One Little Word® 2017 | Connect

Another trip around the sun is coming to a close. 

My overwhelming feeling at the end of this year is wholehearted thankfulness. For the whole of it. The hard parts and the easy parts and the parts in between. It's something we can count on - that crazy mixture of highs and lows and normals - throughout the 365 days we call a year in our lives. 

I absolutely loved focusing on the word "whole" as my One Little Word® for 2016. It is a word that I will carry with me for the rest of my life - "open" is another one that I feel strongly about. Whole challenged me in the ways I needed to be challenged and wrapped me up in goodness in so many other ways. I loved asking questions about the different pieces of my own whole and looking deeper into what it means to me to feel "whole." 

It's crazy when I think back on all the words I've had over the years (I started this practice in 2006):

  • Play
  • Peace
  • Vitality
  • Nurture
  • Story
  • Light
  • Up
  • Open
  • Thrive
  • Give
  • Whole

For 2017 I'm choosing to explore my life through the lens of the word "connect."

I'm ending 2016 and beginning 2017 by connecting directly and in person with my immediate family (parents, brother, sister + all their families) at my parents house on the coast. I'm already including "connect" in daily thoughts as I go about the regular stuff of my life - asking myself how I'm connecting with this and that and especially focusing on what I can disconnect from (love the angle of including the opposite of my word). 

This blended family life is offering me a whole lot of opportunities for connection and I don't want to miss those. We've all been sinking in to this "new normal" around here - life is such a series of "new normals" isn't it? We get used to a situation or a piece of our lives and then something changes - for better or worse - and then we are forced (either kicking and screaming or accepting or a crazy combination of those emotions) to adapt to the "new" normal. What I have learned over the last so many years is that we are always riding that wave - either in the beginning or the end or somewhere in between. It is life. It is our life. What we get to choose is how we respond and live through all those moments. 

In 2017 I hope to specifically investigate areas related to connecting with myself, connecting with others (especially family and community), connecting with work, and connecting with nature/outdoors (I feel a strong pull towards that this year). I also plan to focus on the idea of disconnecting in order to make sure I'm living in alignment with my highest values. 

If you'd like to hear me talk more about this topic, check out a new podcast I did earlier this week with Elise about our words from last year and this year. It's a very candid conversation about what's worked and not worked related to both choosing and living with our words. 

My wonderful little heart shown above is from Liz Lamoreux and is called a Whole Heart Pocket Talisman. It's a wonderful way to keep your word close throughout the year. 

SHARE YOUR WORD IN THE COMMENTS

I’d love to read what word you’ve chosen or are considering for 2017. In the comments feel free to simply leave your word as your comment or write a bit about why you are choosing this word. Next week I’ll combine all the words into a single post – it's become tradition and 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: 200720082009201020112012201320142015 and 2016.

JOIN ME IN MAKING OUR WORDS VISIBLE

To help keep your One Little Word® more visible throughout the year I offer a year-long workshop featuring one creative prompt per month. Read all the details and sign up here. Registration is $5 off until December 31, 2016. I've also created a selection of products to help you document your journey with your word - check those out here (stamps will be restocked later in January and we have a pre-order happening for an additional restock of the blue albums that will arrive in late March/early April). During the One Little Word® 2017 Kick-Off ordering period (between now and 1/31/17), items featured on the One Little Word® 2017 page are eligible for free shipping domestic and $5 international. If you add any other items from the shop to your cart, normal shipping rates will apply to those additional items.

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430 thoughts

  1. akkpenn says…
    12/30/2016

    Hope

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. CaroleJulius says…
    12/30/2016

    This is my 4th year participating in OLW and my word for 2017 is peace.

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. ValDee says…
    12/30/2016

    Focus (and after reading the blog post-refocus!)

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. tammyeberhard says…
    12/30/2016

    rise

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. TheUrbanDisplay says…
    12/30/2016

    Habit.

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. swimfin says…
    12/30/2016

    Trust

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. cyndibrdy says…
    12/30/2016

    2017: simple
    2016: choose
    2015: become
    2014: cultivate
    2013: savor

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Kaybree says…
    12/30/2016

    Me

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. iScrap says…
    12/30/2016

    Build...both physically (house renovations) and personally (build a life I don't need a vacation from = new habits, more adventures, changing things up).

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Reinstrup says…
    12/30/2016

    I choose the word "move" this year. I did "thrive" last year but didn't complete that many prompts. Hoping to do better this year. The reason I chose "move" is I need to find a new place to live, I need to get moving and exercise more regularly and I need to move towards the things I dream about. Interested to see how it will go.

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. mollycscraps says…
    12/30/2016

    Happy

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. GroS says…
    12/30/2016

    My word is Start.
    Last year IT was balance. My second year.

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. tltorrez says…
    12/30/2016

    My word for 2017 is Ready. I love that it's both an adjective and a verb.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. ScrappinMyHeartOut says…
      12/30/2016

      Great word!

  14. suzeq18 says…
    12/30/2016

    Balance.

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. trybabe says…
    12/30/2016

    Gratitude. (Huge thank you for all of the quotes and the 3x4 gratitude pad this year! They are perfect!)

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. jodileah says…
    12/30/2016

    My word is less. I tried OLW a couple years ago and didn't do much with it so I'm hoping to do more with it this year--less stuff, less stress, less busy, less junk food, less procrastinating. The list could go on and on.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. CarolS86303 says…
      12/30/2016

      I considered "less" but am going with "now" and have similar reasoning to you - now I will eat better, now I will clear out more & simplify, now I will work on & finish this project etc. Don't you just love OLW and how different words speak to each of us?

  17. SusanBowers says…
    12/30/2016

    My one little word is nourish.

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. MaggieR says…
    12/30/2016

    Yay! I am choosing LIGHT this year and it's fun to see my pic up there!

    I was going back and forth between LIGHT and CONNECT, so I'm so glad to see that you chose CONNECT this year, Ali. Can't wait to see where it takes you!

    Thank you for sharing this wonderful project with us. It's been so transformative.

    Maggie

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Dcorder says…
    12/30/2016

    2013: Rediscover
    2014: Focus
    2015: Mindful
    2016: Explore
    2017: Nurture

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. CarolS86303 says…
      12/30/2016

      I really like the progression of your words! It sounds like you've done a lot of work over the years and now you need to work on rewarding yourself.

  20. mela280 says…
    12/30/2016

    Thrive

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. jenuineruby says…
    12/30/2016

    make. I'm having all kinds of fun listing all the ways I can use this word to MAKE 2017 a year of abundance. Make time (as in scheduling "make" time.. time to physically make things.. art, handmade) as well as make time (as in for the things that align with my vision and goals both personally and professionally). Make do. Make new friends. Make a difference. Make love. Make memories. Make someone's day. Make way. Make sparks fly. Make good. Make a living. (the list goes on and on.)

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. livingwithboys says…
    12/30/2016

    Present... Be present, in the present

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Shawmf79 says…
    12/30/2016

    Ali, I would love to join in you on this venture! As somebody who is having difficulty "blending" my family...I think your stars align with mine this year! Please continue to inspire!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. lucillavea says…
    12/30/2016

    Simple, simplify

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. lindalovescreating says…
    12/30/2016

    I'm going with "choose" this year. Focusing on recognizing the difference between the things I can change and the things I can't, and consciously choosing how I react to situations.

    2016: Present.
    2015: Brave.

    Very excited for this journey again!

    Reply 0 Replies

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