Five . . . One Little Words
01/12/2015
After participating in One Little Word for several years now, I find myself eagerly awaiting what the new year - and my new word - will bring me. Because I have learned some important personal lessons with each of my words!
(I know. It sounds kind of wacky. But I've discovered that there really is power in having a year-long focus on One Little Word.)
The whole thing started in 2011, the first time I signed up for Ali Edwards' One Little Word project. My word that year was MOVE . I chose that word because I felt like I needed some inspiration to get myself moving - basically, to get off my butt! (You see, I'm a daydreamer at heart. I can sit, quietly, and think about things all day. Which is fine. But. Sometimes you need to get those dreams in motion.) That first year, I got totally overwhelmed by the "project" end of things: scrapbooking, supplies, keeping up with the monthly prompts. In fact, I was so focused on the "project" that I didn't get much out of the "process."
What I learned that first year . . . is that I wanted to try it again. (And that was a way to MOVE, when you think about it.)
In 2012, my word was SHINE. I started out strong with the prompts and my word in 2012 -- but quickly flamed out. (It was the scrapbooking! Totally not my thing.) What I learned from my word that year: Do it YOUR way! Shine YOUR light -- and don't reflect someone else's. I learned to be inspired by the process, without feeling the pressure to do the projects.
In 2013, my word was SURPRISE. I was hoping to surprise myself that year . . . and I did! I learned something completely simple -- and very obvious (although it wasn't at all when I began). You can't plan to be surprised; you can't set off looking for surprise. You need to be open to being surprised -- and, when you are, why . . . you discover that surprises happen all around you, all the time. (Surprise!)
Last year, my word was POSSIBILITY. It turned out to be my most transformational word yet -- which was what I was looking for when I chose it. (Just in a whole 'nother way!) I expected to disover "new somethings." But what I discovered . . . is that I really needed to clear out and create space for possibility in my life.
This year . . .
And by now, I know that I'll end up someplace I really can't quite imagine right now.
So that's . . . Five One Little Words.
Five lessons.
(But not five scrapbooks.)
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If you're joining along in Ali Edwards' class this year for the first time -- and you're finding the scrapbooking and supply lists and prescribed projects a bit overwhelming or daunting, let me know. I am a completely rogue participant at this point. I use Ali's monthly prompts as inspiration -- and then I do my own thing. (It's my way to SHINE.)
Also -- it's never to late to join in. Click here to register for Ali's class.