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
I'm going with Integrate this year as a reminder to integrate all that I've learned thus far and live more from a place of wholeness.
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My word for 2011 is THRIVE.
Thrive:
1. To make steady progress; prosper.
2. To grow vigorously; flourish:
This applies to me in terms of my business, my confidence, my health and my outlook on life. 2011 is going to be a year of growth and flourish ;)
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This is my second year choosing my OLW. Last year my OLW was POSITIVITY. Choosing that word helped me throughout the year when times got rough. This year I've chosen the word DO: to perform, to put forth, accomplish, finish, complete, bring about, create, bring into being, to render, to give freely.
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I have chosen the word "open". I know one major event happening next year will be a test to see how "open" I will be to change. My only child will be graduating from college in May and depending on which direction he decides to take, he could stay close to home or move far-far away. And no one knows what else life may throw my way, so I will be "open" to accept, deal with, and handle the good, the bad, and hopefully not the ugly!
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My word is REDUCE. This year I'm working on reducing clutter, reducing stress, reducing debt & spending, reducing my waist line by reducing calories and portion size. I want to reduce the crap that gets in the way of being the best that I can be.
Thanks Ali for soooo much inspiration!
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This will be my second year playing along with the one little word, and I am choosing the word INITIATIVE there are so many projects dancing in my head and I just need to stop waiting to have the money or the time and just do them in order to get the life I want, so I have to take the initiative and get them going.
I am looking forward to this class also.
Thanks!
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[...] off, I am inspired by Ali Edwards “One Little Word”. I started this last year and was inspired to do pick a word for this year. I think I might [...]
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Been thinking about this for a few days, and I believe my one little word for 2011 will be JOY. :) I trust myself to get things done, and when things don't go my way I've learned to let go or surrender to my Source/Higher Power. But I'd like to do that with more JOY, and not so much fear, anger, or resistance. :) I LOVE this Lisa Leonard necklace and plan on getting something similar done! :)
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Like others SIMPLIFY found me and this is where i have been going and will continue to do so with vigor this year. Thinking of signing up for class too.....
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BALANCE (2011 word) - that is needed after CHANGE (2010 word)
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My first choice was live. I wanted to be able to live every moment in the present and not let the past hold me back. The more I thought about my word and after looking over everyones words the word RELEASE chose me. for me the two words are connected and Release will allow me to live my life to its fullest.
Several definitions are pertinent to the reason why this will be my word this year. Release: To let somebody or something go, to stop clutching, gripping or holding on to something, to let something out that has been contained or confined within or something that is pent up or latent inside somebody, to make somebody free of …debt, obligation, promise or task. To release the expectations I have of others.
My word for 2009 was Choices and it was very powerful for me. I hope that this year I can release many things that cause me pain and live life.
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soar
and here's some thoughts:
http://hacscrap.blogspot.com/2010/12/one-little-word-2011.html
can't wait! =)
Hillary
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I'm brand new to this word of the year thing. I just read about it over on Lisa Leonard's blog and that lead me here. I'm very intrigued and want to choose my own word.
After thinking for a few minutes, I decided to pick a word that will describe the year to come. I'll (finally) be graduating from college, really entering my thirties (31, I can't believe it!), looking for (and hopefully finding) a new job, leaving a job I've had for 9 years and going into a completely new profession, there is the possibility of a proposal, new friends, new experiences, new issues, new problems, new solutions...
The word I'm choosing for 2011 is explore. To find new things, ideas, experiences, you must explore new possibilities and horizons. I can't wait to discover what 2011 has in store for me.
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Patience. Such a little word, but so powerful if I only I could find some. In so many situations I find I have none. Or very little. With my children. With my co-workers. With myself.
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My word is devote. There are so many things that I have put on the back burner that are important to me and I need to redirect my attention back to them. 2 things that I will devote myself to this year is my health and scrapbooking.
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My word encompasses many things
Embrace:
to take or clasp in the arms, hug
to receive gladly or eagerly
to accept willingly
to avail oneself of an opportunity
to take in with the eye or the mind
to include, encircle, surround, enclose
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Believe... that is mine also.
2011 will be a year of transition for me. And I have to believe that it is all for the end goal of restoring me! bringing me back to the best person I can be.
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Well guess what...I don't have a word yet. I only just leaned about this a few minutes ago. What a wonderful idea! I can think of so many that might be good for me this year...happy, joy, time, simplify,praise,grateful...but I feel as if there is a word that has been lurking around my mind and my days waiting for me to say it and I want to take a few days to find it. As soon as I do, I'll say it out loud right here. Thank you so much! So nice to find your blog! Suzanne
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Connect is my word for 2011. This is my first time choosing a word for the year--I'm excited to see how the year of "connect" will unfold. I chose my word because I've been feeling and behaving somewhat isolated for much of this year, especially the last month or so, and I need to break out of that habit. Also, "connect" comes from one of my fave literary quotes, from E. M. Forster's "Howards End": "Only connect. That was the whole of her sermon. Only connect the prose and the passion and both will be exalted, and human love will be seen at its height. Only connect...."
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My word for 2011 is focus.
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