One Little Word

Once upon a time, in a Life I used to live, I was a Scrapbooker. I was a Taker of Pictures –the real kind, not with a phone; the kind you get printed out and place in an album. I was a Keeper of Memories, writing things down, a Curator of Life.

Funny thing, Life. It often changes. Sometimes when I’m not paying attention, sometimes even when I am. So, for a variety of reasons, both the expected and the unexpected, my life changed and I’m not much of a Scrapbooker anymore. At least not actively.

I’ve mentioned before that I’m great at making New Year’s Resolutions and sticking to them—provided I don’t make them right around New Years. My resolutions seem to have better staying power if I set with them awhile first, think about them, try them on for size. For that reason, I’m nowhere near ready to commit resolutions to paper—or to whatever the internet is made out of-- either.

I am ready to commit to One Little Word however. According to fellow Scrapbooker Ali Edwards, (Ah! THAT’S why she was blathering on about scrapbooking!) One Little Word is a word chosen to “focus on, to live with, to investigate, to write about, to craft with, and to reflect on as (one) goes about...daily life.”

One little word. That concept really resonates with me. After all, it’s on a single, highly personal word. How hard can it be? That’s the beauty of it. It can be as simple or as complex and you make it. The further you go, the deeper you dive, the more you explore the word you’ve chosen-- the more life changing it can become.

Sit down with a pencil and a piece of paper and make list of words that inspire: Action, Breathe, Connect, Discipline, Engage, Flourish, Gratitude, Heal, Joy, Listen, Mindful, Nest, Pause, Quit, Routine, Soar, Thankful, Whittle, Yes. Find one that resonates with you. In the past, I’ve chosen Attitude, Rise, Savor, and Discover.

This year, the word that is speaking to me is More. I want more; to appreciate more, to give more. To write more love letters, to savor more sunsets, to walk more, dance more, create more---I want MORE. My resolutions—when I get around to making them-- will have “more” in them.

Who knows? Perhaps I’ll even scrapbook more.