One Little Word 2011
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.
My word for 2011, "change". This word chose me sometime late in September. 2011 will be a year of change for me, moving, changing jobs, perhaps changing careers, relocating away from where my grown children are, no longer living alone but sharing my life - so much change to embrace and grow with.
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Perhaps "encourage"....
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Last year my word was surrender; it chose me!
My word for 2011 is RADICAL:
radical faith, radical witness, radical truth (seek it and speak it), radical discipline, radical change, radical courage, radical love, (so that I can make) radical impact
I have already had many confirmations that this is THE right word for me at THE right time! ...And my husband has kind of adopted it as his word as well.
Thank you for your inspiration...Am very, very excited about the class, too!
I love how bold that word is - awesome choice.
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I think my word is going to be believe as well. I believe things will get better in 2011, that work will "work itself out", believe that I can do things I never thought possible. I would love to take the class, but I just can't right now. I love this concept - thank you, Ali!
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Every year that I have chosen a word it has been such a fantastic thinking process and a positive outlook to my life. the first year was breathe, then home, then believe, then faith and this year I am choosing PEACE. Inner peace, outer peace, peace to all the pieces of my life. :) Peace Out!
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I remember my Dad was about the age I am now when he coined his "one" little word-attitude adjustment. I like how "perspective" captures that phrase. PERSPECTIVE
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My word is "Letting Go"
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I've been thinking about embrace
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My word is "organize".
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"focus" because i need it and my family needs it. i wrote it in a line of a comment somewhere (maybe here) and it all of a sudden became my focus. i just don't know what to do with this word to make something happen. which is why i will be signing up for your class at bpc. soon. as soon as i can focus on it....
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Health. Last year my word was balance, and I learned that to find real, lasting balance, and to deal with inevitable imbalance, I needed to be a healthier person. So my goal in 2011 is to become healthier physically, spiritually and emotionally.
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Let go. Okay so 2 words! Last year my word was change and it helped me accept the changes I knew were coming into my life. This year my words are "let go"...a follow up to change. The hard part is over...the changes happened and now I need to let go...let go of expectations, let go of familiarity, let go of perfection, let go of waiting until just the right moment, let go of disappointments, let go of grudges that the other person doesn't even know I harbor and it weighs ME down, let go of trying to be somebody I am not, let go of all the burdens and negative thoughts I have been carrying around for ever, let go of what could have been or what should have been...the list goes on and on...my two little words may take me two years to complete but I am going to let go of that thought and embrace the ability to let go.
Love this time of year Ali...THANK YOU!!!
I am considering release as my word, and I resonate a lot with what you wrote here. Release has the same idea as letting go, but it also feels like breathing too, which I like. Good luck with letting go!
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My one little word for 2011 is less. I want less clutter, less stress, less obsessing over trivial things, less obligations. My goal is to focus on clearing out the clutter, both physical and mental, so that I can have more joy, more space, more carefree moments.
Looking forward to your OLW class and embarking on this journey in the new year. Happy new year to you and your family Ali!
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My word: balance. I'm really excited about your class with BPS as well!
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My word for 2011 will be "listen." I have found that I need to listen in so many ways: to my body and what it needs; to my friends and family, as I have a bad tendency to interrupt; to my 10-year-old daughter who talks ALOT; to my husband who really doesn't ask for things with words.
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love.
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At first thought, my word was going to be PATIENCE. I definately need more patience in my life. Then the word RELAX jumped at me. I think if I slow down a bit and just relax about things,then I won't be so anxious and uptight about "stuff" and I will have more patience.
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my word for 2011 is "choice" or "choose."
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Heal. Like you, the word seemed to choose me. It's been a tough year, and there is much healing to do. When I've chosen a word in the past, it seems that many new meanings for it come to light over the course of the year. I am curious to see what heal will bring.
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My word for this year is STEADY.
It's not hard for me to set goals, but I get too easily frustrated when it takes me longer than I expected to realize them. This year, I'm going to remember to take things slowly and appreciate steady progress.
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For the year 2011 my word is colorful, it choose me..just like your word and I found this quote that fits fantastic: Art is your personal diary where you may color your thoughts and emotions on a page. ... As the sun colors flowers, so does art color life. ~John Lubbock ...
Thank you Ali for your never-ending inspiration!
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My word chose me and it is WHOLEHEARTED. I fnd myself thinking about my word and it seems to find me all throughout the day. I can't wait to see where it takes me in 2011.
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tillåt - Swedish for allow. it came to me all by itself, starting popping up in sentences and wishes, and it feels great.
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This is my first year participating in "One Little World." I really think it will help me focus and keep me motivated to be the person I want to be this year.
My word will be "pursue." Pursue my master's degree, pursue a teaching degree, continue to pursue a deeper and better relationship with my husband, pursue new friendships. Most importantly, I really want to pursue Jesus with my full heart this year. I'm also planning on running my first 5K by the end of the year, so that's a "pursuit" in more than one way!
I'm excited!
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I actually have two words that I picked every year or that pick me. It always amazes me how my words just build on each other from year to year.
In 2008- my word was FREEDOM. And in this year my world FELL APART! Some might think that would be horrible. But in order for me to embrace freedom I had to come to the end of my ropes.
In 2009 - it was RESTORATION. It was a continuation of 2008 and a rebuilding year for me.
In 2010 - my two words were BELIEVE and ACTIVATE. After two years of embracing freedom and restoration, I stepped into a place of new found confidence and identity. I no longer wanted to dream but actually put my dreams to action. I quit my job and started my own non profit. It's been an amazing year.
So we finally get to this year....
My two words for this year -
MOMENTUM - to continue to move forward at every level in my life. This includes physically, spiritually, emotionally and professionally. I love this word.
AND:
FROLIC - which seems to be such a silly word, but I love it. It means to be playful and to be merry. I want to FROLIC through this next year and be playful and bring that to others along I meet along the way. Learning to FROLIC enhances ones life.
Frolic - what a wonderful word. I am choosing "merry" for all the same reasons.
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