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
What a wonderful attitude, Ali! I hope 2012 brings you much joy.
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My word for 2012 is joy. I'd been thinking about it since Thanksgiving and it seemed to pick me. I'm interested to see where it leads this year.
I love the quote you chose, Ali, and you're word. I'm taking the One Little Word class next year and am super excited about it!
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My work is IMAGINATION.
creating a mental imagine of something that has never before been perceived before in reality; creating something out of nothing, solving problems with creativity
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My word this year is going to be STORY. I've been thinking so much about family this recent year, and it's become so important to me to record the story of my family- our history, our lives, my life, and to take notice of the small joys in life that *really* are the big things. Being so present in my life helps me deal with my anxiety. My dad has a box of photos and cards, and other papers, dating back to the 1890's. We've been going through them and he's been telling me what he knows about the people in the pictures. The problem is that many of the people in the photos are nameless despite his best efforts to find out who each person is- it's really reinforced my desire to document the story of our family so that future generations don't see our pictures as being full of nameless people- they'll know that we struggled, loved, created, laboured, and lived.
Good luck, Ali. I love your word this year, and like others before me have said, your attitude is really inspiring. Thank you.
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well - already full of meaning to me. still trying to find time to sort it out on the blog.
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I think my new word is HOPE.....it just keeps presenting itself to me for the last couple monthes....I hesitate, only because I do not know "why" this word has chosen me....I even tried to pick another word, Focus, but even just this morning, HOPE, keeps appearing....I may just go with it and see where 2012 and HOPE takes me....
I did OLW 2011 class and Loved it. Some of the prompts I changed a bit to more photography....and I felt that my word BREATHE was with me still. So I encourage non-scrapbookers to take the class!
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Mindful. Thank you to Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn for introducing me to the concept moment to moment mindfulness. I hope to track my progress towards meditation outside of time thru OLW. Thanks Ali. Have loved everything you do for about forever. :)
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Should have been "...OF moment to moment..." :)
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My one little word for 2012 is SEE. I am struck by the line in Avatar when they would say "I see you". I would like to bring more intentional awareness into my life. I feel as though I am rushing through life only glancing and need to slow down to really "see" my family, friends, passions and life work.
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My OLW for 2012 is going to be LESS. I did reasonably well with my first OLW, WELLNESS, back in 2010 when I first heard of the idea, but not so well with my 2011 DISCIPLINE - I think because I was trying to be disciplined about too many things. In 2012, I'll keep things simpler and just focus on LESS.
Many thanks to you, Ali, for introducing me to the OLW concept and for creating the OLW class last year and running it again this year. Looking forward to seeing where it will bring me this year.
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Changes.
I need to make alot of changes in my life this year and i am absolutely commited to making them! So excited (and terrified) to get started!
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I thought long and hard on my Word for 2012. In fact I thought about it more than any other year...and I have been doing this a long time!
My Word for the year is STORY. I have sooo many stories I am working on in my life. I have several goals which involve me telling stories, too.
STORY!!
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my word for 2012 is nourish - my body, mind and heart.looking forward to what the new year holds!
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My word this year is develop. Developing better relationships with my friends. Developing mine and my husbands relationship. Developing me into a better person physically, mentally and emotionally. Developing my photography skills. 2012 is my year to develop! Thank you Ali for all you share and thanks everyone for sharing your words - lots of inspiration.
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My word for 2011 has been stillness. I held this image in mind throughout the past year as I came to know my word.
"You imagine a spinning top. Stillness is like a perfectly centered top, spinning so fast it appears motionless. It appears this way not because it isn't moving, but because it's spinning at full speed. Stillness is not the absence or negation of energy, life, or movement. Stillness is dynamic. It is unconflicted movement, life in harmony with itself, skill in action. It can be experienced whenever there is total, uninhibited, unconflicted participation in the moment you are in - when you are wholeheartedly present with whatever you are doing." Erich Schiffmann, Moving Into Stillness
I participated in the OLW class and rather than scrapbooking, I created a private blog and used that as my platform for the class. I also used my blog when I took the STORYOLOGY class. So if you are not a scrap booker, don't let that discourage you from participating. I also bought the OLW necklace that Lisa Leonard created and that served as an important daily reminder of my desire for stillness.
The monthly prompts allowed me to keep my word in mind throughout the year. I am amazed at what came from having a commitment stillness in mind most days throughout 2011. The word led to me taking a mindfulness class, resuming a regular yoga practice and trying to remember to open up and let go throughout each day so that I can be fully present to life no matter what is going on.
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Wow! What a wonderful post! I may use Stillness as well. LOVED what you said! Thanks!
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Last year for OLW I chose Do. I love my scrapbook from the class and cannot wait to add to it in 2012 with my word- Finish.
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Magic
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Faith - it's a word that I have been noticing alot the past couple of weeks. This will be my first time having a word for the year. Looking forward to it.
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my word for 2012 will be TREASURE. i am going to treasure not only the big events, but all the little everyday moments. i am not going to focus on the negative, but focus on the positive. our family is going through some transitions with my hubby being out of work since may. he is looking to work oversees while my daughter and i stay state side. we will then be moving from pa to fl after the school year. it's will be a huge change, but the opportunities it will provide, will be priceless. we are going to have a new life adventure.
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Happy is my word for 2012 and it chose me, though I might make it Joy as it encompasses Happy as well. It came to me about a week ago when I was thinking about things and it popped into my head. I am also continuing to embrace my 2011 word of Change.
Ali, you are truly and inspiration and love your word UP. I think it is the perfect word for you as you embrace the next Chapter in your life. You continue to inspire others and I hope that you realize that. Happy 2012.
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My word is "free". Free of negativity. Free to move forward in my life as I see fit. Free to love my children in the ways that they need to be loved. Free myself of the need to get approval from people who will never give it to me. Free to enjoy my role as a wife. Free more time up to spend with my family.
I've never done this class before and I'm super excited to start!!
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Very cool word...and application!
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