One Little Word® 2014
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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.

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938 comments
My word is intention.
I want this year to be more purposeful, less being passive and letting life just happen. More goals and mindfulness, less just going through the motions...
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Intentional
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My word for 2014 is Color! I want to bring more color into my life - literally and figuratively. I want to focus on my artistic journey with paper and paint and other creative mediums, but also am yearning to explore ways to color the horizon for my every day. COLOR --- big bold bright color!!
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complete.
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Change.
This is my first OLW. I chose it to represent all the small changes I want to make this year, knowing they will equal the big change I am hoping for!
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i just started doing my one little word last year and love the whole idea of it... last year it was focus... my word for this year is ENOUGH... it holds a couple of different meanings to me... thanks for inspiring us all, ali... xo
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Time/transition are my words, but transition will be my main focus. Although, as I have mulled over my words, these two can be closely linked in my life right now. I am looking forward to exploring the deeper meaning of my words this year.
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This is my first year doing OLW, and I am so excited to have a word "choose" me this year… It will be SAVOR. I need to savor all the blessings in my life, savor time with my children while they are still home with me, savor my marriage of 17 years, and savor my relationship with God… Thanks for the inspiration, Ali!
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My OLW is...appreciate. After being diagnosed with Breast Cancer and spending the past six months undergoing chemotherapy, I realize that I had begun to take my blessed life for granted. I have so much to be grateful for and although I would not have signed up for this journey with BC, it has made me realize that I have so much to be grateful for. I will spend the next year appreciating everything that I have!
BTW...I must say that after reading Ali's about OLW, watching Elise's video and reading the OLW comments...it is amazing how similar all of our journey's are. Thank you Ali for putting OLW out there so we can connect with others and recognize that we are all a work in progress.
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I have chosen "clear," which works well for me as an adjective and a verb!
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[…] I’ve been doing for the past few months), I stumbled upon an instagram of someone’s One Little Word. Now I’ve never done a OLW, I didn’t even know who the founding person was who started […]
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[…] why, inspired by Ali Edwards, I decided to choose a word to focus on this year. It took me some searching but I’ve […]
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make. i love that saying makers gotta make. make a home. make healthy choices. make my own happy. make nice. make love. make time. make something daily. make the best year yet.
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Ali, I don't know why but I chose the same word as you did. I started thinking about the word SUCCEED then as I was mulling over my word I decided THRIVE would be more accurate. And when I heard you say on Paperclipping Roundtable that you chose "my" word, well i was chuffed. Isn't it silly.
Thanks for your fabulous ideas. I have just finished my December Daily album and I have to say I love taking part in your scrapbooking adventures.
Have a super great year 2014.
Thanks again
Christel
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My word is sun. Looking forward to all it will bring this year :)
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Lots of great words. Mine is balance!
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Just wanted to add my word-it finally settled with me last night. PURPOSE.I buzz through my day, week, life! on autopilot. This year I want to do or don't do on purpose. I want to be clear on MY purpose--why I do what I do, what choices, changes are right for me in 2014. I feel that PURPOSE will guide me to a strong place this year. (I love this workshop!)
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Hello everyone,
WOw, so much inspiration here! My word this year is COMMIT. I'm ready to do the hard work required for some of my goals. Anyone else has this word too?
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My word for the year is intentional. I want to live and do with more intention. Celebrate the small things. Be more intentional in documentation. Bring my family closer to Christ. Give more/better. Create more/better. Blog more/better.
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My word for this year is ROOT. I picked a word to inspire me last year but this is my first time being a part of the OLW course. I am really looking forward to finding new ways to share my word and getting inspiration each month and through everyone on the fb page!
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