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.

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1654 thoughts

  1. Monique Helfrich says…
    01/07/2011

    As an OLW fan from the start I love to brainstorm about each new OLW. My 2010 OLW was Finish and it helped me to pass the exams for graphic design at the age of 47. Not that I started at the age of 18 mwhahaha.... So it's about time to START something new (2011 OLW and already on your list). People around me were quite surprised because each year my life is filled with new beginnings and new plans. But I've noticed that new beginnings don't always have to be a START. My plans and new beginnings were always fun but without any goal. For me START is accompanied with a Finish and it will keep me focused this year.

    Thanks for inspiring me in so many ways; you LIGHT op my life xxx

    groetjes,
    monique

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Foco no tempo | Casa da Daniela says…
    01/07/2011

    [...] Mas não é por causa disso que eu tou falando dela (é, eu me perco em divagações, explicações, cês sabem). É que há alguns anos a Ali escolhe uma palavra para o ano seguinte. Algo em que ela queira se concentrar, focar durante o ano. Palavras dos anos anteriores foram: Peace, Vitality, Nurture e Story. A deste ano é Light. [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Mary says…
    01/07/2011

    I am looking forward to this class for some me time! Lots of personal changes for me this year so the word I picked is 'embrace'.

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Wendy says…
    01/08/2011

    My word is: accept (acceptance/accepting)

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. One Little Word | Where Love and Chaos Reign says…
    01/08/2011

    [...] brain function has been tied up in contemplating Ali Edwards’ “One Little Word” project. The premise is that you choose a word at the beginning of the year and incorporate it into [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Deanne says…
    01/09/2011

    KINDNESS chose me... This is my first year of joining, and I'm doing so because I very recently came across Brene Brown. Just WOW, I feel so connected to you two ladies and feel like 2011 is going to be life changing for me in a massive way.. Kindness to me is not so much about being kind to others, as this generally comes quite easily, but moreso about being kind to myself. I thought I could use Balance as my word, and then realised that balance is part of being kind to myself.. I'm so excited about this year and the personal growth it will bring :-)

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. One Little Word < Scattered Words says…
    01/09/2011

    [...] year I participated in Ali Edwards’ “One Little Word project with the best of intentions. I picked the word “joyful” with the lofty goal of [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Pat in Tyler, Texas says…
    01/09/2011

    Never mind, I finally found it and printed it out.

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. » Blog Archive » Happy New Year! says…
    01/09/2011

    [...] have chosen my Word of the Year for 2011, it [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Risk and Resolve « MuddyFingersMeg says…
    01/09/2011

    [...] about a woman who took a little different approach to the New Year’s resolution.  She chose one little word as a focal point for the next year.  As 2011 is going to be an important year in my otherwise [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Less « windy willow says…
    01/10/2011

    [...] year Ali Edwards starts the new year with ‘One Little Word‘. Its a word you hold close to your heart, let it creep into the everyday and lead you [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. New Year’s Resolutions Are A Waste of Time | Sir Scrapalot Designs says…
    01/10/2011

    [...] more.  It was a matter of seeing the forest through the trees.  Ali Edwards talks about her One Little Word.  One word to focus on and guide you through the year.  There are many people who do this, so [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. rochelle says…
    01/10/2011

    My little word for 2011 is creat

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Carrie says…
    01/10/2011

    This is my first time my word is ESSENTIAL. I am going to school full time, and have about 10 bucket lists of nice things to do. Instead of getting overwhelmed I am going to focus on the essential. The necessary things get done but sometimes the nice to do come before the essential.

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. harriet hensley says…
    01/11/2011

    Productive is my word.... after several years of not being able to do anything physical. Now after hip replacement I can finally move and do things. So this year my word is to be productive in getting my home and yard back to order. This also runs over to my business life and I am reminded everyday already to be more PRODUCTIVE.

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Sunday Best - One Little Word 2011: Evolve says…
    01/11/2011

    [...] I started 2011 with the thought that ‘Hope’ would be a good little word to meditate on this year. But a few days passed and it just wasn’t sitting right. I was [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Maddy says…
    01/11/2011

    Delight is my word. Looking back at last year's entry, I found "joy", and "beauty" in nature. So my new word is delight! Delight will bring me joy, renewal, and gratitude for beauty in nature, people, and my surroundings. Winter is a great time to manifest delight. You really have to work it!

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Lisa DeLuna says…
    01/12/2011

    Understanding- that is my word for 2011. I want to be more understanding of God's plan, my husbands choices, & of all the hardship that is part of our family right now.

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Mary Ski says…
    01/12/2011

    My word is Future. Spending time with grandsons (4 of them), youngest daughter getting married in April. Health and career changes. By setting my sights on the FUTURE (near and distant) I can get through the bumps of life occurring at the moment.

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Alistair says…
    01/12/2011

    My word for 2011 is Attitude.
    We have so little control over so much of our lives but we can decide how we react and how we feel. Already, keeping a positive attitude has kept me from dwelling on negative emotions. Roll on, 2011!

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Beverley says…
    01/12/2011

    ARGHHHH!!! That's not my word LOL. I REALLY want to do this. I've been lurking and looking here for a while. I want to get going BUT there's so many words! I thought I had one, then it scared me it might be the wrong one and I'd waste a year, so I easily thought of another, then I realised there are MANY words that would apply to my manic life! :/ Every time I choose I panic and change. How do I choose and stick to ONE word? There was simplify and Independence first, then colour, fun, play, time, DO, relax, create, on and on and on ...... I thought WHY does it have to be so hard? *sigh* then I thought of EASY (which of course is the opposite) then release ........ What is wrong with me? I want to do this and I'm getting in my own way :'(

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Beverley says…
    01/12/2011

    My word is CAN :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Kris Carpinello says…
    01/13/2011

    Ok, I think I am going to change my word. I think I knew months ago what it would be, but for some reason talked myself out of it. Well, no more. My word is strength (formerly nurture). In November Cathy Zielske featured a necklace of an oak tree, symbolizing strength and courage. I loved it immediately and purchased it. Since have given it to a friend whose son is battling cancer, and thought - on to a new word. But I am finding that as this new year unfolds, strength is what I need to get me through my days in the way that I want to live them. I knew it then, and I now know it now. So - I am changing! I will have the strength to nurture myself and my family, dealing with life's little (and not so little) bumps with hopefully a little more grace that I have before. I think I'm going to buy that necklace again!

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. asli says…
    01/13/2011

    Grace. I want to recognize grace in my life this year.

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. asli says…
    01/13/2011

    Grace. I want to be open to experiencing, accepting and being grateful for Grace in my life.

    Reply 0 Replies

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