One Little Word® 2014
Tags:
Make your word visible: Order your own word from recycled matericals created by artist Colleen Attara here.
My One Little Word for 2014 is thrive.
This year, more than any other I can remember, I'm starting off the year with questions. What does it mean for me to thrive? What does it look like? What does it fee like? Are there areas in which I'm already thriving? What's realistic vs. visions of what I have in my head of what it means to thrive?
Open was an awesome word for me last year. It was a touchstone as I navigated my way through growing pains and man oh man did it work in a million different ways I could not have imagined when I started 2013. More often than not when faced with a decision, I chose to open more rather than closing off which was my number one intention last year. That said, I feel like I've been spinning in circles a lot this past year. I've been reacting vs. being proactive and have been dealing with a variety of issues related to stress and growth (totally all part of my own life journey).
To me thriving is optimal living. It's being present and awake and stepping up to be my best self physically, emotionally, spiritually, creatively and within my relationships.
It's not a quest for perfection. It's an opportunity to continue choosing to let go of things outside of my control and to figure out who that best-me-right-now really is.
It will be a whole new journey and I'm here to tell you I welcome it wholeheartedly.
Bring on 2014.
This year I invited my friend Elise Blaha Cripe to film a little video about her experience with One Little Word. One of the reasons I admire Elise is that she is awesome at follow-through and documentation. I've loved reading about her experience with her words over the last few years on her blog and she inspires me consistently with her projects and her real-life reflections.
Here's Elise in her own words:
Thank you Elise for sharing about your own journey here.
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.
SHARE YOUR WORD THE COMMENTS | I’d love to read what word you’ve chosen or are considering for 2014. 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, 2012 and 2013.
ONE LITTLE WORD® 2014 |To help keep your One Little Word® more visible throughout the year I offer a year-long workshop featuring one prompt per month. Read all the details and sign up here. Registration is $5 off until December 31.
Comments
Sign in or sign up to comment.
938 comments
Cherish.
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
[…] love Ali Edwards’ tradition of choosing a word and embracing it for a year. It’s a good way for me to evaluate my goals and hopes for 2014. […]
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
I've chosen JOY for my word this year! :)
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
Serendipity. Love the OLW process. Thank you Ali!
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
Explore - it encapsulates that I want to learn and grow without the pressure to figure everything out. I like that a lot.
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
explore
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
My word for 2014 is FINISH. I have discovered a tendency to have lots of UFPs and I don't like that about me. I want to finish things.
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
Habit
Kicking the bad habits and keeping/creating good habits!
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
Gratitude
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
I'm still sort of thinking about the ONE word. But I have come up with some words that I'm going to focus on each month:
Schedule
Plan
Habit
Action
Focus
Thrive
Light
Simplify
Power
Control
Memorable.
I might just pick BRAVE as my one word - I do love that Sarah Barielles (sp?) song.
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
*Strength*
Physically -- spiritually -- professionally -- emotionally
I can use more strength I everything I do. Be stronger in the things I've been fearful of up to this point. I want to be stronger and bolder in my work, giving more than expected to my clients. Exhibit strength to my children, so they will remember this as they mature and encounter circumstances.
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
This year's word is CREATE. I've been stagnant for too long. This year I want to CREATE! CREATE more art, CREATE a better me. CREATE a better marriage. CREATE!
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
IMPROVE- I have recently moved into a new house (built in the 60's) and it needs lots of improvements but then again so do I so That is the perfect word for me. I need to improve my walk with God, my relationships with others, my health, my pink tile in my kitchen,my baby blue bathroom and our roof! Yep lots of improvements coming my way this year, bring it on!!!!
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
Simplify. This may be my OLW for 2014. Over and over again, this word has popped up in my life yet i haven't truly focused on doing this in any area of my life. Simplify.
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
[…] year of settling in to our new life that we created in 2013! And so this year’s “one little word” will be flow. Last year’s word was acceptance and this year’s word just seems […]
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
Positive.
It isn't always easy -- but nothing worth having ever is!
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
Courage
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
Patience.
Patience with my kids. My husband. With the guy in the car in front of me. Patience with my inspiration and ambitions. Patience with the world, everything doesn't have to be done now, now, now. I've got to slow down, smell the roses a little more and have patience with the universe.
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
Hi Ali,
I love your one word concept! I just signed up for your class myself. I shared your class on my blog. I think my word for the year will be Inspired! I'm choosing an action word because by the end of the year I
want to have inspired as many people as possible and I want to take art adventures that inspire. I Hope you thrive in your new year!
Lots of love,
-Kelly
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.
[…] I happened upon Ali Edwards website/blog and this wonderful class called One Little Word. At first the thought of committing to just one word through the whole year seemed out of the […]
Replies
Sign in or sign up to reply.