Years and years ago, when I still blogged at blogger and teacher bloggers were predominantly writing about teaching as opposed to writing to promote their TpT products, someone introduced the concept of One Little Word. Basically, you select a word for the year that will bolster you through and is supposed to serve as an anchor of purpose.
At the time I first heard of it, I just thought the teacher who had shared it was clever and a ton of people hopped on the bandwagon. Since then, however, I have learned that someone else had originally come up with the concept and even had a class for it each year. The class includes some journaling/scrapbooking type of stuff so it's more than just choosing a word.
I don't go that far into it. I just like to choose a word to push me through the year. A couple of years ago I chose the word Intent. I even had a wallpaper made for my phone with that word on it so I would see if multiple times per day. It was incredibly helpful for me as I went through the year to have that word literally in my face throughout my days. That word also gave me the strength to pursue other job opportunities when I found I was no longer satisfied/fulfilled in the one I had. It was an incredibly powerful tool for me.
I didn't do a word for 2018. I'm not sure why I didn't choose one, but I am going to do that for 2019. I am not a New Year's Resolution fan. I like to set goals, sure, but I don't like to call them resolutions because I think people expect resolutions to be broken. I don't like the negative connotation there. That may be another reason why I like the One Word challenge because it's not a resolution OR a goal - it's simply a word to anchor you for the year to come.
As noted previously in this blog, I have done a ton of reflecting, journaling and meditating since Thanksgiving. It has truly helped diminish my anxiety and depression in ways I didn't think were possible. In addition, I have been working with a therapist which is the best decision I ever made, to go back to therapy. Having someone objective to help you process the things taking up space in your head is incredibly helpful. Throughout the last two weeks, I have brought up the One Little Word concept in therapy and discussed it with my therapist. I have been tossing around a couple of words as options, but I have also wanted to be very careful what I select because once you pick it, that's it.
All of the words that I have considered have power and meaning behind them. Not surprisingly, they are all really similar too. I did consider using the weird fierce, but I think that's too strong of a weird with some negative connotation to it so I have passed on that one.
The word I have selected for 2019 is renewal. This is an incredibly powerful word because renewal can encompass so many areas! I want to renew/strengthen my relationship with my husband and my daughters; I want to renew my faith in myself and my self-confidence (which has taken a real beating with this latest bout of depression); I want to renew/strengthen my resolve as an educator and seek opportunities that will allow me to continue to grow as a professional.
I love this word because, truly, from moment to moment the way I renew can be different. It can truly fit the situation I'm in. There is power in the versatility of the word itself.
Here's to a happy, prosperous and renewing 2019.
At the time I first heard of it, I just thought the teacher who had shared it was clever and a ton of people hopped on the bandwagon. Since then, however, I have learned that someone else had originally come up with the concept and even had a class for it each year. The class includes some journaling/scrapbooking type of stuff so it's more than just choosing a word.
I don't go that far into it. I just like to choose a word to push me through the year. A couple of years ago I chose the word Intent. I even had a wallpaper made for my phone with that word on it so I would see if multiple times per day. It was incredibly helpful for me as I went through the year to have that word literally in my face throughout my days. That word also gave me the strength to pursue other job opportunities when I found I was no longer satisfied/fulfilled in the one I had. It was an incredibly powerful tool for me.
I didn't do a word for 2018. I'm not sure why I didn't choose one, but I am going to do that for 2019. I am not a New Year's Resolution fan. I like to set goals, sure, but I don't like to call them resolutions because I think people expect resolutions to be broken. I don't like the negative connotation there. That may be another reason why I like the One Word challenge because it's not a resolution OR a goal - it's simply a word to anchor you for the year to come.
As noted previously in this blog, I have done a ton of reflecting, journaling and meditating since Thanksgiving. It has truly helped diminish my anxiety and depression in ways I didn't think were possible. In addition, I have been working with a therapist which is the best decision I ever made, to go back to therapy. Having someone objective to help you process the things taking up space in your head is incredibly helpful. Throughout the last two weeks, I have brought up the One Little Word concept in therapy and discussed it with my therapist. I have been tossing around a couple of words as options, but I have also wanted to be very careful what I select because once you pick it, that's it.
All of the words that I have considered have power and meaning behind them. Not surprisingly, they are all really similar too. I did consider using the weird fierce, but I think that's too strong of a weird with some negative connotation to it so I have passed on that one.
The word I have selected for 2019 is renewal. This is an incredibly powerful word because renewal can encompass so many areas! I want to renew/strengthen my relationship with my husband and my daughters; I want to renew my faith in myself and my self-confidence (which has taken a real beating with this latest bout of depression); I want to renew/strengthen my resolve as an educator and seek opportunities that will allow me to continue to grow as a professional.
I love this word because, truly, from moment to moment the way I renew can be different. It can truly fit the situation I'm in. There is power in the versatility of the word itself.
Here's to a happy, prosperous and renewing 2019.
RSS Feed
