One Little Word 2013

One Little Word necklace from Lisa Leonard.

My word for 2013 is open.

Last year I had a great story about how my word came to me. This year it was more of a whisper and to be honest I'm not really sure what it means for me right now, or what it will end up meaning for me 12-months from now. And I'm okay with that.

Open is an attitude and an approach. It's a reminder to live wholeheartedly, to enter the ring, to live the length and the width. It's how I want to tackle this year.

I love that open is an action & a re-action. I can act with an open heart; I can re-act with an open heart.

I want to be open to it all - the amazing and the challenging. Wide open.

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 2013. 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.

If you’re new to the concept of One Little Word, you can read some of my previous posts here: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

One Little Word necklace from Liz Lamoreux. Use ONELITTLEWORD and receive 15% off through Jan 31.

ONE LITTLE WORD WORKSHOP

Registration is open for 2013 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, 2013.

Related Posts

Sign in or sign up to comment.

916 thoughts

  1. Angie R. says…
    12/26/2012

    My word this year is BALANCE. It seems a bit cliche - but I truly do need to figure out how to create balance in my life - so I'm going with it!

    Looking forward to my 2nd year with OLW.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. AllisonC says…
      01/04/2013

      I have also chosen the word BALANCE. Balance is an encompassing word: you need time, strength, patience, calm, perseverance, and much more to achieve balance. And sometimes you need to remember to lean on others to gain your own balance. It is a wonderful word that I intend to embrace fully this year!

  2. Carol Stoler says…
    12/26/2012

    Determine is my 2013 word.

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Kathleen says…
    12/26/2012

    My word for 2013 is ALIVE.

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Jasmine says…
    12/26/2012

    Open is my word for 2013 too. It's been on my mind for a while now. After a rough couple of years I've closed myself off to everything more and more . But it's definitely time to be open to life again.

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. {vicki} says…
    12/26/2012

    My word is CALM

    This year I hope to stay CALM during every situaton that may arrise. I have a tendency to over react to certain thigs and I really need to work on that.
    Wish me luck

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Bekah Doak says…
      12/27/2012

      Calm was my word in 2011- I still think of it often!

  6. Katrina says…
    12/26/2012

    My 2013 OLW is "soar" - it definitely chose me, and even nudged another word out of the way. Ha! My 2012 word (shift) was absolutely transforming, so I have high hopes for "soar."

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Lisa says…
      12/27/2012

      Me, too, Katrina! S O A R. I'll be right up there with you!

      2012's word was seek...and I found so much. balance. priorities. time for some things. let go of time for others. awareness. health. courage. man, was seek so very powerful for me. S O A R came to me way back in September at an awareness workshop. i am so excited. best of luck to you!

      ali~ thank you for sharing this journey with us.

  7. Chris H says…
    12/26/2012

    I'm choosing BUILD. I continue to be amazed at how this word thing is a progression from the years before. In order: Simpify, Focus, Discover, Leap, and now Build.

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. CindyM says…
      12/31/2012

      Build is also my 2013 word. I'm a little afraid of what it is going to ask of me but coupled with the word Brave, I'm going for it!
      All the best to you Chris H and SarahA in your year of Build!

    2. SarahA says…
      12/29/2012

      I have choosen "build" as well....I think it's going to be a great word!

  8. Susan says…
    12/26/2012

    My 2013 OLW is SIMPLIFY. And I've joined the journey with you and have signed up for your class.

    Reply 5 Replies
    1. Rebecca says…
      12/28/2012

      My word this year is SIMPLIFY. Every time I think of it, I breathe easier. It makes me happy. I am filled with a determination to make things simpler - in my home, in my life. Can't wait to get started :)

    2. KellyRae says…
      12/29/2012

      My word for 2013 is simplify. It took a while to decide on that word because two kept pushing into my heart - distill was the other word. They really are very close in definition but I feel simplify fits better at this time. I look forward to what the year will unfold.

    3. Jane says…
      12/27/2012

      My word is also SIMPLIFY, wonder if your life has become impossibly busy like mine?

    4. Andrea says…
      12/30/2012

      Hi! I decided to do OLW this year and I've been searching and searching... so many options! SIMPLIFY is my OLW for 2013. I've been gearing up and reading ways to simplify my life and home and everything else so this is the word that resonates for me!

    5. Cat Spicer says…
      01/11/2013

      I'm a little late, but I've joined the SIMPLIFY group for my one word for 2013. I'm hoping to focus on the important things and sift through the fluff in relationships, possessions and emotions.

  9. Sally says…
    12/26/2012

    CORNER is my OLW for 2013.
    It comes from a blog post by Tara Whitney titled "Corner. It is all about turning a corner- changing my path. There are many aspects in my life that I want to change the direction I am headed. Nurture instead of pamper, be more present and do things whole heartedly.
    I'm looking forward to a third year with you and BPC. I'm excited for the changes to the class this year!

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. J Allen says…
    12/26/2012

    2013=brave

    Reply 3 Replies
    1. J Allen says…
      12/27/2012

      Brave found me in October when I was in Africa for thirty days working in an orphanage and a preschool that was in a squatter camp. I'm wondering what it means at this point...

    2. Kristan Frazier says…
      12/26/2012

      I'm also choosing brave. I forsee some difficult moments ahead, and I will need to. E brave to face them.

    3. Kam says…
      12/27/2012

      I selected Brave, as well. I recently found out three other of my online friends are selecting the same word, or variations of it. I think it is an awesome (and simple!) word for 2013.

  11. Elizabeth says…
    12/26/2012

    My word for 2013 is: quest

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. joeynumber41 says…
    12/26/2012

    Happy. I want to be happy in 2013.

    Reply 3 Replies
    1. Alinor says…
      12/28/2012

      right there with you girls. 2013 will be all about happiness!

    2. Sarah Stäbler says…
      01/01/2013

      Happy is my word, too! It's my first time doing a one little word project. Happy new year!

    3. Debbie Greene says…
      12/26/2012

      My word for 2013 is Happy also. I plan to make a determined effort to find the happiness in all of life.

  13. Alicia says…
    12/26/2012

    I'm choosing "focus" this year. I've got such plans!

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Jan C. says…
    12/26/2012

    Finish. This word has been trying to find me for decades, I'm sure. I have always been the type who starts projects with enormous enthusiasm, but often loses enthusiasm and lets those projects lie unfinished. This year I'm hoping to practice finishing things. May sound silly, but I'm going to teach myself to take on only what I think I can and will finish. And somehow that must include not bringing home every book in the library when I know I can't get them read, lol!

    Reply 3 Replies
    1. Cathy S says…
      12/31/2012

      I'm with you on completing things, and while I contemplated 'finish', I'm going with 'commit' this year. I want to focus on commitment to the end of something, with focus on the process instead of the end.

    2. Virginia A says…
      12/26/2012

      Finish is a great word! I think I may adopt it as my own.

    3. Lynn Wigren says…
      12/26/2012

      Jan, I haven't picked a final word - I have several wandering around in my head but I haven't quite got it yet. Complete was the first one that stuck around for awhile for similar reasons to what you wrote. I have so many projects and goals I want to finish - I think it would be a relief to have them done and off my mind (and shelves!).

  15. Megan says…
    12/26/2012

    My word for 2013 is grace. I've had too many losses and heartaches in the last 2 1/2 years. I need to focus on being grateful for what I have and the time that I was given with the people who mean the most to me. To find the good in the not so good.

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Melinda Abrahamson says…
    12/26/2012

    My one little word for 2013 is Kind (as in kindness.) I am setting myself a goal of thoughtful, king acts daily. Whether these acts are small or grand, I want to create a daily habit of kindness and journal about it to remind myself that there is kindness and goodness in myself and others.

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. Jamie says…
      12/27/2012

      I'm also choosing KIND for 2013. Besides being kind to others, I know I also need to be kinder to myself... more forgiving, less negative talk and continue to take better physical care of myself.

    2. Sarah B R says…
      12/28/2012

      I'm choosing Kindness too. I can be tough and rough due to my upbringing. I want to give kindness a chance. Kindness does not equal weakness. I just have to believe that deeply. I want to be kind to my sweet child and my dear husband. They deserve it.

  17. Siveen says…
    12/26/2012

    Hi Ali, my word 2013 is ALIVE! i know it since March 2012!

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Stacy says…
    12/26/2012

    My OLW for 2013 is declutter. I'll also continue to live with the previous words from the past two years since I did not truly embrace them. I'll likely sign up for your class. Ali, I don't read many blogs, but yours is one of my top 3 and I want to thank you for sharing. You have blessed me and taught me so many things through your little space here on the web. You are such an admirable, strong, woman and mother...And so very creative. I wish you many blessings for the New Year. God bless :-)

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. Yulia W says…
      12/27/2012

      My word for 2013 is declutter as well! I need to declutter my space, my emotions, my thinking. I am so ready!

    2. Calvina says…
      12/26/2012

      My Word for 2012 is also Declutter! Last year I did "Simplify" and it was great, but I need to go a step further this year.

  19. Sherri says…
    12/26/2012

    My 2013 little word found me midway last year - It has stuck strong. It is "hope".

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Melinda says…
      01/01/2013

      Hope is my word for 2013. It found me and I am really looking forward to a year filled with hope.

  20. Juliann says…
    12/26/2012

    OPEN was my word two years ago so it is interesting that I chose LIGHT for 2013 - I think that was your word two years ago!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Barbara L Heller says…
      12/28/2012

      Interesting connection here also -- OPEN was my word for 2012 -- and LIGHT (or LIGHTEN) is my word for 2013.

  21. karen says…
    12/26/2012

    my word this year is present. I want to be present in the present moment. One of the gifts of meditation has been remembering that most of suffering comes from the future or past. So my goal for 2013 is to remember to stay present. Be here, now. Soak my life in.

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. Karina K says…
      12/28/2012

      That's my word as well for 2013. Be in the present not in the past or future...

    2. stacey says…
      01/08/2013

      Thank you, Karen. Somehow, I've never put the two concepts together. This brings new meaning to "be in the present" for me. I know for me, feeling guilty over the past (deserved or not), and fearing the future, is pretty well ruining any chance for peace or happiness. I am so glad I came across your post. Thank You! Good Luck!

  22. Lisa says…
    12/26/2012

    My one little word for this year is FOCUS. I feel that i try to multi-task too much and never seem to fully devote myself to whatever i'm trying to "half" do. It will be a reminder to truly focus on what i'm doing at the moment.

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. Kristie says…
      12/26/2012

      That is my word for 2013 as well, Lisa! Same reasons too! I hope we are both successful!

    2. Jacqueline says…
      12/28/2012

      My word is focus too. I am hopeful it puts everything into a clearer perspective.

  23. Peggy says…
    12/26/2012

    I've had such fun and success with my 2012 word Flourish (although I washed out on the classwork again. a bummer but it's ok) that I'm finding it hard to let it go. I have been stewing a bit about what to choose for 2013. Adventure keeps coming up so maybe that's it. I want to go back and listen to the recording of all the words last year and see if something else resonates. I've only been thinking that for a month now. Maybe tonight's the night!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Peggy says…
      12/27/2012

      Ok, that did the trick! If you are struggling, maybe go listen to that recording (http://aliedwards.com/2012/01/one-little-word-2012-the-reading-of-the-words.html). I'm nearly certain now that I'm going to choose cultivate. It is closely related to Flourish but feels a little more outward facing and also a little more 'change' oriented than Flourish felt to me. I think it will be the perfect follow up to last year. Yeah!!!

  24. Crystal says…
    12/26/2012

    My word this year is NURTURE. I am hoping to start a family this year, and I also need to make taking care of myself a priority.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. jenr says…
      12/29/2012

      I am also using nurture for 2013. I am still in the process of figuring out why this word speaks to me, but it feels very "right." I guess I need to take Ali's class to help with the process :-)

  25. Carrie says…
    12/26/2012

    i'm considering curate (as a kind of simplification not about doing without but more with being selective and artistic) or stretch. haven't settled on either one quite yet.

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. Peggy says…
      12/27/2012

      Oooooh, I like curate! That's a good one!

    2. Aimee says…
      12/30/2012

      I'm a bit in love this this word too. To me it means keeping the things you love and discarding the stuff that doesn't mean as much.

Sign in or sign up to comment.