personal story and GO Ali!
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Thanks for the inspiration. Makes me realize we all can make our life as beautiful and eventful as possible if we make the choice.
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I'm not surprised at your "secret" word. I remember a comment you made on your blog right after Anna was born as you watched a marathon or some kind of event while visiting your parents. I observed that undercurrent bubbling up inside of you of wanting to be an athlete then in your words.
Nope.
Not surprised at all at this blog post.
:)
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Congratulations on this Miss Ali. You always always inspire me. Hugs!
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