One Little Word 2011
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My 2011 necklace from the lovely Lisa Leonard. Get one for yourself here.
My word for 2011 is light.
This year my word sure seemed to choose me.
Most years I start thinking about my word for the following year in November or December. I think about it in passing and start listening, looking, and being open to the possibilities of a new word.
This year the word light seemed to be trying to catch my attention.
I found it in books, in magazines, in music, in conversations and in quiet moments.
So I'm going with it. It's already surprised, delighted, challenged and sparked some new things within me.
Some years I've had to look harder or listen longer or simply choose one that fit with what was on my mind and heart at that moment. There's no right or wrong. The main thing to remember is that this is your word. It's not for your child, parent, partner, spouse, sister, etc.
And what do you do with this one little word?
You live with it. You invite it into you life. You let it speak to you. You might even follow where it leads. There are so many possibilities.
I'd love to read what word you've chosen or are considering for 2011. In the comments feel free to simply leave your word as your comment or write a bit about why you are choosing this word.
In a couple of days I'll post a compilation of the words as an inspirational reminder to us all.
If you’re new to the concept of One Little Word, you can read some of my previous posts here: 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010.
NEW FOR 2011 : ONE LITTLE WORD at BIG PICTURE CLASSES
I'm excited to be offering a brand new One Little Word online workshop through Big Picture Classes in 2011 as a way to connect with and honor our words throughout the year.
Each month you'll receive a prompt with a simple creative project and a gentle reminder to check back in with your word. By the end of the year you'll have compiled the contents of an 8.5x11 album that documents, defines, celebrates and generally makes your word more visible. Workshop materials include printable elements, full-color PDF handouts, and video presentations.
People have been asking me if you have to be a scrapbooker for this class. My answer is no. Even though we are making an album it's really more of a journaling/record keeping/thinking/exploring project. I'm excited to see how people interpret the prompts and make them meaningful for their own lives.
This is not complicated and it's not time-consuming. It's simply a way we can come together to share our experience with our words throughout the course of the year.
The One Little Word classroom opens on January 1, 2011.
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1654 comments
ACCEPT
to take or receive (something offered); to accommodate or reconcile oneself to; to receive as to meaning; understand; to undertake the responsibility, duties, honors, etc
that's what i am hoping for this year...
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My word is balance. Trying to be mindful of finding a balance between work and free time. Sometimes I need to be reminded. I am hoping this will help me look for other ways to find balance in my life.
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"courage" my word found me and i hope that i will find "courage" in 2011. happy new year ali.
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2 marys, same word! excited!
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My word for 2011 is "FAITH." This will be my first time with one little word, but I am very much looking forward to exploring my word and how many different aspects can be pursued with just one little word.
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My word for this year is journey - it holds a lot of promise and I am looking forward to seeing where my journey takes me. I am also looking forward to the class.
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My word Energy Definition: Internal or inherent power; capacity of acting, operating, or producing an effect, whether exerted or not. I just like the definition and I want to be effective this year.
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Educate. I want to learn more in so many aspects of my life and teach my daughters as much as I can.
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My word for this year is Reach. It's all about reaching to make myself a better person, to expand my world, and to go outside my comfort zone. I did a lot of this in the last year and it was such an amazing experience, so I'm making that my goal for this year. :) Thank YOU, Ali, for making this project one that positively impacts so many lives. You rock. :)
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I think I have settled on mine (for the first time) "Savor" this captures the two things I want to work on next year 1) Savoring/being fully present in the moment instead of trying to do too many things at once and failing to appreciate the NOW and 2) savoring and really enjoying small bits of food rather than overeating. I have gotten pretty good at "move more" but need to work on the "eat less" part. I love food and know if I take time to savor it I can be satisfied with less and with healthier fare.
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My word is organize - it sounds a bit boring, but the word has chosen me!
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My word for 2011 is GRATITUDE. ... because I have many things to be thankful and also have to learn to be grateful for many others...
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My word for 2011 is Act. This past December was the first time I joined you in making a DD album - still working on mine. So I finally acted on what I wanted to do. So this coming year, for me, its time to act and do.
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Hi Ali,
I have a few choices that I will narrow down to one little word for 2011.
* cultivate
* fearless
* Courageous
This is such a fun idea. Winter, to me, is the perfect time to reflect and create.
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After a year of PRUDENCE (my 2010 OLW) I feel like I need a year of PLAY. Now that I'm a mom with more responsibility than I ever imagined, I think it's become important to give myself permission to play more often, whether it's with my toddler, friends, or hobbies.
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I think my word for 2011 is going to be SPARKLE.
I'm really looking forward to the workshop. :D
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SPARKLE is my word, too!
1. sparkle - merriment expressed by a brightness or gleam or animation of countenance; "he had a sparkle in his eye"; "there's a perpetual twinkle in his eyes"
spark, twinkle, light
verve, vitality - an energetic style
2. sparkle - the occurrence of a small flash or spark
- a sudden intense burst of radiant energy
3. sparkle - the quality of shining with a bright reflected light
4. To be brilliant in performance.
5. To shine with animation: He has eyes that sparkle. To flash with wit: Her conversation sparkled all evening.
After simplifying last year, I am ready to SPARKLE this year!
Sparkle is also my word for 2011
a spark, a fiery particle, to effervesce, to be brilliant.
Sparkling clean and new.
I love this word.
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Commitment.
This was my first entry in the #reverb10 project - and my first page of my December Daily. Here is an excerpt:
In 2011 I want to commit to making my dreams and hobbies a real lucrative revenue building business. I will commit to my significant other in year 2011 through an impending engagement. I want to commit to taking care of myself and staying close to my family. I want to commit to my work to help people preserve their moements and document their memories. I will commit to preserving my own memories as well. I commit to doing what I love everyday so I never have to "work" another day in my life.
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My one little word is:
Invest (in myself, in timeliness, in relationships, for the present and future, in the obvious financial aspect, etc...so many different ways that this word expresses itself)
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I really like this word.
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My word for 2011 will be SHIFT meaning to alter, exchange, switch gears, change direction - and, more importantly, shift myself!
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I've tried to make it go away... but I'm pretty sure the word that I am supposed to focus on this year is "Accept"
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I haven't ever chosen one little word before, but I have for 2011, and that word is LEARN. I joined our amateur church choir this Christmas, and discovered that others were starting to depend on me to teach them their singing parts. That really motivated me to know the parts well, and, although I have always loved to learn, I noticed I have more self-confidence when others are depending on me. Now I want to learn what God wants to teach me, and that I can hopefully help others along the way.
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