One Little Word 2013

Mine is REAL, it just came to me. I need to see things as they are, not as I would wish them. To live my life now, as it really is, not as it might be in the future. To accept what is real and deal. I am reminded of the children's book my girls loved called The Velveten Rabbit. He describes how when on is loved one becomes real, albeit rather tattered and torn. At 50 I need to be real, accept who I am, what I look like and nurture and embrace and be grateful for that, not be tempted by surgery and injections and artifice.

"What is REAL?" asked the Velveteen Rabbit one day... "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When [someone] loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."

"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept.

"Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand... once you are Real you can't become unreal again. It lasts for always.”

My word for 2012 has been MOVE - I had no idea where it would take me this year....but I have moved 200 miles away from my home to be close to family. As a result I've left many friends behind and find it difficult to make new ones. So, my word found me as I thought of being more OPEN to the possibilities. So, I share my OLW with you this year, Ali.

I too have chosen a OLW for many years. This year I am combining my OLW with a year long Happiness Project (after reading Gretchen Rubin's books). My word this year is CULTIVATE and I will break it down into 12 months....culivating gratitude, peace & calm, simplicity & abundance.....etc..... I think this is the most excited I've been about my OLW. :)

these are amazing stories and choices. i haven't been able to settle on a word and to allow it to make a difference in my life so i am hoping that this year will be different. i have been praying for a word to choose me and am hopeful it will do so soon.

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My 2013 word is TRY. I hope to try new things and be open to possibilities.

I love reading about everyone's OLW! Mine will be "Move" It has many meanings to me: move your body; look for a new place to live; move on from the past; make a move (decision) on a few things I have been putting off; move forward (graduating with my Master's degree in a few months!); move forward on a biz idea...lots of different meanings.

Happy New Year everyone!

For 2013, my word is TRY (in the daring kinda way).

My word hasn't found me yet...some years it's been so obvious. Last year, it was a word that I was resistant too, but ultimately knew it was what I needed. This year, I am at a loss --- no glimmers of words yet. Reading all of your words is helping me. I hope to be back soon - posting my word.

This is my first time with OLW. My word is STILL. I've already ordered my bracelet with my word to keep me engaged and focused. Looking forward to the class and the journey.

See.
I want to see myself. My family, my life. I want to see with my heart. Learn to perceive at a level I don't know yet.

My word definitely came to me and at first I didn't like it as I thought it might be limited. But as I've had a chance to think about it I think it is very appropriate as their can be many applications of the word. My OLW for 2013 is HEALTH. I am very much looking forward to this word for 2013, better than a New Year's Resolution that you forget about before the month of January is over.

My word for 2013 is OPEN! My little family is moving from Florida to North Carolina in the summer of '13, and it seems like we have a world of possibilities ahead of us. I want to be open minded and approach these big changes with an open heart.

I'm excited to see how next year unfolds! I know my word will serve me well. Thanks so much for continuing to teach the OLW class at BPC!!

~Jen Levin

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my word is purposeful, wanted dazzle or leap but i knew i needed a sensible word, because i tend to live my life dancing in sunbeams, which is lovely, but this year I need to get serious about practical things! xxx

My word is HEAL. I've had a rough year and had a relapse of my Depression that was severe enough for me to be off work for an extended period. With the depression came a number of old demons that I thought I had laid to rest. so 2013 is my year to heal - Emotionally, Spiritually, and Physically.

My OLW for 2013 is..... M O V E

so many possibilities, I'm excited!

I wanted one word to fit my goal for 2013 and I chose MOVE. This word means so many things and fits what I want to do. I want to move more (get fit), I want to move past things and move on and I want to move people. I'm looking forward to keeping my word near and dear to me in 2013.

my word came to me in the summer of this year (not necessarily by choice :) ), and will extend throughout next year as well, i'm sure.

it is 'believe' because i was diagnosed with, had surgery for and underwent treatment for cancer. (we believe i am now cancer free, but will continue testing for several years)

the willametee valley cancer research institute where i was treated is also called the 'believe' institute and so it has become such a focus of my life these past 5 months. i can't go anywhere without seeing that word !

i believe in a cure - i believe in great doctors and care - i believe in hope and so much more.

as an extention of that, i will also be focusing on the word 'friend'. i have to make time to be a friend. send the cards i mean to send, make the phone call, etc. i get so busy that i forget and i need to do better with that.

so excited for what this year will bring !
thanks ali for continuing the tradition.

My OLW for 2013 is: Cultivate

This year I'm treating myself to the online class and I'm really looking forward to getting started. :-)