I want MORE out of 2014

So I was suppose to blog yesterday... but I didn't... so here I am today, getting it done. No MORE procrastination!

As many of you know the past few years i have picked a word for the year. This process is called "One Little Word", and came about from a wonderfully amazingly talented woman Ali Edwards. You can read more about the projects on her blog. She offers a year long workshop, which is amazing! I have loved it! This will be my second year doing the workshop, and it is so worth it.

Anyway, this years word was very hard to come by, I thought about it for MONTHS. I needed a word that was going to help me get back to a point that I could flourish again (flourish was my word f or 2013, and it was great, but I lost my ability to flourish somewhere along the way). There was so much in my head, and nothing was coming up as THE word. I made lists and lists and lists, I would get there, and then cross everything off and start again. I finally decided on a word that could encompass many of my words, but it took me a while to share it, because it felt really selfish. The word I chose was "MORE". It took a while for me to be able to explain why that was my word, and I am still kind of learning why. I want more of a lot of things right now, I want more shenanigans, more devotion, more creativity, to be more conscious, more happiness, to complete more and be more complete, more sharing, more learning, more loveliness, more purpose, more community, and more abundance, just to name a few. And the reason I want more, is because I am worth more. I've been in a pretty bad depression lately because I have felt worthless, and I'm hoping telling myself I am worth more, and having more to work towards will help me get to the other side of this depression. 

Anyway, On to the pretty stuff.
I got to work on some of this month's prompt. I still need to finish up some of it, but I love what I have so far. I decided to incorporate my one little word into project life this year, to help give myself momentum on both projects. Here is what I've got.

 The top left card says "Hello There More One Little Word 2014", the top right card is a definition and thesaurus entry. The middle row has a fold out journaling card, with a bit more about why I chose my word, then a photo of me (thank you Disney photopass photographers for getting at least one good shot of me!), the "make your word visible" graphic that Ali shared as part of the workshop, and a little card with an Ampersand. I choose an ampersand as a symbol for my word this year, as one of the synonyms for more is "and". The bottom row has two quotes that contain my word.

I really love how it turned out! It has me excited to continue! I've got a second "Intentions" page I am still working on that will be opposite this page.

I also picked up some little wooden letters that I covered with Washi tape that spell out "MORE". My intent is to put them on a wall, and each month add a quote that corresponds with what I want from my word that month on the wall as well. It's my way of trying to "Make My Word Visible".

So there you have it folks! A new blog post, a new word, and a new year!

Keep Moving Forward

Yesterday my boys and I watched "Meet the Robinsons" and I was reminded of the quote I based the title of my blog off of. It is a Walt Disney Quote (He really has the best quotes!), and it really helped me through some rough times. You can see it above, all decked out in the latest trend of chalkboard art.

I decided that I needed to have it up in my home somewhere, so I got in illustrator and began playing around and came up with the above printable to put up in my home and to share with you guys! I think it's going to go in my newly decked out Mickey bathroom (my boys got to pick the theme!) where I can see it every morning! You can download it HERE, or by clicking on the image above.

Hope you enjoy it!

One Little Word: Flourish

flour·ish

[flur-ish, fluhr-] Show IPA

verb (used without object)

1. to be in a vigorous state; thrive: a period in which art flourished.

2. to be in its or in one's prime; be at the height of fame, excellence, influence, etc.

3. to be successful; prosper.

4. to grow luxuriantly, or thrive in growth, as a plant.

5. to make dramatic, sweeping gestures: Flourish more when you act out the king's great death scene.

I had an incredibly hard time picking a word this year. I started thinking about it in November, and I didn't actually pick on until yesterday! The looming new year forced me to come to a decision, and I ended up with a word that hadn't even been on my list of possibilities. To try and help my decision I had started listening to the reading of the words from last year on Ali's Blog. They read the word "bloom" and the word flourish just popped into my head.

I knew it was the one. It just felt right. It encompassed several of the things I was hoping to capture with my word. 

2013 is going to be a big year for our Family. My husband is graduating form College in May, We are taking our first family vacation (to DisneyWorld! More on that later), my oldest son will be starting Kindergarten, and we are likely moving, depending on where my husband can get a job after graduation. It's a lot of change, a bit of uncertainty, and a lot of fun. 2013 also comes with my husband being home more, which gives me more time to focus on other things, especially with my oldest going off to school later this year. 

It seemed like the perfect year to work on "Me", but the word "me" seemed too selfish. I thought about what it was I wanted to do with that "me" time and found myself entertaining the word "community". 

I wanted to spend my time working on more craft projects and getting more involved with the crafting/designing/blogging "community", building a network of people that I could take with me wherever I might end up. I also wanted to socialize my boys more, with no car, and a husband who worked 16-17 hour days I hardly ever had the energy to participate in local play groups, as most of them have activities in the midst of suburbia, involving lots of walking, in who knows what weather... I wanted to help my children build a "community" to, and get to know more people in my area. I wanted to start going to church more regularly and be part of that community. That word stuck around as my word idea for a while, but it still didn't seem right.

And then came "Flourish".  I wanted to flourish in my community, become a real part of things, feel like I belong and am needed. I wanted to flourish in my relationships with my children and husband, make them stronger, and create new memories. I wanted to flourish wherever I might end up by the end of this year. I wanted adventure to flourish in my life, explore new possibilities, places, and experiences.

So flourish is my word. And hopefully I will be flourishing in 2013! 

I've started a pinterest board on my personal account that focuses on my one little word, quotes, books, others posts, items, etc. It is a work in progress right now, but I hope to add more. You can find it here.

I also hope to sign up for Ali Edwards class at Big Picture Classes that helps you explore your chosen word a little more each month of the year, and keep it in the forefront of your mind. I think it is an excellent idea, plus it helps me to build a community, as a few of the lovely ladies I met at the Smash Ball are taking it as well.

So excited for 2013! This is going to be an awesome year! How could it not be with my Lucky number 13 in it! 

One Little Word: What Will You Focus on in 2013?

It's about that time of year that I start thinking about my "One Little Word". This is a word that gives me a focus for the upcoming year, something to work on, think about, develop, etc. I got the idea from, you guessed it, Ali Edwards (have I mentioned how much she inspires me in everything she does?), and it has been interesting.
My word last year I believe was "Create". I don't remember exactly. I lost track of what I wanted to focus on this year at some point, as I focused on meeting the needs of everyone else. I think I created, but I didn't really focus on creating myself. I meant to create in many different meanings of the word, and it all got lost because I put myself last. I wanted to create an organized home, I wanted to create traditions, I wanted to create memories, and mostly I ended up creating stress.
This last little part of the year I am going to try to focus on creating more, and one of the things I want to create while I do that is something visual I can put up in my house to remind me of the word I choose for 2013.

That leaves me the task of deciding on a word. In the past this has been a hard fought battle. I probably over-think it, but it always seems like such a big thing to me. I think about it a lot. I even pray about it. I ponder the year ahead and what I know I will be facing. I think about other goals I have set, and how I might incorporate them into my one little word. I think of it as an affirmation, or a resolution. It defines me, and focuses me, and feels like something that should be given great thought and consideration.

Some that are in consideration for this next year: Create (again, so I can do it right this time), Memories, Me, Achieve, Be, Challenge, Cultivate (that was on my list of maybe's last year), Focus, Record, Lift, Moment, Restore, Venture, Wonder... and the list goes on. It's going to be hard to choose one.

So, if you could choose one word that represents what you want for the coming year, what would it be? What one little word will define you this coming year? Think about it, and post your answer below. Perhaps you will inspire me... ooooo Inspire is a good word too....