Wednesday, January 10, 2007

My word for the year...

OK, so I was reading something written by a woman named Ali Edwards and have decided to follow through on her challenge. I'll start by saying that she's an amazing scrapbooker and a graphic designer. Here's her challenge:

To celebrate the new year I wanted to share the one little word concept which is also featured in this weeks newsletter:
one little word
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.
Last fall in
issue two of this newsletter I wrote about the power of words and gave my top ten tips for getting those words down when you are scrapbooking. Today I want to introduce you to the idea that a single word can be a catalyst for enriching your life as well as your scrapbook layouts.
Last year I began a tradition of chosing one word for myself each January - a word that I can focus on, mediate on, and reflect upon as I go about my daily life. Last year my word was something I wanted to bring into my life in a more tangible way. My word was play. I thought a lot about play and what it means to me. I tried to incorporate it more
into my everyday and on my adventures out in the crazy world. For me, it was a lot about living without fear - about being more open to experiences with an attitude of playfulness. The word play found its way onto many scrapbook pages and into many stories I told throughout the year.
Can you identify a single word that sums up what you want for yourself in 2007?
It can be something tangible or intangible. It could be a thought or 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 hearts speak to us in very unique ways. Maybe this is a word you need to hear but just aren't ready for it yet. Again, be open to the possibilities.You may be wondering, what in the heck does this all have to do with scrapbooking? For me, words are at the heart of what I do. The photos are a huge part, but the words bring it all home. Often times I will begin a layout with a single word. That word becomes my guide as I create my page. It helps me focus the story I am trying to tell and gives me an instant, easy graphic title approach. How often has a word directed your creativity when working on layouts?
Take some time this week to think about your own word for 2007 and read on for a related weekly challenge.
And in case you were wondering, my word for 2007 is peace.

So, as she said, I'm not sure why this word came to me, but the word I've chosen is SEEK. For whatever reason, it was the first thing that came to me and I'm willing to see where it takes me! Should be fun!

I'm going to start with a quote using this word that I love:

Seek the wisdom of the ages, but look at the world through the eyes of a child.
Ron Wild
I want to work on a scrapbook page for this as well and see what happens. Oh I really do love being creative these days!

Cheers,
Colleen

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Cool Col! Iv'e done this Single Word thing at a seminar before. I think if you follow through on it, it can be powerful. For anyone wanting to try it but having trouble finding your word: write down a bunch of phrases of things that you want for the year and then see if you can find one word that would tie them all together.

Anonymous said...

Colleen - I love AE and I am also doing this challenge, but with a twist. The word I have chosen is "Change" because this is the year I want to stop complaining and actually do something about stuff that I need to change :)

Anonymous said...

oooppps - that anonymous was me..... cheryl