One Little Word® 2020 | Less

Since 2006 I've been choosing a single word to focus on over the course the 12 months from January through December. I call it One Little Word®. It's a personal growth project that uses memory keeping as the vehicle to help us live with intention.

My past words have included: 

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

For 2020 I'm going to focus on the word less

Less is a word that has "almost" been my word for the last few years. I come back to it again and again in a variety of areas in my life so I'm excited to work with it this year and make it my focus. Less extra stuff. Less of what matters least + more of what matters most. 

You're invited to join me in choosing word and working to make it visible in your own life in 2020. 

SHARE YOUR WORD IN THE COMMENTS

I’d love to read what word you’ve chosen or are considering for 2020. 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:  20072008200920102011201220132014201520162017 and 2018

JOIN ME IN MAKING OUR WORDS VISIBLE

Since 2011 I've been offering a One Little Word® online workshop that's goal is to help you stay connected to your word throughout the year. It's not complicated and it doesn't take a lot of time. Each month you receive an email reminder to head back to the classroom for some sort of creative prompt/writing reflection. As with most years, the majority of the prompts will be similar to last year as I find that I enjoy the process of doing the same prompts with different words each year - it's never the same. I record all new videos each year that include my personal reflections on the process with my new word.  

You can read all the details about this workshop and sign up here. You can watch a video walkthrough of my past album projects here to get an idea of past prompts. Registration is $5 off until December 31, 2018. I've also created a selection of products to help you document your journey with your word -  check those out here.

My wonderful little heart talisman in the photo at the top of this post is from Liz Lamoreux and is available on her site as part of her Pocket Talisman Collection

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193 thoughts

  1. Dneilg says…
    12/30/2019

    My word this year is “vision”. I thought it would be fun to play with the whole 20/20 vision idea since we are entering 2020! Other related words will be, focus and insight.

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. maureenmcallaghan says…
      01/01/2020

      This is my word too - exact same reasoning!

    2. mishmish720 says…
      01/01/2020

      I’m thinking this will be my word also.

  2. Rebeccaseaman says…
    12/30/2019

    Enough
    I do enough
    I am enough
    I have enough

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. nancygcmc says…
      12/31/2019

      Exactly my thinking...and why “enough” picked me!

  3. prueger6 says…
    12/30/2019

    Harmony

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. slanger says…
    12/30/2019

    Adjust

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. ScrappinMyHeartOut says…
      12/31/2019

      What a great word!!

  5. meegs says…
    12/30/2019

    Explore! New state, new city, hobbies, career, what makes me happy, what I want/need to focus on in this season, etc. So many things to explore!

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Dcorder says…
    12/30/2019

    Oh! Less was my word for 2018 - it was such a great word for me that I almost kept it for 2019 (I used SIMPLIFY for 2019). Less STUFF (yes! I started downsizing for retirement). Less Stress - finding peace thru yoga and meditation. Less TV (more reading).

    It was a GREAT word for me! Congrats!
    2020 will be FINISH for me.

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. boolies says…
    12/30/2019

    DAWN will be my 2020 word. Dawn of the new decade. It speaks of sunlight and fresh beginnings. I am a morning person so I want to go back to me (Lisa Dawn), quiet contemplation at sunrise, the darkest hour was just before dawn. A refreshing restart.

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. anncb says…
      12/31/2019

      love this.

    2. jdm9 says…
      01/01/2020

      So good 🌟

  8. fannyathome says…
    12/30/2019

    oh Ali!! LESS was my word for 2017. I can't tell you how transformative it was! It continues to do its work in me after 2 years. Thank you for gifting this commnunity with this practice ! I've been choosing a word since 2010 and it's been such a powerful exercise! My word for 2020 is Deep. Happy new year!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. mdnolton12 says…
    12/30/2019

    My word is GROWTH for next year. Love this practice.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Taralg says…
    12/30/2019

    This year I am choosing the word BOLD “now I’ll be bold as well as well as strong”

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. bel4719 says…
    12/30/2019

    Super excited to be joining in for the first time this year.
    My word is EMBRACE. Embracing the possibilities that come with change and uncertainty. Bring on 2020!

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. kjohnston1016 says…
    12/30/2019

    Peace

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. AWilliams says…
    12/30/2019

    This year I have chosen 2 words...Big Picture. I need to look at life overall and not sweat the small stuff. I have been sitting with this word in the back of my mind for a few weeks now. It was suggested to me by my husband. He is always telling me to stop having tunnel vision and to look at the big picture. It is when I stop and ponder that, that the big picture is where my happiness lies. So I will be welcoming 2020 with the Big Picture in mind!

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. rchartier says…
    12/30/2019

    PRACTICE

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. jambajuice57 says…
    12/30/2019

    My word for 2020 is LIGHT.

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. trinastraub says…
    12/30/2019

    {GRACE} was my OLW for 2019. I spent the year focused on “extending grace to others and embracing grace for myself”. For 2020, my word is {CHOOSE}. I am using a scripture verse (Joshua 24:15) as my guiding phrase...”Choose you this day whom you will serve” to help me make better choices in all aspects of my life. Excited to get started!!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. sevenswirls says…
      01/01/2020

      I went with CHOICE. (Was deciding between choose and choice) - I hope we both love it!

  17. Ronelia says…
    12/30/2019

    Light
    Because I want to be the light, live lightly, spend lightly, be lighter, find light and let go of what's making me feel weighed down

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Sanran says…
    12/30/2019

    Love your word for 2020. You definitely need to do less! Mine is WONDER...as to look each day through lens of wonder. Also realize that 2020 has to do with vision....!

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. joyemills says…
    12/30/2019

    My word for 2020 is possibility. I have a junior and a senior in high school and this past year I've struggled with viewing the idea of them leaving home and how that seems like a negative for me. I've been doing some of the work to turn that mindset around and I want to start focusing on the possibilities that the empty nest opens up for my husband and I.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. jdm9 says…
      01/01/2020

      I have one child out of the house and one as a junior in college so have been where u are. It is kind of a catch 22 bc ur happy they are making their own way but sad to see them leave. My heart is still working through this transition. So give yourself grace, and I’m ooking forward to hearing how this word works for u this year.

  20. JeanetteE says…
    12/30/2019

    Faith is my word. Looking forward to twenty-twenty.

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. mochamama says…
    12/30/2019

    Purpose

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. shelbelle says…
    12/30/2019

    My word for 2020 is HABIT. I want to examine the habits I have and create new ones that help me get closer to my goals.

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. PoochPatrol says…
    12/30/2019

    My word for 2020 is SIMPLE. Time to find the simple way to do things, make things simple, look for simple ways to enjoy life day to day, to clean, to stay healthy. Stop overthinking and complicating things. More time for what's important by doing things simply.

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. dpowersfabian says…
    12/30/2019

    ACCEPT. "When you accept your limitations, you can go beyond them." -- Albert Einstein. Accept is not the same as resignation. It is active! It means to take it on. "So maybe the acceptance is the assignment: accept the terms of the life God gave you, accept what comes, accept the grace that comes with it, accept the limitations that are also the means by which you develop imagination and ingenuity and patience and humor and compassion. It's a large and exhilarating assignment..." --Marilyn McEntyre

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. kja313 says…
    12/30/2019

    2020 OLW = Challenge

    Reply 0 Replies

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