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.
This will be my first year of OLW. I have chosen the word 'enjoy'. I hope to really focus on enjoying moments as they come and not looking forward to the next moment. I want to ENJOY as I go along, My secondary word will be simplify, as I truly believe that as I simplify my life, I will enjoy everything more.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Finally settled on my word (or it settled on me...).
STRETCH.
I love the challenge aspect--stretching myself, becoming more flexible, working toward simplicity through stretching my finances and possessions. And as an over-achiever, the flip side is also important. Thinking about elasticity, if something is stretched beyond its limits, it can break.
I've signed up for the BPC workshop and am looking forward to journeying with my word this year and seeing how it evolves.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
my word 2011 is CREATE! i hope to create my own little business in 2011. create my ideas in real projects.
my first project is your workshop.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Discover is my word for 2011. I spent the last year opening up my vision and playing with ideas and this year I want to discover where they lead me.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I’ve been thinking about my one little word for several weeks now. Three years ago – although I did not choose a word – was all about taking care of me. As a mother of 4, I had neglected myself (don’t we all?) I needed to get my health back, and spent the year concentrating on eating healthy, exercising, changing my wardrobe, and feeling better about myself. The next year was Balance – making sure there was time for the important things in life, rather than just dealing with the most urgent each day. Last year was Reduce – reducing stress, reducing clutter, reducing my weight a bit.
This year coming up with my word has been much more difficult for me. I still need to balance my time and reduce clutter in my home. I need to deal with some stressors in my volunteer roles. I need to deal with having an “empty nest” for the first time. I need spend more time with my husband, have friends over more, do something creative on a regular basis. I want to feel happy, not just content. I kept coming up with words like choice, prioritize, happiness, accept, enjoy, evolve – but nothing seemed to really be it. Then finally, this week, Create Joy became my word(s). Not just be happy, but make the happiness. Do things that cause Joy in myself and others, be a part of and the cause of the Joy in and around me. CREATE JOY covers all my goals.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
CALM is my word for 2011. I have never done the whole word of the year thing before but I am trying this year. I picked CALM because 2010 was a chaotic year and I am trying for the opposite this year.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My word for this year is "commit". (I know it's spelled right but it looks weird! :)) It just came to me one day when I wasn't even thinking about what my word would be! But it did hit home - it's something I need to handle better. I don't have trouble committing to relationships or responsibilities, but I have trouble committing to things like exercise, sticking to a budget, following through on an idea, etc. I think some of my lack of commitment is due to fear - what if I commit, then fail? This should be an interesting journey this year, to say the least! And, my husband and I have adopted this word for our family this year - we are all going to commit to following through on chores, staying on our budget, etc. Can't wait to see what develops!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Again in this comment area:
My word is going to be "growth".
My daughter will turn one, I am married for one year already, I finished my education last year so everything is developing. I am growing as a mom, as wife, in putting job and family together...
GROWTH is my word 2011.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I've not had 'one little word' of my own before, but inspired I have settled on 'BALANCE'...it came to mi in a Eureka moment in the shower!! I hope I can achieve balance in all areas of my life in 2011...Thank You for the inspiration!! ♥
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Inspired by Karen Walrond (aka Chookooloonks), my word this year is BADASSERY. I'll be working on reclaiming mine.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My word is APPRECIATE.
I find that instead of appreciating all that I do have; I focus on all that I don't have. Hope to sign up for the class...gotta make sure it's in the budget.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My one little word is CHALLENGE - I want to challenge myself and be challenged. I want to embrace what I don't know and learn and grow personally and in my crafting, which I believe will happen through challenges. I want to take myself out of my comfort zone and live a fuller life. That is my challenge.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I think my word is simply going to be "go"...
As we enter the new year, I keep thinking of the Switchfoot lyrics that say, "This is your life... Are you who you want to be?"
And for me, at this point in life, I feel like if my answer to this question is not a resounding "yes", then... GO do something about it!!! There is nothing in my way! I am free to create my life.
Some of the "GO statements" that have already come to mind to help me become the person I want to be and accomplish some goals I have:
1. Go take a photography class.
2. Go travel to new places (including an international trip).
3. Go get involved in church and volunteer more.
4. Go take up golf again.
5. Go see friends + family in person, even if across the country.
6. Go set a new personal record in the half marathon.
Anyway, you get the idea for now. Off to work on my December Daily... ;)
Sign in or sign up to comment.
[...] never really done Ali’s One Little Word project. I don’t plan to do anything this year in an official capacity. However, as I [...]
Sign in or sign up to comment.
PROGRESS. This word found me late in 2010, and I think it's the perfect word. There are so many things that I need to do and want to do that there is no way I'm going to accomplish everything. So, instead, I'll make progress toward them all and free myself from the responsibility of completing everything. Also, I can feel a sense of progress, and I can progress as a person, wife, mother, teacher, etc. There's a whole lot in that one little word, but it's pressure-free.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My word is babysteps.I have a tendency to wait to start any project until I have all the answers and have it all planned out perfectly. I also get bogged down waiting until I have enough time. Well, life just isn't perfect like that and it means that I don't get much done and I want my life to count for something. I want to accomplish things and I want to be more creative and actually get something done. I want to start taking babysteps toward my creative dreams this year! So my word is babysteps.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
This year...STRETCH. Already putting it into practice.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
give is my word...for many reasons I want to remember to give more...both of my time and resources.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I can't wait to read through all the other comments. I think I have finally decided on PRIORITIZE. It seems to wrap all of my other goals into one large idea.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
[...] read Ali Edwards scrapbooking blog all the time. Every year she issues a challenge to find that one little word for the upcoming year. That word that speaks to you, motivates you, and inspires you. [...]
Sign in or sign up to comment.
[...] never read prior to, oh, Friday night but that’s gonna change!) has a tradition of choosing one little word that she uses to frame her year ahead. I think I’ll be reading her more soon, as it seems [...]
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Sometimes I overthink things... Noooooooooo, really?? My word for 2011 came to me yesterday out of the blue after thinking on it for a month. I dwelled on the word 'change' because there will be a big change for me this year. Then, I thought of 'fearless', because I need to be fearless with the new year and the changes it will bring. Then, the real word came to me, the one I needed all along.... 'dance'. It fits in with everything, for me anyway, and isn't that what my one little word is supposed to do. With this word, I can change and be fearless... If you know the songs I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann Womack and Life's A Dance by John Michael Montgomery... that's what my word is all about... DANCE!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My one little word for 2011 is HOPE. I'm hoping (no pun intended) my little word will lead to wonderful things this year.
xo
jeanne
Sign in or sign up to comment.
[...] photo from Ali Edwards [...]
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Hi Ali, I was inspired by you last year as I chose a word for the year and loved how it impacted my life in so many ways. This year I have chosen a new word, "rest". I'm looking forward to seeing how it shapes my actions and interactions in 2011!
Seriously wanting a "rest" necklace too!!
Thanks so much!
Jenny
Sign in or sign up to comment.