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
FEARLESS.
I am always holding myself back from things I know would enrich my life because I'm afraid. I've decided I'm not going to do that anymore.
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Well, Ali, you already know this year was terribly hard. I'm ready to be better. So that's my word...all i can do is take one day at a time, one little word one day at a time. I'm on this journey with you.
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Love you sweet Sonda.
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Intention is my word for this year.
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This will be the fourth year that I have choosen 'one little word' This year my word is BALANCE
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I want a word that is a noun and a verb. Without any change - exhale and exhalation, for example, don't cut it.
I want a gentle word.
I want a word that captures the need for income and the metamorphosis I want to undergo.
Metamorphosis is NOT a little word!
I need a kick or ninety in the butt. Motivation? nooooo
Challenge. It must be challenge. It's the only one little word that I always list when I try to find my word.
Every other good word that comes to mind flits away within minutes.
Merriam-Webster
challenge (verb) 6.: to arouse or stimulate especially by presenting with difficulties
challenge (noun) 2.a : a calling to account or into question
3.: a stimulating task or problem
Not so gentle, is it?
sigh.
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I've chosen FOCUS for my word.
Focus and savor moments more. Enjoy my scrapping. Enjoy the medial tasks like housework, cooking dinner, watching tv with hubby, those funny moments with my children where I just watch and take it all in.
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My word for 2011 is PERSERVERANCE - I have lots of things I want to achieve this year but all of them need some commitment and will-power and perservering will be a good way of achieving them...
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After reflecting I have my word: NOURISH (and linked to that is CHERISH)
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[...] 2011, pela terceira vez estou aplicando o conceito One Little Word, da Ali Edwards. A proposta é definirmos uma palavra que nos norteie durante o ano, ajudando a [...]
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I too had a word the seemed to pop up and follow me around....I could not get it out of my head. That word is NUDGE.....strange little word....though when I listen to God's nudging I sense being more in his will for my life. I am listening and reacting to what He wants for me....How much more perfect life will be when I listen to those nudges...call a friend when I am nudged, write an encouraging email, help out when I am nudged...just the other day I was nudged to donate all the baby booties I had been making to a pregnancy crisis center for their mommy store instead of selling them. Oh the blessings I will get for the the giving and those that receive may they also be blessed by God. NUDGE...yep that is my word.
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Oh Terry - I just love this.
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My One Little Word for 2011 is FOCUS. Sometimes I lack focus and drive (my back-up OLW), and life seems to go by with little in the way of real change being achieved. This year I want to be focused and actually loose weight, get fit, etc, etc.
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Wow! Wonderful idea. I'm new to the 'one little word' concept only having found your blog recently. I love the idea and I'm so glad that you have indicated that even if the word seems strange, if it feels right then it is for you! My word is BELONGING. It came to me reading about your course and hasn't left my head since and even if I contemplate trying to find another word it calls to me! ;-)
I try to resist it but I can see two ways where it is impacting on my life. With the loss of my mum in 2010 I feel like my family anchor is gone; and lately I have read quite a few books which refer to collective consciousness and being part of nature for which I feel 'belonging' suits.
I look forward to where this word takes me for the year!
Thank you for such great inspiration.
xxx
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my word is LIGHT also.
http://danasparkle.blogspot.com/2011/01/inspired.html
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My word for 2011 is FOCUS. I've been going in many different directions this past year. I need to focus on what's important in my life: showing love to my family, telling the story of my family, creating a clutter-free and organized home and caring for my body so I will be healthy for many years to come.
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FINISH is my word for 2011. I want to finish my kids school files, finish tiding the office, finish decluttering our house, finish all the scrapbook pages on the go.... and the list goes on.......
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[...] of which, I’m playing along with Ali Edwards’ One Little Word for the third year in a [...]
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[...] chosen my “One Little Word” for 2011. Last year my word was “Believe”, so this is a logical extension of that mindset [...]
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I chose "trust" this year, and blogged it and the project I created as a reminder...
http://elendae.wordpress.com/2011/01/02/trust/
Happy New Year, Ali!
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I didn't really 'get' the idea of One Little Word before, but towards the end of 2010 one particular word kept coming up for me - and it's 'details'. I'm looking forward this year to living the details of our lives, to photographing them, to recording them, to writing them - to applying this to how I take photographs (and to getting to grips with my new camera); to how I journal on my layouts; to the layouts themselves; to how I blog; to how I actually live life... I'm so excited about my word and how it's making a difference already :)
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My word for 2011 is "BE" It is also a word that seems to have chosen me. I think will mean lots of things... be content, be happy, be here, be together, be-lieve, be-come.... I hope I can make it apart of my life like my last two words have been. Thanks for the inspiration, Ali.
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