Image from © Lime Lane Photography
Have you ever selected a “word” to be your focus for the upcoming year?
I’d never thought of doing that before but I’ve just signed up to do Ali Edwards’ One Little Word for 2013 over at Big Picture Classes.
In the blurb for the class Ali explains her philosophy.
A single word can be a powerful thing. It can be the ripple in the pond that changes everything. It can be sharp and biting or rich and soft and slow. From my own personal experience, it can be a catalyst for enriching your life.
She gives hints on how to choose your word.
Can you identify a single word that sums up what you want for yourself in 2013?
It can be something tangible or intangible. It can be a thought, a feeling, or an emotion. It can be singular or plural. The key is to find something that has personal meaning for you. This is not your mother’s word or your spouse’s word or your child’s word—this is YOUR word.
One little word can have big meaning in your life if you allow yourself to be open to the possibilities. And here’s one thing that is totally interesting: sometimes a word will pop into your brain and it will not make any sense to you right now. Give it some time. Let it percolate a bit. I have often found that our heart speaks to us in very unique ways. Maybe this is a word you need to hear but just aren’t ready for it yet.
I’m not entirely convinced that a focus on a single word can change your life, but in the self-improvement spirit of Diet, Question, Try to Not Kill The Ones You Live With I’m going to give it a shot.
If I really went for a single word that sums up what I want for myself in 2013 I’d go with money. But that’s a bit self-serving and materialistic and probably doesn’t make for a very introspective journey.
After considering for oh about 30 seconds I came up with create.
According to the online dictionary it’s a verb meaning – develop in mind or physically.
Why create? I think because a lot of my brain space is taken up with ideas on growing the blog, writing in general and introducing more creativity into my life. Those who have been following along for a while will be familiar with my fumbling attempts to reinvent myself. Perhaps the focus of a single word, coupled with the monthly assignments set by Ali will help me to actually achieve something.
So armed with my word, I’m going to head into 2013 with the goal of allowing “create” to manifest itself in my world.
What do you reckon? Do you have a word for 2013? Please feel free to share if you do.
I wondered if that was you over on ali’s blog. I’ve been choosing a word to guide my year since I first discovered ali’s blog back in 2008, it definitely helps me. I was ambivalent about the class, because I haven’t done much with it for the last two years, but I’m thinking ill give it another go.
That’s funny Cate, I seem to be following you around the internet. First Blogging from the Heart now to Ali Edwards. I discovered her blog earlier in the year, (I used to read her stuff in Creative Keepsakes and her books when I was a scrapbooking instructor) and that lead me to the Big Picture Classes. I like the fact that a number of the classes are very cost effective, the One Word class is $36. Hope you are feeling better with the pregnancy.
I think having a word or phrase to focus on is very powerful. ‘Create’ sounds like a great choice. I have been working with ‘happiness’ and am definitely happier. I’m going to stick with that for a while but might borrow create as a supplementary!
Yes, happiness would be a good word too.
oooooo thats a good word!!! I would definitely choose encourage. I need to encourage myself, my children and my husband this year on all things budget, cleaning etc..
We can all benefit from a little bit of encouragement.
I like your word ‘create’ – it is flexible, has a few meanings and can cover so many parts of your life. I will have to have a think of one for myself – I like the idea of at least having some direction or focus for the coming year. Good luck for 2013!
I think I like the flexibility of it. I look forward what word you end up with for yourself.
Create is a brilliant word. May it serve you well in 2013. My single word? Believe. In myself, in others, in the universe’s plan for me …
Oh yes believe is a fine word too. I look forward to seeing what unfolds for you in 2013.
I like create. Elise on Enjoy It chose “choose” last year, which worked out pretty awesomely for her. I don’t know what I would choose for 2013 – after 2 minutes of thought my word is “better”. The verb of better. Better yourself, better like my job, better treat others, better commit. That sounds like a cop out right now though… I’ll keep working on it…
Better would could work, aiming for “better” in all areas of your life could be really interesting.
I like “create”.
My word is “perennial”. The adjective variation is what I am referring to, though perennial plants I am accustomed to with my greenhouse business. For so many years in a dysfunctional marriage I could not count on my thoughts and plans for more than a year. With my new marriage to wonderful man and our new greenhouse business, I am learning to be “perennial”.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/perennial
per•en•ni•al
adj.
1. Lasting or active through the year or through many years.
2.a. Lasting an indefinitely long time; enduring: perennial happiness.
2.b. Appearing again and again; recurrent.
3. Botany Living three or more years.
n.
1. Botany A perennial plant.
2. Something that recurs or seems to recur on a yearly or continual basis: “that hardy perennial, the budget deficit” (David S. Broder).
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/perennial
per•en•ni•al
pəˈrɛn i əl Show Spelled [puh-ren-ee-uh l] Show IPA
adjective
1. lasting for an indefinitely long time; enduring: her perennial beauty.
2. (of plants) having a life cycle lasting more than two years.
3. lasting or continuing throughout the entire year, as a stream.
4. perpetual; everlasting; continuing; recurrent.
noun
5. a perennial plant: Daffodils and tulips are perennials.
6. something that is continuing or recurrent.
How clever. Perennial is a fantastic word for the year.
Janine I really love this idea. I’ve been thinking of choosing a word but I’m stuck between two. One is ‘heal’ (based on left over emotional and physical traumas of illness and childbirth) I really want to try to heal this year and the other is more of an idea from the Lewis Carroll/Alice in Wonderland quote, ‘You used to be much more…muchier. You’ve lost your muchness.’ I want to chased down my muchness once more : )
Love the idea of looking for your muchness!
Very thought provoking. “Create” is a great word. It’s inspiring, motivating and leaves so many opportunities open.
I don’t know what my word would be. Maybe “direction”. Thanks forgiving me something to think about x
Yes direction would be good, trying to find direction in life is an ongoing challenge.
Thanks for the inspiration Janine, I’ve thought for a bit and have settled on “nurture” – myself, my family
1. to feed and protect: to nurture one’s offspring.
2. to support and encourage, as during the period of training or development;
3. to bring up; train; educate.
I know I was definitely missing this for myself in 2012 so a little more focus in 2013 is definitely the way to go for me!
Nurture is a very nice word, it should work very well for you in 2013.
Yesterday I did just that, took me a while but finally picked my word to guide me through 2013. Mine is EASY 🙂
I sincerely hope 2013 brings you “easy” in abundance.
Ooh I love create! I’m not taking the class, but have been doing OLW for awhile, even though last year I forgot about it. 😉 Good luck with your word!