One Little Word® - Choosing SLOW

One Little Word® is a memory keeping/personal development project and class led by Ali Edwards each year since 2006.

I first chose a word to guide my year in the dying days of 2007.

Since then, I've had moderate success with words as intentions for guidance, with the best years coming when I have worked hard to embrace the word every day.

In 2021, I decided I needed to embrace SLOW.

Mostly, because I need to slow down and focus to ensure I don't make mistakes, but also because I need to remind myself that I don't have to fill every moment of the day with stuff for other people or busy work.

That it's ok to have white space in my days.

That I can be SLOW and still achieve.

I'm excited to see where it leads.

Do you choose a word each year?

Cultivating 2019

Inside - choosing a word to guide 2019

Happy New Year, and welcome to 2019!

For the last ten years, I've been choosing a word to guide my year, but it's only in the last couple of years that I've actually started doing the work of keeping my word visible and learning more about it over the course of the year.

Growth in the first quarter

I've been off-track this year. Lost in the HUGE pile of stuff I've got to do. And it's really impacted my writing. And my feelings.

I finished 2016 on such a high of all the things I was going to achieve this year with my blog, with my life. But none of it has happened. Or is even close to happening.

How to remember your value

I have always struggled with feeling confident in myself. People are often surprised when they hear me say that, perhaps because I've been one of those lucky introverts who has thrived in the online world where I can pretend to be confident because no one is looking at me. (Can you answer the phone? If I know who is on the other end, I can't answer it; caller ID is not my friend!)

Hello Monday

I was going to stop writing these posts, as part of my blog overhaul and refocusing in the new year.

I stopped writing completely, in part because of that decision.

But here is what I've relearned about this space in the last couple of weeks - I can do whatever I want in here!

One Little Word® 2017

I chose SUCCESS at the start of December. I was seeing it everywhere, as I went about completeing the blogging course I was taking, in everything I was reading and feeling as I reflected on the past year. It felt right.

One Little Word® SHINE

I've been choosing a word to guide my year since 2008, when I first discovered Ali Edwards' blog. Way back then, my very first word was PLAY. It seemed to fit where I was at in my life, with a young baby, school age kids, and a husband who worked all the hours he could. And as a guidance, the word worked. While it may not have been present every second of every day, just reminding myself regularly that this was how we were focusing to be better together was worthwhile.

Since then, I've chosen a word every year, to varying degrees of success. But last year's BRAVE has to have been the most powerful word I have ever chosen for myself. It saw me trying out new things, that just 12 months before I would never have dreamed of. So when SHINE started tapping on my shoulder last August while I was at the ProBlogger conference, I tried to ignore it.

It was too early in the year to be letting go of BRAVE, and way too far away from the New Year for SHINE to appear.

But even now, in February, SHINE is still whispering to me, telling me it's ok for my light to shine a little bit. 

I don't know what that looks like yet, mostly because I haven't really mapped out my plan for SHINE-ing, but I think it will work best if I tackle it one project or idea at a time (at least, it's better for my procrastinatory soul.)

Here's to SHINE in 2016.

Have you chosen a word for 2016?

linking with Essentially Jess 

Brave | Kicking it up a notch

Brave sure has been noisy the last couple of weeks! Not only did I invest money in advertising my blog to the world, but after reading this awesome post from Bec at The Plumbette I realised that I was mad if I waited for *someone else* to nominate me, and I nominated myself for the Kidspot Voices competition.

I've had the email from Kidspot to say I've been nominated, and I've primped and preened and felt a bit chuffed with myself. But the thing I've noticed the most happening, is that all those things that I *haven't had time* to do, all of a sudden seem to be happening!

Toni stumbled on this blog, Paper Hearts, today, and we both excitedly scrolled through tutorial after tutorial that solved the design problems that we'd both been tearing our hair out over. You'll notice the biggest change on the home page here - we managed to change our posts to neater snippets and featured images for posts, and I've updated my fonts to match my header, too.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised that things are being done now. Putting yourself on a list against other fabulous bloggers from around Australia really is stepping outside the comfort zone - last year's nomination list had over 550 nominees! If that isn't enough to prompt you to step up your game, I don't know what is!

But in the end, taking time to edit photos is something I've wanted to do for ages, and had been putting off. As was the post snippets thing. Being nominated for Kidspot Voices just gave me the kick up the bum I needed to step up and back me again!

Are you bringing your A game? Do you need to kick it up a notch?

Linking up with Essentially Jess for #IBOT

if you're new here, hi, I'm Cate and I've been blogging in this space for almost 8 years, through pregnancy, babies, teenagers and life's ups and downs. You can find out more about us here, or sign up for the monthly newsletter here.

brave | finally choosing to back me

Choosing BRAVE as my One Little Word® for this year might seem like a strange choice if you're on the outside looking in for the last four months. I mean, it's not as if I've acted on the word in any way so far, is it? But I think that part of making a word work for you is growing in acceptance that you need the strength that the word can bring you, and that isn't something that happens on January 2nd.

As I worked through those prompts in February, I thought I had a better understanding of what BRAVE meant for my year. But in true-Cate-style (cause lets face it, it wouldn't be an introspective Cate-post if I didn't throw in a spot of self-deprecation) life got in the way, and I've wallowed a bit since then.

And then last week a newsletter hit my inbox. It was a bit odd, because I didn't remember signing up for it, but I clicked it open because I recognised the name from a blog I had stumbled on the day before - The Colourful Housewife. I read the newsletter, clicked through on a couple of things, then wandered off on my merry way around facebook.

Later that night, something caught my eye - a status update in one of the business groups I'm in, offering advertising spots in the newsletter of The Colourful Housewife. Hmm, thought my brain, maybe I'll ask for more information.

Which I did.

And I consulted Toni, as I do with all random hare-brained ideas that jump into my head. (She's no good at helping me decide, she always says "do what you think is best", just as I say to her, but she's a fabulous sounding board!)

So how exactly did I back myself?

Well, I purchased an advertising spot in The Colourful Housewife's newsletter.

You know how they say you've got to spend money to make money?

Well, I'm not totally trying to make money yet, but I am trying to grow confident in putting myself out into the world.

It might seem like an odd first step, throwing myself out into the inboxes of 50,000 people, and the facebook feeds of even more people, but it seems that when I finally trust BRAVE, I do odd things.

And if I get just one facebook follower, or one comment and one extra reader, well, right now that's pretty successful to me. (Actually, that's not true, if I only get one new reader I'll probably cry over wasted money, and seriously doubt myself, and wallow in pinterest and chocolate)

When did you last back yourself? Did it involve spending money?

If you're new here, welcome, I'm Cate! I've been blogging in this space for almost 8 years, through pregancy, babies, teenagers and lifes ups and downs. Read more about us over here, or sign up for the monthly newsletter here.

one little word® blog hop

One of my creative goals for this year is to complete the pages in my One Little Word® album each month. In three years of taking the class (I didn't take the class in 2013), I haven't yet completed an album, and some years didn't make it past May.

In keeping with BRAVE, when I saw a post in the OLW facebook group from Nikki for co-hosts for a link up, I knew that  I would put my hand up. And that I would push myself to get my pages finished.

I totally love Ali's idea of including the blog post that I write each year at the start of the album. I wanted to include the word that I painted, but if you've seen my craft room, you'll understand why there's a crappy picture in it's place. I try to use one paper collection each year, this year it's Woodland Park from October Afternoon. (little word from Color Cast Designs)

I spent a lot of time pondering the prompts, and worked on them in the order that inspiration struck. The definition of BRAVE is a lot bigger than "showing courage", but once I realised I couldn't use the Daily Flash alphabet to write the whole definition, the idea of shortening it was appealing.

I loved the idea of using the photos of me with my glasses on and off. Kind-of a revealing of me, which is what this journey will be this year.

This page involved lots of tears. Realising just how much rejection scares me was truly eye-opening. And while I said I was excited about taking chances, I'm also terrified of taking that leap (that's why I've made it to February, and still haven't acted on anything)

I haven't finished my intentions page, I think I need to dwell on the idea a bit more before putting pen to paper. But I truly enjoyed the {long} process of putting these words and pictures together, and I'm already thinking on February's prompt (to create a vision board)

Have you chosen a word for 2015? Are you taking Ali's class?
Host blogs - NikkiStory, Breathe... Now Smile, Funky Lindsay, AnkeArt, Never Ever Erin, Scrapstorian.
This is a blog hop. If you're taking the 2015 OLW class, you can link up your January prompt pages here. Post once, on any of the host blogs, and your post will appear on all host blogs. Please take a moment to leave a comment, and visit at least two other links.

BRAVE | embracing what scares you

I bought a camera last week. (you might have heard me complain on facebook when my computer ate the manual. Which is still stuck inside my computer.)

I've wanted one since I first heard of them about six months ago. I did my research, dreamed of owning one, and waited patiently.

A couple of times over the last month, Steve and I have talked about buying it.

"Just go", he says, "you know you'll get the use out of it."

And he's right, photos and scrapbooking go hand in hand, and I've been picking up my Fuji a lot more in recent months, after years of loyalty to my iPhone.

But I'm scared of it.

It feels different.

And without a manual in my hands, I can't even get a live screen.

It cost so much, I don't want to break it.

So after a week, it still sits, waiting, on top of my computer.

I feel sad for it. And cranky with myself.

What if it gets broken? By the kids? By me?

Excuses. Excuses.

Isn't that why I chose BRAVE this year?

To defeat the excuses?

I think I'm going to head to the park today to play.

one little word | brave

I realised last week that this is the 8th word that I've chosen to guide my year.

Some words have been really good for me, and some words have been lost over the course of the year. But I keep seeking the guidance of that quiet voice inside, and listening for the word that becomes important each year.

BRAVE started singing out to me about the middle of last year. When a friend said to me "hey, lets work with businesses, teaching them how to do SEO and blogging and get google to notice their business" and I said yes, then doubted myself for weeks and wondered what the hell I was doing.

Then October saw me blogging every day about blogging, and knowing inside myself that I really could do this! So I've spent big chunks of the year learning about SEO and blogging and reading all those posts I pin on pinterest, but I don't do anything with the knowledge. 

BRAVE wants me to learn to share my knowledge with others in a way that benefits me, not just them. BRAVE wants me to try new foods, learn new things, wear different clothes, randomly decide to get on a plane for a day trip.

BRAVE wants me to make plans and.follow.through. BRAVE wants me to put one foot in front of another.every.day.

But there's a little voice, nagging in my head tonight, that says that I can't do any of these things that I want to do. That I'm not good enough, don't know enough, can't share enough. BRAVE can see past that, and guide me to the end.

Have you chosen a word for 2015?

one little word™ | focus

It's been a struggle to find my word this year.

For a while there, I thought I would be spending 2014 with GRACE, but the more I thought about it, the further that seemed from the right word.

I looked at HONOUR, and RESPECT, but the more I thought about it, the more I realised that I needed FOCUS in my days.

I started scouring pinterest for interesting quotes. And I signed up for Ali Edwards workshop, too (I confess, I signed up for the workshop before I found my word.)

And now that I've claimed FOCUS as my word, my head feels clearer, ready to journey into 2014 and see what the year holds.

Have you chosen a word for 2014?

{you can see past words linked through this post}

{linked up with Maxabella Loves}

one little word | choose

In Christmas week 2007, I discovered Ali Edward's blog. From stumbling and reading that week, a love of choosing a guiding word each year was born.

In 2008, I chose PLAY. 2009 was CREATE. 2010 was about CHANGE. 2011 was the year of COMMUNITY and WELLNESS, and neither really stuck. 2012 saw me DOing more.

Usually, as the year draws to a close, my word starts whispering in my year, but with everything that's been going on, I wasn't hearing it.

Until I got an email from Big Picture Classes for Elise Blaha Cripe's new class, I Choose. Choose had sort of been whispering a couple of months ago, but I'd shut it down with uncertainty. But as I read through the class (you didn't think I was going to pass it up, did you?) it started whispering louder and louder, until I embraced it as my word for 2013.

It sort-of feels like an extension of this year's word DO. Because I can CHOOSE to do something, anything, or not. And that's just what I need right now.

I have yet to decide if I'm signing up for Ali's class at BPC. I signed up the last two years, and struggled to get much past May in either year. But I like the idea of new prompts, so I might peek in.

Have you picked a word for 2013? 

I'm also writing about my craft goals at And Sew We Craft today.

If you have never taken a class at Big Picture Classes, use this link to sign up, then when you register for your first class, we both get a $US10 reward certificate!

less pinterest, more do

Busy-ness seems to be the story of my life at the moment. It isn't fun, or exciting, and I often fall into bed at night, wondering what I've done all day, and why I can find time for more DOing. But that's a grumbly post for another day (maybe tomorrow). Today, I'm sharing my pinterest-inspired DOing over at And Sew We Craft.

{click the picture to be taken to and sew we craft}

do | less pinterest, more do

I've really enjoyed translating ideas from pinterest into tangible objects this past week. But I'm going to have to come up with a system for keeping track of the things I do and the pins I used, because my memory isn't as good as I think it is.

Most of my focus for the last week has been getting ready for Natalie's birthday party yesterday.

 {teacup biscuits}

{party popcorn}

{rainbow cake}

Have you been inspired by pinterest to create this week? Share your post below.

one little word | do

I know it's still a few weeks until the start of the new year. And I know DO was Lee's word in 2011. But I'm not taking her journey, I'm taking mine.

Because, despite all my promises to myself that I'm going to DO something, I have yet to follow through on just about everything this year. I think the last thing that I actually completed for.my.self. was layout-a-day in February.

My journey to wellness has not been successful, because I have let myself get away with every excuse. Even when I kicked my bloggy butt, I still let myself down!

In 2012 I am making a committment to myself to DO the things I set out to do. Between now and January 1st, I need to work out what areas I need to focus on, and come up with some clear ideas to help me achieve the result of DOing.

Will you have one word guiding your 2012?

I think I chose the wrong word for 2011

I chose the word COMMUNITY during December, and shared my thoughts at the start of January.

But as my year progresses, it feels as if community isn't ENOUGH. That somehow it is limiting the things I can achieve for myself this year. I think I need a word that can encompass everything, and still give me room to grow.

WELLNESS is defined as "a multi-dimensional state of being describing the existence of positive health in an individual as exemplified by quality of life and a sense of well-being." (source)

I was inspired to start on this journey of reassessment after reading Karen Grunberg's series on resolutions at Write.Click.Scrapbook. I realised that my priority list had lots of things on it that were important, but COMMUNITY didn't provide focus to those priorities.

While I was exploring the dimensions of wellness (social, occupational, spiritual, physical, intellectual, emotional, environmental, financial, mental, medical) I realised that it was easier to summarise those dimensions as mind, body and spirit. Then I took my priority list, and worked out which priorities fit into these areas. (and I made some pretty labels to keep me on track)

Karen's idea of a project for each priority was what motivated me to sign up for LOAD. I'm still thinking of ideas for projects that tie in with the other priorities, but I plan to focus on one priority from each dimension each month.

Is your word still a good fit for your year? Are you creating a project to guide your word this year?

{purple and yellow labels from songbird avenue March 2010 kit, font is lobster 1.4}

one little word 2011

I only discovered Ali Edwards in the last week of 2007. I remember reading her posts about why she chose a word to guide her year, and having a feeling of complete understanding, and I've been choosing words ever since.

My 2008 word was play. 2009 was create. 2010 was about change.

In 2011, my journey will be one of community. I shared my loss of community this year, and I'm determined to build something good from that loss.

Like most people, I find that life can get in the way at times (but more often, I let it get in the way and use that as an excuse to throw my hands up and say "oh, well, too hard"), so I signed up as soon as I saw that Ali was offering a class at Big Picture Classes. In 2011, I'm planning to mend my procrastinating ways!

CHANGE is in the air!

1. New Pipevine Swallowtail, 2. The Journey is the Reward, 3. I raise butterflies at our exhibit., 4. Cairns Birdwing Butterfly, 5. Blue Morpho Butterfly, 6. Orange Sulphur Butterfly Newly Emerged From Chrysalis, 7. A new Gulf Fritillary, 8. Caterpillar to Butterfly... just emerged from its cocoon, Monarch is feeding on orange and gold flowers of a regrown milkweed, 9. Mexican Silver Spot on flowers., 10. butterfly, 11. Zebra, 12. Butterfly... FAIRY IS BORN