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
[...] here to learn more about what exactly is One Little Word & here to see what Ali Edwards has chosen as her One Little Word for [...]
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[...] Ali Edwards’ One Little Word has inspired me for several years. I’ve even had my own words. I’ve started the last few years with great words and then after a few months they’ve slipped my mind. [...]
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PERSEVERE is my little word for 2012. I've been doing this for several years and this is the one that is going to help me focus on what I need to do this year. I need to persevere with my goals that I set last year, including my counsellor/coach training, my search for work, my relationships, my home, my writing, my dreams, my family,....it is the perfect word for where I am right now!!!
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[...] What one little word will guide you through 2012? Learn more about “One Little Word” at Ali Edwards’ Blog. [...]
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[...] What’s your word for 2012? Be inspired here! [...]
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[...] you joined in on Ali Edwards One Little Word this year? What is your word? Have you blogged about it? Link me up! Tweet This! Filed Under: [...]
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Real.
Real food
Real things
Real time
Real relationships
Real love
Real effort
Real goals
Just. Be real.
Real about what I can accomplish. Be real about what I need and want. Be real about life.. Here's to 2012! Best year yet!
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My word for this year will be LIFT. I'll try to lift myself and people around me. Choosing a word for the year has become a tradition. Thank you so much, Ali!
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Wow! How funny....I never check your word or anyone else's until I have picked my own. I just chose my word after falling down the stairs first thing this morning. My word is "UP" too. I have had a year of "downs" in 2011. In 2011 my husband and I lost our jobs and it's been a domino effect ever since. There have been very few ups in our lives. I feel we have no place to go but "UP" this year.
I am hoping to get my new card/invitation business "up" and running, I am hoping to help my son, who struggles so hard in school, to pull his grades "up", I am hoping that our financial situation improves and that my spirits remain "up" this year. There are so many things that I need to go "up". I have spent far too much time "down" with my health this year. I am making a point of getting "up" and moving.
I just want to add that I just read about your pending divorce. My thoughts and prayers are with you and the kids. May you have a blessed New Year.
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[...] again I have chosen One Little Word to live by for 2012. Thank you Ali Edwards [http://aliedwards.com/2011/12/one-little-word-2012.html] and your fans for helping me once again to choose a [...]
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STRONGER.
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[...] word” to describe and focus their next year’s journey. The idea was gleaned from Ali Edwards and if you go to her site, you’ll see how she uses her words in artistic ways. And this [...]
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My word is going to be Possibilities. With my oldest graduating from high school this year, I have been reminded that there are so many possibilities for each of us. I have so many things I want to accomplish, and this is the year I'm going for it!
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I'm selecting "finish" for my one little word in 2012. I am an enthusiastic *starter* of lots of projects, but I find that starting one project often gets in the way of finishing others that have already been started. So in 2012, I want to focus on finishing things. Some with be UFOs from a while back and another will be the Art Journal Caravan that I want to carry through from start to finish during 2012.
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My word is "Okay". I chose it because I have been fighting depression for about 1/2 a year, and the last couple of months, depression has been winning. With new medication, I am learning that I will be okay, that it is okay if everything is not perfect, it is okay if I take a day off, it is okay to scrap a page and not have supper cooked, etc.... I know it is such a simple little word, but one that is more powerful than you can believe.
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Okay is such a good place to be. It's a place for resting and healing! <3
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My word is RHYTHM.
Last year I had PATH, and now I think I've found my path and started my journey on it and I need a good rhythm to take me along the path. This really has affected my life and I'm very thankful for the idea. Thank you Ali! :)
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My word for this year has been sneaking up on me over the last couple months. This morning I woke up knowing my word for 2012 is GENEROUS. I want to be generous with love, with gratitude, with listening, with art, with stories, with my family and with myself as I start a new chapter of life - motherhood. Last year my word was DISCOVER and I am still holding that word as I anticipate the arrival of our first child and everything my husband and I will discover together as we learn to be parents.
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My OLW this year is faithful. I KNOW all the things that I need to do to bring peace, health and contentment into my life. Now I just need to be faithful in all things. Faithful to my Heavenly Father, faithful to my family, myself, etc... I have loved having a OLW for the past 5 or so years. Some previous words have been Forgive, Balance, Less & More and now Faithful.
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My word is actually going to be two words this year. Rejuvenate and grow. Rejuvenate is a little cliche, but it does best define what I want to accomplish. I want to breathe new life into some things that have been stagnant in my life. But I also want to grow. Not start over, but build on the foundations I've already put so much time into learning. I want to take things to new heights!
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I also have a great quote for my year..."All glory comes from daring to begin." Alexander Graham Bell. Happy 2012 everyone!
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[...] to do with the time ahead. instead of resolutions and goals and plans and dreams… i choose One Little Word that i use to define my year. one little word to focus on and use as a constant reminder of what i [...]
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