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: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 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.
My word for 2017 is light.
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more
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My ultimate goal word for my life is WHOLE, so on the way I've chosen:
2009 BALANCE | 2010 FOCUS | 2011 DO | 2012 OPEN | 2013 NOURISH | 2014 GRACE | 2015 FLOW | 2016 LIGHT
For 2017 I've chosen PLAY, I need more fun!
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MOVE
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In 2016 my word was LIVE !
For 2017 it will be BEGIN.
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Having chosen REFLECT for 2016 I gave thought to many words for 2017. One word kept coming back to me time and time again...ACKNOWLEDGE. I feel that after a year of reflection, acknowledging what I took to heart over the past year is a logical step. It may not go simply or be easy, but I feel strongly about it.
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My OLW for 2017 is Whole. I'm really looking forward to exploring this word in the new year.
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My word is COMPASSION which, for me, includes courage, lovingkindness, connection, curiosity , being open and all kinds of other wonderful things.
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EMBRACE
Embrace the moment
Embrace the chaos
Embrace where I'm at in life
Embrace the journey
Embrace people
Embrace the uncertainty
Embrace my path
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My OLW for 2017 is New. I'm looking forward to letting go of my fears, getting out of my comfort zone and trying new things and having new experiences.
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My word for this year is commitment. I have a terrible habit of letting my plans and goals go by the wayside when things get hard. I'm hoping this project will help me commit to my plans and goals and see them through to the end.
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create.
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My word for 2017 is Open.
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Magic.
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JOY
I want to focus on what brings me joy and to do more of those things.
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I was going to go with adventure, but after reading this I really think that connect is going to be my word to. The things I wanted to do with "adventure" involved adventuring with my kids, with nature, and disconnecting from the internet. Adventure wasn't the right direction and so, I'm totally doing this one. Which goes against my natural thoughts to do my own thing - and since I still want to do it, it must be the right one.
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My 2016 word was "Fresh" and last year at this time I was feeling a little stagnant, stuck and didn't see a way to let go of some things that were weighing me down. Right now, a year later, I have a new house in a new community, a new job...with a bigger bank account(!), currently embarking my kids at a new school and I have had to uncomfortably let go of many things I thought I cherished. It's actually been very scary and I am amazed at where this word took me this year! I certainly seem to have a "fresh" start.
I think my 2017 word will be "EXPLORE" as I attempt to explore some new habits, new places, new traditions, new friends.
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My OLW is 'Forward" Last year I chose Future, my husband was ill and I lost him in February to Kidney Disease, Forward chose me this year and I think it fits with my life as I move forward on my own for the first time in about 50 years, Can't wait to see where it takes me
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My word is "Strengthen". As I have gotten older, I have the tendency to "stay within". When I worked I was much more outgoing. So I want to strengthen my faith, my mind, my body, and my friendships. I feel I have to strengthen before I can become whole. Hoping i can keep up with the prompts better this year but if i don't , it's OK. My words from previous years, Focus, Embrace, Ignite, have all brought me to my word this year. Hopefully "strengthen" will bring me to a place that maybe next year my word can be "whole".
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Previous words: Grace, Peace, Hope, Rest, Illumination, Joy. My Word for 2017 is Wisdom.
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Believe will be my word for 2017
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BALANCE
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PRACTICE.
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Unfold
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ENGAGE
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