One Little Word 2012
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Poster print via Poster Inspired.
My word for 2012 is up.
It came to me one day last month while I was working in the kitchen and the kids were watching the movie Up. My initial connection to the word stems from the part towards the end where the old man is looking at the scrapbook his wife made and a note she wrote to him at the end which says something along the lines of "Thanks for the adventure. Now go have a new one." (Found the clip here.)
That's the attitude I'd like to be working towards and embracing in 2012 - giving thanks for the things that were great about my marriage and then moving forward and welcoming whatever is coming next.
Up | ready, eager, open, awake, into a happy mood
There were so many words I could have chosen for what I want for myself in 2012. This one simply feels like a good starting place. I will also be carrying three of my past words close to my heart again in 2012: light, story, and peace.
Are you considering selecting a word for yourself (or letting one find you)? 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 2012. 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 days I'll combine all the words into a single post - super inspiring to see all the words in one place.
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, 2010 and 2011.
Above is an image of all my prompts from my album that I made for my One Little Word class at Big Picture in 2011.
Registration is open for 2012 and you're invited to join the journey.
Each month you'll receive a prompt with a simple creative, writing, or photography 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, 2012.
TODAY'S POST SPONSORED BY |Simplify 101 Online Workshops
Regardless what word you select, choosing a word means you want to make your life even better than it is today. The very essence of One Little Word is improving your life, which is why this online workshop is perfect for you. It gives you the foundation, ideas and inspiration you need to dream about a life you love, plus concrete action steps to help you make it happen! Use code: ONELITTLEWORD through January 6, 2012 to take 15% off any simplify 101 workshop (may not be combined with other offers). ABOUT SIMPLIFY 101 | Founded by Aby Garvey, the co-author of The Organized and Inspired Scrapbooker, simplify 101’s mission is to make getting organized fun!
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986 comments
My word for 2012 is PROOF. I want my life, my actions, who I am to be living proof of what is important/vital to me. I want to see visible results with my goals, projects, and plans for the year. I want the love I have for my family to be visible, touchable, audible so that they have PROOF that I care. I want to be better at recording the memories that I make. I have so many reasons for this word and I'm crazy excited for 2012! :)
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What an awesome choice! I love it!
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My word is Bold, as in Being Bold in 2012! I'm trying to work through some of the things I feel are holding me back on achieving my goals and by being BOLD.
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My 2012 word is DO. A positive word, the opposite of don't. No excuses, just DO. After 3 years of being negative I am ready to try something else. Negativity and bitterness didn't work for me so I am changing. No more talking about what I should do. Just DO.
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Ali, Your class this past year was instrumental in helping me to keep in touch with my word for 2011 which was "focus". I'll be summing up my thoughts about it in our monthly OLW Blog Hop on Jan. 1st.
For 2012, I've chosen the word CREATE. The simple reason is that I want to give myself permission to spend more time creating in my scrap room, whether it's pages or mini albums or art journaling. As I'm beginning to think more and more about this word, I can see that there are many directions that this word could take me. I'm looking forward to the adventure.
Many blessings to you as well as you begin anew.
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Savor
Thank you so much for this tradition
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leap
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My word for 2012 is "unencumbered". This is my 3rd year setting an intention in one little word and I can't wait to see where it takes me.
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less
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The word SURRENDER first presented itself to me about 15 years ago. It gets louder each year, and the concept has taken to slamming into me of late. My mom passed away on Christmas Eve, and I think 2012 is going to give many more opportunities to learn more about and work on surrendering. Life would have less worry if I could just get this lesson figured out!
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Courage.
Discovering courage. Discovering bravery.
Letting go of the voices that tell me I am not good enough. That I can't do this or that. The voices that make me question myself.
Facing the day with courage.
I have big dreams for the new year.
Thank you Ali for being a light for so many of us.
Love.
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Mine is self-control. I really need to work on this!
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Hi Ali! I think your word is amazing and apropos for what sounds like the opening of a new adventure :) I'd been thinking about my word for the last few weeks and was gravitating towards two, but in the end I choose MOVE. There are many ways I want to move--mentally, physically, emotionally, etc.
Here's my pinterest board to help inspire me throughout the year: http://pinterest.com/mrshobbes/one-little-word/
I hope to save enough so I can join your class next year! I'd love to be with other people as we all strive to be our best selves :)
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LOVE THIS!!! I made a board too when my word found me.
http://pinterest.com/andreareyes/shine-2012/
BEYOND-LOVE your board!!!!!!!!!!! <3
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Last year was "beautiful" this year is "worship".
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My word is Go. Well, sort of Go!...but really both. It seems as though I spend a ton of time preparing, but not enough time doing (which really became apparent during December...so much to do, but what have I really done?) So go to me represents the idea of getting out and doing...enjoying time with my kids, and my husband, and taking time for myself. Which, is the Go! portion...I've registered to run my first marathon this April, the GO! St. Louis Marathon. So I really do need to lace up my shoes and Go, so I can cross that finish line a proud 40 year old mama!
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Last year, my word was devotion. My goal was to commit and dedicate myself to what was important to me with great love and light.I am just now getting the ability to make a commitment and keep it. This year, my word will be "deep"- to deepen my devotion to my priorities, deepen my yoga and meditation practice, and deepen my understanding of myself so that I may reveal to others the depths of who I am.
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I am having trouble coming up with my word. This will be my 1st year to participate, and I'm hoping OWL will help me make some major changes in my life. In the past 2 years, I have lost my husband (at age 48, after a 6-wk cancer battle), moved (to a large city), started a new job, bought a house on my own, lost my mother (a few days before Christmas last year), and become an empty-nester. The past 2 years I have simply survived.
I'm ready for that to change. I want to be more deliberate, more focused, more positive, more future-oriented, healthier (physically and emotionally), etc. I want my life to actually reflect my belief system. I want to stop going through the motions.
So if anyone knows the perfect word for me, I hope they'll share. :)
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Dawn, thank you for your kind words and your suggestions. I finally found my word and posted further down about why. But the word is "authentic" -- I want an authentic faith and walk in that it is true to the model Christ gave us. I also want to discover who I am, what makes me authentic as a person, not as a wife/widow, mother, etc., and my authentic life and then live it. I don't even know who I am anymore (so cliched, I know, but true). Again, thank you so much!!
I had to comment and just say WOW you have gone thru so much in your life. I'm so sorry about the passing of your husband and mom, that must be hard. Sounds like you are embracing the changes and making it work for yourself which is awesome. What a great time to choose a word for yourself and explore it and have something new to focus on this new year. Just by reading your comment my suggestion would be to choose a word about going forward:
future
forward
embrace
hope
focus
believe (this is my word this year)
faith
healthy ( you just used that word)
healing
Those are just what popped out while reading your comment. You might need to think it over more and see what is speaking to you or wait for a word to come to you. Just reading these comments from everyone also helps give you ideas. I love reading them.
Good luck on whatever you choose and in your New Year. Taking this class I think is a good step for you.
p.s. just thought of STRONG you are strong for what you've been thru and want to keep staying strong thru the year.
Would love to know what you end up picking out, let me know.
hugs and prayers
dawn
Patti, I'm so sorry for the losses you've had. What a perfect time for you to pick a word and use it for the New Year. Sounds like many changes in your life already yet you seem positive which is good. What a good time for you to focus on a word and explore it for the new year. Here are some that come to mind:
future
be (be present, be in the moment, be accountable)
strong, you already are and need to still be
faith
embrace
focus
live ( really live now and not just going thru the motions)
breathe
hope
listen ( to yourself and others and your heart)
trust
happy (be happy and choose to be everyday)
these are just some that just popped out at me, take the time to think more about what you want in 2012 and see what word speaks the loudest to you or you feel it in your heart. Reading the comments here also helps give you ideas.
I think your off to a good start for the new year and wish you good luck and prayers for your journey. Would love to know what word you end up choosing, let me know.
hugs Dawn
Patti,
So glad you found a word and I love love it. Sorry for the double comments, my computer was freezing on me and wouldn't post so I tried to rewrite the same thing fast before it would freeze again. LOL it posted twice anyhow, dang computer.
I think this word will work wonderfully for you and so good that you are finding out who you are right now. I thought about your comment all day and even had more ideas that popped into my head thru the day.
Early last year I took an online class and my teacher is very authentic and so amazing. I've seen her blossom this year and into this word. So I wish the same for you this year.
Good luck and if you'd like to stay in touch I'd love that. You can email me at rikm@adelphia.net
Thanks for letting me know you found a word.
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Love your one little word. Last year mine was courage, I wanted to stop being shy & just letting opportunities go by. Which I did, I am now in a dream job & doing things I always wanted to do. This year my one little word is service, Iam going to endeavour to live more like Jesus did in service of others. A year of looking beyond myself.
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My OLW for this year is Purpose. Do things with purpose. Do not waste energy by being disorganized and not following through. Stop being lazy, it only hurts yourself, your wallet and your time management.
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help...that's my word. i've had quite a few years of taking care of what i need & while that's a great thing to do i'm feeling like it's time to turn more outward...so i'm thinking: help when someone asks, help when someone doesn't ask, help my kids be themselves, help my husband with what i can, help people who can't, help people who can, help my neighbors, help my friends... & to ask for help when i need it... this one feels really right.
i love yours too, ali... makes me think that there may be some balloon bouquets in your future :)
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Love your new word Ali, your whole attitude to life is so inspiring. My word will be balance.
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