“To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.”
William Blake
We’re all familiar with the concept by now. One word for a year, a theme, an intention, instead of a long list of resolutions. I don’t even know who coined it at this point, so many people are doing it and promoting their special take on the idea. You can join internet communities, buy books, you name it. One Word seems to have officially taken flight.
I like the idea of a word for a year instead of a list of obligations. I liked it when I first found it a few years ago and I still like, no, LOVE it. It still works for me, resonating on a deep soul level, and obviously it’s working for a whole lot of other folks too. Which is great, because it seems to be here to stay! Well bring it on, I say! Bring on your websites, your books, all the art journaling and ways you can work with this idea! If it makes you happier, more aware, gives you focus, brings you joy… bring it ON. Anything that includes more joy, awareness and happiness is, in my book, a really super good thing that you might want to consider doing more of.
You know what else I like about it? It has a little wriggle room. For me, one word might not be enough. I might not be tomorrow who I am today. I like that I can change my mind, change my word, change it up. I need one thing right now. I might need or want another thing in October. Two years ago I had two One Words because they both seemed important. I had two rings, each stamped with one of the words and I just switched back and forth, depending on what I needed that day.
There are a lot of ways to play with this.
I know I’d mentioned in a post earlier this week that my One Word for 2013 is “Play.” Because holy cow do I need to play more! I need to go outside, dance, sing, laugh, go camping, paint, journal, write, get into tickle fights, and stop being such a serious sourpuss who is worried about bookkeeping and tax filing all the time.
But it’s funny, because part of making that work for me is actually learning to work smarter, more efficiently, and better, so that I can free up the time to play. I have to learn to work smarter so I can play better. That revelation means that it’s going to be an interesting year! I have a lot of shifts to make in that direction and they’re all a little against the grain. I’m a very disorganized person as a rule, and oooh do I abhor deadlines! I have to learn to take flying by the seat of my pants and turn it into a sustained journey that gives me lots of room for joy and adventure.
This means I probably have to clean and reorganize my studio and office. Among other things.
Captain Sexypants is secretly overjoyed at this. He’s been hinting at this necessity for, um, two years now?
We have resolved to do this and PLAY while we’re doing it. It should be fun. There will be pictures.
At any rate. We’ve got some nifty One Word things up in the Etsy shop now. Silk wrap bracelets. Fine silver pendants. Copper and turquoise mixed metal earrings. A range of goodies and price points for you to choose from.
And don’t worry if you need one or two words. It’s okay. Make it yours, and do what works for you. You don’t actually have to pick just One.
Leave me your One Word for 2013 in comments below, and one lucky reader will get a free One Word pendant or a silk wrap bracelet or pair of earrings! Your choice! We draw the winner on January 30.
...a homeschooling, unjobbing mama and modern day Mrs. Lovett. Knitter. Cat lady. Artist. Tattooed and irreverent, with a twist. My purpose on this earth is to bring a little inspiration and delight to all of y'all. Life is amazing! Grace is everywhere. Let me show you...
Breathe.
My one word for 2013 is “warmth”
My word is MAGIC! Cheers to a year of PLAY for you and Captain Sexypants!
strength
Adventure. Or maybe Risk
I spent 2 1/2 years caring for my mom while she was battling cancer. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and I do not regret a second of it. But now that she has passed, I need to step outside my circle more.
I need to have more adventures and take more risks. Whether that’s taking my camera out for a day playing with settings and photographing random things or going to my first conference as an attendee (complete with travel expenses!) or to try and figure out how to find a job I love in a field I enjoy. I’m going to travel more and visit friends. I’m going to have people over to my house. I’m going to take chances with redecorating the house. I’m going to buy paint with color and fun drawer pulls and buy ridiculous pint glasses to use instead of boring glasses. I’m going to drink wine more and use the Waterford to do it.
This year is going to be about having adventures, large and small, and taking risks and being brave.
This made me wriggle with happiness to read. I am GLAD you are going to paint with color and drink with fun glasses. I raise a glass of my own to your adventures! You are, already, brave. <3
Thanks. You made me sniffle a little. BTW, I sent a link to your etsy shop to a friend in DC. She came back about an hour later & said another one of her friends (from Iowa I think) had a link to your wax seal jewelry. LOL. Small world.
“Segura”
You made my one-word 2012 necklace (DANCE) and even gave me the idea for a theme word. Now 2013 has insisted my theme word is FOCUS. <3
‘Strength’ is my word…something I need, something I forget I have. Something I have the feeling I need to call on a lot this coming year…
achieve
I’m pretty sure my word for 2013 is “shine”. Because I spend way too much time afraid to do so and it’s silly.
Accomplishment (this is the year I finish my book)
I think I need two words, Perseverance, & Belief.
two years ago, my words were “balance” and “dream” because I needed to balance a lot of things and keep a lot of stuff in mind but also because I needed to dream big, and working with the two seemed to work out well for me.
beauty – that is my word… to see, experience and live beauty.
either hope, or possibility -
(hope being the thing with feathers, and possibility being what Emily dwells in…
“Purpose”. I feel like 2012 was a turning point for me. If you’ve ever had a goal and reached it, and then didn’t know where to go afterwards? I’ve been there for a while now, feeling a little lost. It’s only been 2013 for a couple of days now, but it has all come together recently! I feel like there is purpose to what I am doing and I am back on track with my goals.
It’s a good feeling to suddenly have a direction, isn’t it?
My one word for this new year is “Movement.” Because I need some in my life.
Hope.
Progress
I keep changing my mind, but I think I finally settled on Progress
I still need work on my word from last year … and I still love the new meaning you found for it. “Kiai”
Last years was soar – was not particularly successful. This year I think it will be peserve, or stick it. Or stepwise…. I actually like stepwise, it means logically deal with things….hmmm need to go look @ pennies. Also my clasp on last years seems to have broke, any idea how I can fix?
Zelda, I’m so sorry to read that but yes, I do – check your email! -R
Got email and have idea…..
I guess some ways soar was successful, but what I intended it to mean, and what it ended up meaning were two very different things.
“Hope” for me too. I love the idea of one word for the year, and when I stopped to think about it “Hope” just popped into my mind. Love your site too, which I just found today when I was searching for how to draw mandalas. So glad to have found you!
Hi Cindy, welcome! And thanks for hte kind words. I hope our little mandala tutorial is helpful to you. Have you looked at any of the Zentangle stuff available on Amazon.com or online? I’ve also found that to be really fun and mandala-tastic!