Welcome to One Little Word 2013. If you’re new to the idea of One Little Word, it’s super simple. All you do is select one word to keep in mind throughout the year. Last year I chose the word connect and I’ll admit, it manifested itself in a much different, but still good, way they I thought that it would when I chose it last year.
This year, I had my word picked out several months before the end of the year. That word was time. I was so sure about it that I even created a layout for it at the beginning of December as part of the Sweet Shoppe January Portfolio Challenge:
Layout Credits: Oh Happy Day by Mari Koegelenberg and Zoe Pearn; Kraftelicious No. 2 Alpha by Mari Koegelenberg; Inked Edges Alpha by Kristin Cronin-Barrow; Grey Alpha from A Beautiful Thing by Zoe Pearn; Small White Alpha from One For The Boys by Zoe Pearn; Wordy Bits and Clock from Time Flies by Meghan Mullens and Julie Billingsley; Clock from A Christmas Countdown by Kristin Cronin-Barrow and Zoe Pearn; Curvy Corner Stitched Blocks by Anna Apnes; Fonts are Lobster and DJB 4 Lynnette by Darcy Baldwin
But when January 1st finally rolled around, something about the word time didn’t feel right. It wasn’t that was a bad or irrelevant word, it just didn’t feel bold enough or actionable enough. It didn’t feel like it encompassed all I wanted to focus on this year. It was a fine enough word, it just didn’t feel like my word anymore.
Later that night, Adam and I were talking and I mentioned how I was nervous about the start of the year because I had a lot I’d like to accomplish and I didn’t know if was really possible.
And he turned to me and said,
“You have the skills, you just need the determination.”
And something about the word determination clicked. It felt right.
But I wanted to be sure. So I did what any tech-lovin’ gal would do: I googled it.
And after looking at the definition and synonyms like these…
Perseverance, boldness, bravery, constancy, conviction, dedication, drive, heart, purpose, willpower
…I knew this was the word I needed for this year. Because it encompassed everything I had really wanted to get from the word time but in a way that’s much more powerful and really at the core of what I was looking for.
My 2013 One Little Word: Determination
So determination is officially my one little word for 2013. I even made a new layout for it – hey, why not use what you’ve got – that’s the beauty of digital, right?
She Believed She Could by Kristin Cronin-Barrow; Inked Edges Alpha by Kristin Cronin-Barrow; Grey Alpha from A Beautiful Thing by Zoe Pearn (clipped with paper); Small White Alpha from One For The Boys by Zoe Pearn; Curvy Corner Stitched Blocks by Anna Apnes; Fonts are Lobster and DJB 4 Lynnette by Darcy Baldwin
January 2013 Goal-Setting
One thing I’ve known for months was that I wanted to combine my One Little Word this year into my goals for the year. If you follow Elise’s blog, you’ll know she did something similar for her word “choose” last year. And in her Big Picture I Choose class (which I highly recommend by the way!), she talks quite a bit about the importance of not only setting monthly goals but of also capturing them in a creative way.
So I knew I wanted to do something similar to what she did but with my own spin on it. Something I could share here on the blog but also print out as a reminder of what I want to focus on that month. And I knew it to had to be simple enough to put together every month or else I wouldn’t do it.
I came up with the idea to make a 6×6-inch goal-setting inspiration card to go with my monthly goals each month. My plan is to set 4 goals each month encompassing a good balance of life areas (something else Elise talks about in her class. You don’t want all your goals to be say, work-related since you’re likely to get burnt that way).
This is what I came up with, themed around the phrase “This Month I’m Determined To:” in reference to my 2013 OLW Determination:
And here’s what it looks like printed and hanging up on my white board all pretty like:
Fun, right? I just printed it out here at home on Epson Premium Presentation Matte paper and trimmed it out with my paper trimmer. I like that it’s clean and simple but still a little scrappy. Very me, haha.
Well that’s it for this January installment of One Little Word Goal-Setting! If you’re interested in making your own OLW layout or Monthly Goal inspiration cards, have no fear – both products will be hitting the Sweet Shoppe on Saturday. Just consider this an extra early sneak peek for all you lovely blog readers.
How about you – did you choose a One Little Word for this year? Did you set any monthly goals? Are you doing anything fun to document them? I love to chat so feel free to share what you’re up to in the comments below.
I have chosen a word every year for the past 3… have I stuck with any of them? NO!! This year I really want to incorporate my word into my life. Love the goal setting calendar and ideas to keep you on track! Will definitely be utilizing that!
My word for this year is BE. It is broad, but I started by brainstorming a list of all the things I want to BE this year, and think I will choose 12 to focus on, one each month.
Thanks for you inspiration, keep it coming, because I will need some nudging along! 🙂
Haha, some of my words have been that way too. Adventure I rocked, focus not so much and connect was somewhere in the middle. I do think attaching the word to goals is key so I’m hopeful for this year’s word!
Have you checked out Ali Edwards One Little Word workshop at Big Picture Classes? If not you you might want to because this month’s assignment is exactly what you’re talking about – choosing one focus related to your word for each month. Sounds right up your alley!
This is awesome Lynette! I’ve taken Ali’s class the past two years and this year decided to follow along and do my own version of Elise’s class (which I totally agree is fantastic). I really love your inspiration card you made. Such a great idea. 🙂
Thanks Nicole!
I was still struggling with my OLW ever since you wrote the blog about it. Last year my OLW was ‘create’ as in creating art, creating time for myself, creating a warm and inviting home etc. I did well, I had many ideas, put them to paper and that’s where they stayed, most of them.
I did manage to create my art room, 2 lay outs, a HUGE stash of digi scrap art ready to tackle all the l.o in my head. I discovered digi scrap only a year ago and gave myself a year to learn and gather the things I needed and get ready for PL 2013. Took some classes on how to scrap with PSE etc. but when it came to really creating I just dropped the ball.
So I decided what I lacked was determination. Until I read your entry, my word suddenly didn’t feel right anymore. I don’t lack determination. My situation is unique in a way that I have, due to a chronic illness, 1 or 2 productive hours a day where others have 12-16 hours. I tried desperately to put all those 16 hours activity in 1 or 2 hours and felt frustrated when that didn’t work. I would not start a l.o because it would take me days to finish. I felt I needed to do my small contribution to the household like folding laundry first and would than be too exhausted to do anything else.
After a long thought and a discussion with myself in my head I have chosen the word for that I struggle with the most and that is ‘purpose’. As in what is my purpose in life right now? I feel I drift from left to right like a boat without a captain on the open sea. My life as it used to be with friends, going out, concerts, travel( my most beloved activity), walking, hiking, shopping is all gone. I struggle to find my purpose to everything and everyone in my life right now. Not just to other people but also my relationship with myself. I used to be a very centered, grounded, happy person, that person is gone though and I need to find what is left. What of my Graphic Design education is still there an valuable. What are the things and people in my life that don’t serve a purpose but only suck the little energy out if it?
I feel I need to do this now before I arrive at a dangerous place in my life. We lost so many online friends to this illness last year, many died of natural cause of the disease but others took their life because of lack of hope, treatment and lack of purpose. Before my illness progresses to that point I want to be centered and live my limited life with a purpose and creativity. I will not let my illness define who I am, because its my body that is ill, not my soul.
My apologies if this reply made anyone feel uncomfortable but I understood you wanted an honest answer so I will be able to travel along with you.
Love this Christine! It sounds like you’ve come to your word in a really natural way which is awesome. I’ll be interested to hear from you how it goes!
Oh sweetheart!
Thank you for this! I also went from being active many hours a day to having one or two if I am lucky, due to ill-health. I wish that I had come across your comment to this blog post earlier so I didn’t beat myself up as much over the last 5 years. Then again, today is just perfect. Thank you for sharing yourself with us. I wanted you to know that it is very valuable!
Allie xxx