One Little Word

for the past two years at New Year, i've chosen one word to focus on for the coming year. i had become disillusioned with making new years resolutions and yet...i still wanted to have a focus for the coming year and i liked the idea of just one word. it takes some thought just to come up with the word that's just right for this time in our lives. as Ali Edwards says "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 soft and slow".

when i first started my 'one little word' tradition two years ago, the word i chose was gratitude.  i was feeling that so many wonderful things had come into my life and yet i was focusing on the one part of my life that was causing me distress. i knew that i wasn't being present with all the wonderful love and beauty that surrounded me.  if my world were a pie, i hadn't been fully appreciating the 98% that was the big beautiful cherry pie of my life...i had been looking at the very small slice that was missing.

last year my word was peace.  this was really a continuation of the year of gratitude...a fine tuning, so to speak.  i was absolutely determined (and still am) to learn how to stay balanced in my life.  my goal is to let the chaos of the world whirl around me but to keep that 'eye of the storm' calm within. as we reach the end of 2007, i can honestly say that i'm grateful for the peace i've found.  last night i was listening to a darma talk podcast by Thich Nhat Hahn and he said that finding peace is not something that we "do" and then it's complete for the rest of our lives.  it's an ongoing work in progress. it's learning to ''be" and it's a life long practice.

now that this new year is almost upon us...my snowball of gratitude and peace is rolling on...into joy. 

yes, i've chosen joy as my one little word for 2008.  there were others that i thought of...inspiration being one of them, but joy stayed at the top of my list.  i intend to live my life this year, with the awareness of the joy that is mine. 

if you were to choose a word for the upcoming year, what would it be?  if you'd like to share it with me i'd really love to hear it. if you're a creative soul (and we all are in some way) you may want to create something that embodies this word...your word...as i've done above. it could be a photograph, a painting, a scrapbooking page, a drawing...the list is as endless as the words themselves!

and if you need inspiration check out this list of words that Ali posted last year.

Comments

[eb]

Kate - this is such a beautiful post - and I am game! - I love things like this - focus - and then create - and I also adore words - so... I'm going to give this some thought and come back and tell you what I've come up with...

Oriah Mountaindreamer also writes about choosing one word as an embodiment of what one is reaching for - will try and find that passage as well...

thanks so much - and Happy New Year!

xox - eb.

[Julie]

Last year I chose "calm", and remembered it during a few tough times through out the year. I'm struggling with my word choice for 08, because I'm looking for a word that would define grasping those little moments of peace in your life amidst everything else going on. (Something that defines "this too shall pass" or "life happens when you are making other plans".) I just haven't found the word that fits yet.
My goal is to find the word or phrase, then order a bracelet with those words from Patty at "37 days."

[Ruth]

Kate, I love that you choose a word to live by each year. So much that I am going to do this. When I opened the link to browse the list of words, BELIEVE stood out immediately, as if it were bolded in the list, and shouting, "choose me". I didn't even read the whole list, I didn't need to. As I grasp on to the word "believe", I know how much I need to believe in myself. Thanks for the inspiration!

[Bonnie]

Love your pink joy creation! I somehow missed the whole one concept although I was very aware that "peace" was a strong focal point of you. I think I need to think about this and see if I can't turn it into a new journal. Thanks ever so much for your constant inspiration!

[krissie]

Kate I Love the way youve put it - the snowballing of words...this is a wonderful thought to have at this time - new years. After suffering such a disasterous year in 2007, I think my word for this year has to be 'blessed' Even aftger everything thats happened in my life I still feel blessed, and wish to make others feel the same way. so yes, this should be my word for the year.

thank you for this thought provoking and inspiring post. Special message for you and others on my blog today.

[stephanie]

Kate,
Beautiful post, you are such an inspiration. I think my word is EMBRACE. Embrace myself, trust what I have to offer. Embrace others with love and understanding. I want to be able to embrace where I am in the moment, whatever that may be.

Have a wonderful New Year! I look forward to embracing all YOU have to share this coming year.

love,
steph

[cate]

You are a constant inspiration, thnak you. My word is "value" - I want to value all the good things in my life - value other people's choices; value the kids in my class this coming year enough to teach them to respect each other, their learning,their actions. Happy New Year!

[martie]

Kate - It was thru you that I learned about the single word to focus on in a year. I liked the concept and I'm adapting it for myself in 2008. My word is MINDFUL. I hope your 2008 is even better than your 2007!

[Cre8Tiva]

visitng you always brightens my day...may the spirit of a new year fill your home with an abundance of love, laughter, and overwhelming joy...may the magic of the moment bring peace to your heart all year long...may your creativity take you to amazing places and may you experience the resulting bliss...much love to all of you and your family...rebecca

[Kerstin]

Wonderful post, Kate. It was actually your reminder of the "word tradition" and of Ali's original post that prompted me to choose a word, too, which as you know is "do." I also like your idea about creating a visual reminder of my word, must give that some thought. Ooops, no, must DO that :)

Wishing you a happy and exceedingly joyful year, Kate!

[eileen (the dream)]

JOY - Fantastic word! My word for the year is LOVE. My prayer is to Live in LOVE ... and when I am not doing so, to become mindful of it quickly and do my best to return to LOVE.

[sorrow]

Simply wonderful....

[Tandaina]

Kate thanks for the post. I've been thinking about this but haven't really taken the leap but while reading your post a little word rose up and grabbed my attention: Light.

[lucy]

kate--glad to find your post through abbey of the arts. i was going to mention oriah mountain dreamer, too. i love the idea of one word embodying our year...mine for this year is "create." i have even started a companion website to honor my creativity. i love what you are doing here and i just noticed in your side bar that you are creating art journal...i, too, just started playing with the concept of visual journals, too...o.k. lots of inspiration here. i'll be back again for more :-) thank you!!