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
My word found me during Advent: SERVANT.
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Dream
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Tracy - my word for this year is Dream also. Last year my word was Hope and I found an increased awareness of my word all around me. It looked for hope and hope found me.
This year I am looking to translate my hopes into dreams that I can move forward with. I just love the idea of taking control of my dreams.
My word is dream, too.
I've begun my dream, in midlife, graduated last spring, got a degree, a job in my field. Now I dream of the day when I will be financially stable and able to offer my services as a therapist to others on a sliding fee scale and help others to live their dreams too...when I set my own schedule and rest, dance, and dream.
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My word this year is change. It means so many things to me. Change in my house (cleaning up and tossing stuff and making more space) and changing my habits (eating more, moving less), changing how I feel when I get up in the morning (less rushed, and more laughing). It's not too specific so that it is open to interpretation and the ability to grow into what it will. I keep trying to find another word but this one stuck with me!
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Change is also my word...and it too found me. I started seeing it...noticing it popping out at me several weeks ago. Even before I ever considered signing up to follow along with OLW. I'm really open to what this word will bring in 2011.
I found a ring in Target yesterday. (which was also the point in which I truly surrendered to this word-I was almost in tears when I saw it-and it was the only one with my word). They have a section of silvery jewelery with words on it. The little silver ring is a perfect fit for my pinky finger and reads: Be the change you wish to see in the world.
Hi Cathy!
Change is my word - i resisted it, i hated it but it kept nagging at me! I wanted a fun, happy, glittery word, but change is perfect for me as i am want to change and need to change and am excited to change everything about my life! good luck with 'change'
andrea
My 2010 word was CHANGE. It was the perfect word for me. I changed in so many ways that were for the better. It was a word that just fit with and encouraged me all year long. Good luck with your word!
This is new for me, but I think change will be my word too. I just finished up my degree program to get my teaching license and will experience a lot of change in the coming year.
As a secondary word, I think it would be create. My creative side has been stifled the last three years in school and I hope to get back to creating, by myself and with my girls.
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My word for 2011 is CHANGE. There was alot of CHANGE in 2010 that I have to get used to & there are alot of things in my life that need to CHANGE in 2011.
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me too!!!! good luck!
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My word is MOMENT. As in, stop looking ahead and planning all the time and enjoy the MOMENT.
Happy New Year!
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Love your word!
Really like your word too Amy!
Love your word, Amy! That is something I have been trying to do as well. My word is FOCUS for a lot of the same reasons you stated for choosing MOMENT -- needing to focus on the here and now.
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My word is LEARN. My computer is full of things that I have collected but have yet learned to use. Then I kept thinking of other things that I need to learn such as how to better use my time. This will be a great word on which to focus in 2011.
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I am leaning towards this word as well. I want to learn more about photography and photoshop, about American History (because my nephews are making me feel dumb), about my family and friends, and even about myself.
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My word is LISTEN. First, I need to listen to God. I need to learn to listen more to my family; my husband, my children and my immediate family and friends. Sometimes, I get caught up in MY everyday activities and I JUST dont take the time to do it! I think; I am combining my One Little Word class with my Project Life 2011. I am looking forward to it!
Thank you, Ali for being a continual source of inspiration to all of us!!
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Daphne, my word is also LISTEN this year. I need to listen to my body, listen to my heart. Listen when people speak, not just to their words, but to the humanity behind the words. I have some big decisions to make, and I need to keep very still and listen for wisdom.
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Last year's word, "focus", led me to this year's word---"create".
It just keeps appearing on ever expanding levels ....from the word popping out of ads in quilt and scrapbook magazines to recurring memories of my home church litergy---'create in me a clean heart O Lord and renew a right spirit within me'...yep, it's the one for 2011.
Focus was a great word and it will be carried forward..along with "simplify" and "balance" from the years before....it seems all these words will link together at some point.
see you in class!
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My word last year was also focus http://everyday-glimpses.blogspot.com/2010/01/focus-on-gratitude.html
...and my word for this year is the same as yours: Create!
I want to create more art with my photography and open an etsy shop
I want to create a healthier "me" (drink more water,floss more,etc)
I want to create a less cluttered & more organized home
I want to create more smiles and joy and happiness :)
Love, love how God's Word spoke to you in this. I smiled big!
Dawn S...love your blog!
And we must be connected somehow...we focus on so many of the same things..you even had my "life song" on your site...the shaker Gift hymn...good to know you are out there! Hope you have a very creative year!
Debbie
I chose CREATE as well. And my daughter chose FOCUS. I think they are both great words! This is my first time choosing OLW. I can't wait to see what this experience brings to me.
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Passion~ This will be my first year with a chosen word. A word that was placed on my heart at Christmas Eve midnight Mass. Can't wait to see where it leads me~
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Passion is my chosen word as well this year. This is the year I have decided to follow my passion(s) and make something of them.
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Believe. My words in years past have been charmed, grace and peace. This year while we were watching the Polar Express, Believe just set itself up in my heart and mind for this year. It really follows in my line of words. I am looking forward to your One Little Word class. I signed up for it on Monday. Happy New Year to you.
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Susan - I am glad it was helpful to you. I also believe in these things, just sometimes I need to remind myself to really and truly believe - thus my selection for the year. Best wishes!
Renee thank you for your post. Up until I read it my word was going to be connect. After seeing your post BELIEVE jumped into my heart. I recently lost my job, health insurance, relocated and started a new relationship. I believe all this will work out for the best. I believe in the power of love and friends. Can't wait to see where believe takes me...thank you.
This is also my word. I have been digging deep and kept thinking that my word was going to be self. I just turned 39 and have been doing a mini book to document my year- a year about me. I really am trying to dig deep and discover who I am and I vow this year to be happy and let go of anger and sadness. So, I thought happy. But, then I was looking through some inspirational quotes and this one from Audrey Hepburn jumped out at me and spoke to my heart: "I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles." Looking forward to the class, too!
I am choosing BELIEVE also for my one word. This is my first year on the one word journey and the same day I decided I wanted to participate my aunt sent me this word as away to accept what every day brings...believe! I am excited to see how I can take this word journey and help me accept all the things coming my way with our family of 5...with 3 boys! 5yr, and a set of 3 yr twins...
I also picked Believe! Can't wait for the class to get underway.
BELIEVE.....that is my word too. It picked me a few months ago...it just seemed to keep showing up....and I just wasn't paying attention....until I found this blog and read about One Little Word....when I read this post I knew that Believe was my word.
Thank you Ali for creating such a wonderful class with such a lively and inspiring community!!! This is my first year to participate in OLW.
My word was there all along. I saw it, but didn't "see" it...passed over it, thought my word was something else, but then, I realized I had seen it in so many different places.
After seeing it at the end of a friend's email...just the simple word: BELIEVE!, and I just knew that was the word for me! :) I am really looking forward to starting this journey and becoming a part of this beautiful community!!!
May God bless you all abundantly!
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wholehearted
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Oh, Jenny, I love this choice. Mine is different this year but I can totally see myself choosing that some year. Are you familiar with Brene Brown's work? If not, check out http://www.ordinarycourage.com/.
Jenny, I just read this quote and thought of your word:
"Do you understand that it's impossible to please God in any way other than wholehearted surrender?" ~ Francis Chan
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joy
this has been a really hard year for me (2010) and even tho the struggle with depression isn't going away - i know that i can find that joy in the small things
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Holly, I picked courage for much the same reasons -- we can joyfully encourage one another to be courageous!
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I was going over your past posts regarding "One Little Word" hoping that a word would find me. And it did! My word is PERSEVERE. I am typically a shy person so words like "peace", "give", "happy" are words that best describe me. But when I started to look up the definitions for PERSEVERE - it just stuck a cord with me. I love that it is a "stronger" word for me. It is going to push me to really do things out of the box for me.
I'm also in your BPS "One Little Word" class and can't wait!
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Right now I am really leaning toward "SLOW" as my word for 2011
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Gratitude. As in "In Everything Give Thanks." 2009 & 2010 began the exercise for that, but I'm looking forward to actively expressing it.
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My word for 2011 is "reconnect" and I'm really excited about having a focus on this word for 2011. I am familiar with the idea of one little word but have never tried it. Looks like 2011 is the year and I am so looking forward to it. My word also chose me and I've already had so many ideas + thoughts about why/how this word fits me. I'm keeping a journal too and can't wait to see how it all unfolds.
Thanks Ali for your constant inspiration through sharing what you love.
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LOVE
This is my first year to participate in any kind of on line class. I am so excited to experience LOVE throughout this journey. I have been listening for my word to come to me and it finally did last night as I was talking to my 13 year old daughter. Love-it is all we need.
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My word found me in December when dealing with several sides of the family confronting a life challenge that will affect us deeply this year. Strength is my word. I have already begun to feel the power of one word in my life.
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Strength is a great word! It was my word in 2008 & it is one of my words every year because it reminds me that I am stronger than my anxiety. I am glad you are already feeling the power of this word. Best wishes for 2011.
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Simplify....I feel my life it cluttered with a lot of unnecessary things. It's time to SIMPLIFY!
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Hi Ali,
My favorite start to the New Year :)
My word for 2011 is CONNECT.
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