One Little Word® 2014
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.
my word is INVEST-spend time, empower,give,devote,learn, enrich my life in 2014.
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Hi Ali,
My first time with this challenge and it feels like a great idea and one i should go with, so my word is BELIEVE. Its something i dont do a lot. I tend to be very negative about things in my life so im starting 2014 with a postive vibe.
Happy New Year
Gill x
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[…] acompanho o projeto da Ali a alguns anos mas ainda não consegui colocar as palavras que escolhe em ação na minha vida. Para […]
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HARMONY
I had thought I would pick a different word, but this word found me... I wrote about it on my blog today: http://schulmanart.blogspot.com/2014/01/one-little-word.html
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[…] I decided to do this year was have a word to keep in mind as I move through the year (inspired by Ali). My word is […]
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Release.
I choose it because it scares me. At first it just sort of came to me, and I resisted, because it didn't feel right - right as in fitting, comfortable, comforting, convenient.
Releasing control is the scariest thing I can think of to do right now. And so that is why I must choose it.
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STEWARDSHIP
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My word is BALANCE.
It is particularly interesting to me because I have been a dance teacher and choreographer for most of my life and I find that I am NOT very good at it! Ever since menopause, my physical balance has been tenuous and I find that it is a big issue in other areas of my life as well. I hope that making the word BALANCE more visible in my life in 2014 will challenge me and reward me in many different ways. It certainly is full of possibilities.
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My word is STRENGTHEN, with a focus on body, faith and relationships.
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This year my word is BLISS. I have become so consumed with being critical of others and the way they choose to live their lives that I am missing out on living and celebrating my own.
Perfect happiness and serene joy- that's what I want for myself and my life in 2014.
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[…] I’m flying, I’ll be stitching! If you’re joining in on the One Little Word action and would like to stitch yourself a wall hanging or pillow or pin cushion to keep your word in […]
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My word for the year is GRACE. This word actually found me in August--as a teacher, I kind of have the benefit of two "New Years" each year. As the school year began again for this perfectionist mom of 3 (two under age 2!) I realized that in order to survive I would have to release the burden of perfection that I place on myself and give myself some grace. The journey with this word has been amazing in the last five months and I don't feel that this word is finished with me yet, so I'm bringing it into 2014 as my official One Little Word!
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Perspective, I've always wanted to learn to draw and decided to do one a day. I will hopefully use more meanings for this word.
Thank you Ali for doing this and loved reading the words all of use chose.
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[…] Edwards challenges us to select one little word for the year 2014. I like this simple yet powerful resolve to be dedicated to one word. A friend […]
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[…] Naming the New Year has become a tradition that travels over miles and connects me in spirit to the company of an old friend; a kindred spirit who similarly seeks inspiration and growth in personal expression. Each year we gift the New Year a name that weighs our consciousness in accountability for our hopes, creates momentum with positive intention, and lends direction with clarity of perspective. It is an exercise created by Ali Edwards who crafted a movement of inspiration and a community of creativity around One Little Word. […]
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I picked FIRRCE. I didn't realize quite how negative it could sound but I like the thought of being in "furious" pursuit of what I need and want in my life this year. By nature I'm a "people pleaser" and I want those around me- specially those closest to me- to be happy and I hate the conflict so I often find myself quietly accepting things and quietly changing what I had planned and quietly not doing something under the guise of "keeping the peace". Ultimately at the expense of ME! So at 45 I'm going to fiercely make sure I'm supported, accepted, and loved for being me. And by using fierce instead of calmer words like "brave" or "courage" I'm preparing myself with the knowledge this won't be easy. By no means am I surrounded by ogre's or mean people or those who don't love me- but I've let their needs and wants superseed mine for so long that it will be a change for those closest to me in my everyday life. So this month toward this end I'm going to make sure I get help around the house, hold myself accountable to my healthy balance and carve out creative time for paper crafting!
FIERCE it's FIERCE I really dislike when I can't type poperly!!!! FIERCE!!
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[…] start. I love a new beginning and over the past few years, I’ve really sunk into choosing one little word to guide the year ahead. I’ve enjoyed the process of reflection, looking back at the year […]
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shine.
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Sweet. There are many challenges in my life going on and I want to remind myself to find the sweetness in life. I also find that due to those challenges, I have become more harsh in my feelings and speech, especially towards others. I need to reclaim the sweetness in my approach.
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This is officially my 6th year of participating! This year I picked the word "become." In my mid-forties I've decided to finally just become me- the best me. For so long I've been mom, wife, friend,and most recently, stage iv breast cancer survivor. So I "embraced" the journey last year and this year- I just want to "become" whom I am meant to be outside of cancer. Thankful Ali, for you and this fresh and authentic idea that has become a life-giving legacy to last for years.
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[…] One Little Word 2014 by Ali Edwards – the seed blog for me! (THRIVE) […]
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This is the first time for me with OLW but I love the idea. My word will be FOCUS. For so manyreasons this will be such a perfect word for me and can't wait to begin.
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My word is NOURISH. The One Little Word project is so great. Here's to a nourishing 2014 for body and soul.
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{Prosper}
I know it seems like I'm channeling my inner Vulcan, or sound like I want to make a million dollars (which actually would be nice!), but my idea of prosper is so much more than money or finances, although that is a part of it. I want to live intentionally and work hard and be the best me.
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I fought my word, and my word one. "Open" it is.
I hate to choose a word that you've chosen, lol! I feel like a copycat but given how my life has been going for the past six months (hint: NOT GOOD, lol!), I figure I can't fight it anymore.
Here's to an Open 2014!! =)
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