The Power of One Little Word and Resolutions

January 1st is always a time to reflect on the past year, and think about where we want to journey next. We have different ways we do this....one little word...making resolutions...setting goals, and we thought we would share ours with you.

One Little Word...a great project by Ali Edwards where you focus on one word for the year. Maura's word for 2013 is healthy. I am slowly regaining control of some health issues I have been facing, and feel the need to work on this throughout the year. Sheila is keeping her word from last year which is cultivate. She's just not quite done with it yet.

Crafty Resolutions...somehow, these are much easier to make. Maura's resolutions are to enter more challenges in 2013, to participate in art swaps, to try at least one new thing each month...a technique, class, product or idea...and to share all of this with you our readers.

Sheila's resolutions are to incorporate the manual typewriter and the sewing machine into more projects, to enter one challenge-tiny steps into this territory, take an online class just for fun-perhaps with Maura? and also for both of us to share a few long distance projects with all of you.

Happy Crafty New Year to all!

One Little Word for 2012

Start out the new year with "one little word".  It's a puzzle to figure out the word for the year, but it can guide you through the next twelve months.

This is an idea from Ali Edwards (be sure to check out her website here to get more details). Sheila and I have been doing this for the past couple of years and you can check out posts from past years HERE.

So, after much pondering, I think my word for 2012 will be "BELIEVE". Belief encompasses acceptance, expectation, faith, confidence, trust...I believe I can become a better person in 2012; I believe I can improve; I believe life will be better for my family; I believe I can accept challenges in my life, both personal and creative....and grow as a person.

Sheila here...my word for 2012 is CULTIVATE: to promote or improve, to refine. There are different aspects of my life...crafting included..that are just waiting to be cultivated.

What's your one little word for 2012? Have a blessed and healthy new year!

More One Little Word

Now that Maura and I have shared our One Little Words for 2011, I wanted to point out that Ali has a workshop going on right now at Big Picture Classes.

In her own words:

I plan to bring my word into my life more consciously and concretely and make it more visible by creating an album to hold my thoughts, challenges and inspirations. Inside the classroom, you'll find a gentle reminder message, encouragement to refocus, and a simple creative project to complete related to your word. At the end of the year you'll have an album that celebrates and honors your word - making it that much more concrete and visible in your life.

If you are interested, just click HERE.

One Little Word

Last year, Sheila and I were inspired by Ali Edward's project, One Little Word, and we each created our own and shared it here.

Maura's word for 2010 was "evolve".  It is a process, so I am still evolving, and when I looked at how I thought the word would work for me, I discovered that it "evolved" in different ways than I planned....I still have weight to lose, but both sons are employed now (so grateful for that)...some things came to fruition, and some are still evolving. So even though the year is over, my word will continue into 2011.

Time to think of my new word for 2011.  I am still feeling the need to find balance in my life with the many demands we all face, and was headed in that direction in my thoughts, but, I think the better word for me is harmony. So there it is, my word for 2011 - HARMONY. To me, harmony evokes balance, finding serenity in the everyday life we lead, physical and emotional well-being, and even the harmony of music, which I love. I see harmony in the creative spirit which I hope to continue to nourish in the coming year.

I wish for us all a creative, fulfilling and harmonious year for 2011!

Sheila here...well, they say that less is more and that is my word for 2011-LESS. I want to have less clutter in my work space,  make less waste and more recycling, make do with less (using up supplies I already have), spend less time on the computer and more time creating and sharing here on the blog and so on....I know that if I focus on LESS I will have MORE of what I really need.
 

So, what is your one little word for the new year?

The Power of One Word

Choose one word for this year to hold on to and make your own. Check out Ali Edwards blog where she describes the power of one word. Sheila and I thought it was a great idea to try out!

Maura's word is evolve.
Evolve - verb: develop, progress
synonyms: advance, derive, disclose, educe, elaborate, emerge, enlarge, excogitate, expand, get, grow, increase, mature, obtain, open, result, ripen, unfold, work out.

When I think about all of the things I want for this year, this word just seems to work. I want to change myself physically (continue to lose weight), and improve my health. I think that is an evolutionary process. I want for my sons to find their paths and careers (may the recession/depression be over!) and this word works for them. I want my students to mature and develop their thought processes. I continue to want to improve my creativity and develop those traits, so I can see my creative spirit evolving. Finally, it is a verb, an action word, and what I want to do requires action!

Sheila's word is focus.
Focus-verb: to converge on or toward a central point, to render in clear outline or sharp detail, to direct toward a particular point or purpose, to concentrate attention or energy.

I had a hard time coming up with one word that takes into consideration the year that lies ahead. Focus seems to work the best for 2010. If I focus on a healthy lifestyle, it will happen over time. I want to focus on simplicity and living in the moment. Not taking anyone or anything for granted. I want to focus on crafting and creating as it keeps me happy and connected to Maura. I want to focus on sharing-of myself and also here on our blog with all of you.

So, now that you know our one little word for the new year, what is yours?