Tough (Question) Tuesday: What’s your word for 2012?
My Essential Checklist by This is It
I’m a little torn on choosing a word for the year. I did this last year for the first time, but by the end of the year (middle of the year? March?) I had forgotten it. But considering my boob cancer and the fact that I have to step away a bit from Making Aggressive Goals in 2012 – simply because I still don’t know what the year’s gonna look like and what I’m gonna be capable of doing – I thought that Picking a Word would be a nice substitute. I’ll also be making a Right Brain Business Plan Card for my word, and taping it right to my computer monitor (I’d use it as my digital wallpaper, but nothing replaces the landscape pic from our wedding) until I feel it in my bones.
My word? It came easily this year. It’s CARE.
What’s your word for 2012? Why? And how will you remember to listen to it? (OK, I know that’s 3 questions, but think of the last 2 as Optional Yet Encouraged)
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January 3rd, 2012 at 8:20 am
I hadn't really thought about giving my year a word, but with all of the intentions I have set for myself this year my word is FLOW…as in going with the flow of life and being open to where it takes me and also to see the bright side of every challenge or difficult moment.
On a side note: Michelle you are one of the most inspiring people I know…well I don't know you personally but you know what I mean. I have been sending you lots of healing vibes for the boob cancer and everything that comes with it. May you kick it in the arse and show it who's boss!!
Thanks for being so positive and uplifting. You are the definition of amazeballs.
January 3rd, 2012 at 9:40 am
I am going to cheat a little and pick two words, because they are both equally important to me. They are "give" and "risk." "Give" because I tend to hold things too closely, and I want to practice generosity until it comes naturally. "Risk" because I tend to stay safe, to let fear dictate my choices. I want to stretch myself a little, take a few leaps of faith. And how will I remember them? I think I might embroider them and hang them on my sewing studio wall – or maybe a collage? The process of making them and then seeing them daily should help them sink in!
January 3rd, 2012 at 10:22 am
Love your word Michelle! Big hugs. xxx
January 3rd, 2012 at 12:31 pm
"have to step away a bit from Making Aggressive Goals in 2012 – simply because I still don’t know what the year’s gonna look like and what I’m gonna be capable of doing – I thought that Picking a Word would be a nice substitute. I’ll also be making a Right Brain Business Plan Card"
That's me.
In a nutshell…me.
Last year I so desperately tried to get a grip on things and I feel I AM moving forward, but not sure where, how, etc. I think I came close to my goals last year and learned a lot. I think it propelled me forward fer sure. Thing is…it is kinda like a big wind shoving you forward but you stumble a bit and try to get your bearings straight and then you stand ok. That's me too.
I broke up with somone AGAIN, I don't know where my relationships are going, I have a few irons in the fire each of which could flame in any direction and I am STILL not grounded or have inner peace. I do not feel ok physically, mentally, spiritually so I am choosing my word:
PEACE…and adding to it my Theme :Be OK
That's my goal for this year. To honor the word Peace and remember Be ok.
1,2,3,4, and 5…well, those are not high on my priority this year. I did those last year. This year I take a bit of my word from the middle to end of last year after I did Declaration of You…
Receive. Allow things to come to me.
I will continue that and work on obtaining Peace and acknowledging that everything will be ok.
I feel that THEN and only THEN will 1-5 be attainable for me.
RBBP Card sounds good to me. Simple and attainable.
January 3rd, 2012 at 12:39 pm
I'm loving 'risk' as a word, unfortunately I tend to move closer to reckless than risk, so I'm going to opt for a safer word!!
My word for 2012 will be "learn". I have learnt so much from my own mistakes, and from those of others, already and I only started out on my business venture late last year. I think this is going to be a good year from me, as long as I keep learning!
January 3rd, 2012 at 1:04 pm
Wishing you a year of excellent care Michelle. In every sense of that word.
My word this year is Abundance, with (for now) two distinct themes: First, I very much want to get pregnant in 2012 but I don't want to get lost in the trying for this one thing I do not have so I will strive to keep in mind the wonderful Abundance that exists in my life, baby or no. Also, this year is starting out with many work projects that threaten to tip the work-life balance I have created for myself so I want to be mindful of my priorities in managing the Abundance of pressures on my time and energy.
January 3rd, 2012 at 2:09 pm
Love your word for 2012. It works on so many different levels.
I found my comment from your post last year and my word was "liftoff" which I think aptly captured my 2011. This year I want it to be a word that has forward direction, growth, excitement, and awesomeness… I'd been thinking "grow" but it's not exciting enough… maybe "acceleration" and keep with my rocket ship theme?
January 3rd, 2012 at 2:51 pm
I chose "connect" as my word for the year… just wrote about that over at my parenting blog. Last year's word was nurture and had an intense small-sphere focus. This year I want to make new connections, deepen existing ones and forge new interconnections amongst what's already growing.
I hope that 2012 is a good year for you despite boob cancerage. I know that you'll do awesome stuff this year, and set some beautiful mindful just-right goals.
January 3rd, 2012 at 2:58 pm
Your word is fantastic.
My word for 2012 is "peace". I'm having my first baby this year and at the same time struggling with myself as an artist so "peace" is something I need. I need peace with what I'm doing as an artist and mother and with the rest of my life. It's a nice calming, grounding and inspiring word and I really look forward to keeping it in my life this year. I wrote more about it on my blog if you're curious. Picking a word for each year is such a great practice!
January 3rd, 2012 at 7:49 pm
Michelle, I love this approach. It's honest and bare bones.
And I wish you a year of gentle care and good health.
January 3rd, 2012 at 8:06 pm
I was just trying to figure out what my word for 2012 would be a few days ago! I then proceeded to forget all about it so thanks for the reminder! Last year my word was CHANGE and that it was–going from working in accounting in Chile to moving back to the US & taking a 6 month sabbatical while also soul-searching for a new career. As far as 2012 goes, I've decided to make my word GIVE.
Hugs from NJ!
January 3rd, 2012 at 8:13 pm
My word for 2012 is PROUD. I've made myself a promise – at the end of every day, I will ask myself 'am I proud of the choices that I made today?' and as long as the answer is yes, then I count that as a winning day.
I know if I've been lazy and haven't worked as hard as I could, or spoken unkindly about someone or eaten that second helping of dessert. I hope that by knowing these choices will come and bite me in the butt at the end of the day means that, in a few weeks, better decisions will become an instant reflex rather than laboured thought.
Here's to a 2012 that is full of more adventures and less boob cancer
January 3rd, 2012 at 8:24 pm
This year will be my first time picking a word for the year and mine is POSSIBLE. I'm going to carry it around with me on a pretty business card that I make. I considered sticking it in the slot where my ID is but it'll be a long story for bartenders to hear! I wrote more about picking my word on my blog.
Fantastic word for your new year and I wish you a great, fresh new one! I have loved reading your blog for the last year or so, always a great read and very inspiring
January 3rd, 2012 at 9:30 pm
Great word, Michelle! Mine is DEFINING. {Yep, I wrote about it on my 'lil blog} This year I also came up with a word to focus on for each month to help keep me on track.
Here's to a great 2012! CARE Bear Stare!
January 3rd, 2012 at 10:09 pm
My word for the new year is "hope". Hope for a better year, hope that I am where I'm meant to be, hope that you get well, hope that I'll be happy as I am today…
We'll never know what tomorrow brings but there's always "hope".
Love you !
Rita
January 4th, 2012 at 12:53 am
TRUST is my word for the year! And I, too, love the card idea and Kendall's business card in wallet!
January 4th, 2012 at 10:40 am
My word for 2012 is UNFOLD. It came to me instantly, and I know it is really something I need to be doing. I need to unfold into who I really am, unfold in front of others, let go and learn to show everyone else who I really am.
Scary stuff!
January 4th, 2012 at 12:58 pm
Good word Michelle. It's a good reminder to ALL of us that we need to take care of ourselves first. Lots of love.
Last year my word was ACTION (http://applesandorange.com/2010/12/one-word/) and I did so much to live up to that word. Yet, it still wasn't such a great year (my husband was laid off for the second time in less than three years, ugh). I can feel it down to my core that 2012 is going to be a fantastic year for many many reasons. My word for 2012 is ABUNDANCE. specifically, financial abundance, but this could apply to many things.
January 5th, 2012 at 11:27 am
Ooh, I looooove that word! It's one of those words (like Care) that can have multiple meanings, and I like the ones you described: going with the flow and seeing the flow of every difficulty/opportunity.
And thank you, Lamisha, for those kind words. They just…well…it's people like you and words like this that give me strength. I so appreciate it and the juju you've been giving me. Thank you, thank you!
January 5th, 2012 at 11:27 am
Hey, rules are made to be broken! And a collage/wall hanging sounds amazeballs. Take a picture when it's done and send it over, please and thank you!
January 5th, 2012 at 11:28 am
And I love your avatar, Michelle! Back at 'cha
January 5th, 2012 at 11:36 am
I love this, Author. It reminds me of Leo Babauta and how he lives a goal-free life (http://zenhabits.net/no-goal/), as well as making more of a Manifesto for yourself (as opposed to Big Goals) like Alexandra writes about at http://unicornsforsocialism.com/2012/01/01/my-201…. While I'm such a pro-active, goal-oriented person, I'm starting to see the attraction of these ways of thinking….mindshift a comin', me thinks!
January 5th, 2012 at 11:37 am
Ah, semantics – I love that you spotted that for yourself, Marie. You know that "risk" for you triggers "reckless", so you picked a new word. And I love "learn" – it's applicable no matter the situation or the outcome. 2012 is bound to be a great teacher!
January 5th, 2012 at 11:38 am
Ooh, I love Abundance and all it stands for for you (it seems like there's some Gratitude or Appreciation thrown in there, too). I'll be sending good baby/balance juju your way, Debra!
January 5th, 2012 at 11:40 am
Ha! I love thinking you have A Rocket Ship Theme for your words! That makes me laugh, but yes, it totally accurate based on the words you mention you want it to embody (what's more awesome than a rocket ship?! This is a hypothetical question, of course).
Try out "acceleration" for a bit and see how it feels. You can always have a Word of the Month or Word of the Half-Year
January 5th, 2012 at 11:42 am
Thanks lady lady – I agree that despite the boob cancerage, 2012 still has a lot of goodness in store.
I just looooove your 2012, and how you realized your 2011 word was prohibitive. I know the new year will bring your the relationship juju you crave!
January 5th, 2012 at 11:45 am
Aw, babies! Congrats on your first, and from what I understand about newborns, you're gonna need all the "peace" you can get (and "sleep"!).
I love how you reflected on the year with a pic a month, along with your word and what came up because of it. I know that your 2012 will come from a place of intention, and that's a marvelous place to be.
January 5th, 2012 at 11:45 am
Thanks Mari! And I you
January 5th, 2012 at 11:46 am
You couldn't have picked a better word for 2011, Tyffanie – and I'm sure 2012 will be the same. Can't wait to see what you Give to it and what it Gives to you.
January 5th, 2012 at 11:47 am
Yes yes yes! I often ask that question to my clients, when they're trying to make a decision or figuring out how to communicate and/or move forward: "What would make you proud?" It's a great way to live your life with very few regrets.
Happy 2012!
January 5th, 2012 at 11:49 am
Boo – I can't find your blog from clicking on your name – can you send the link? Would love to read it (and see a pic of that business card, if you got it!). Also love the idea of tucking it away and carrying it with you, even if it's not always visible.
Thanks for the kind words and kudos! So happy to have you reading/commenting, Kendall!
January 5th, 2012 at 11:51 am
A word a month?! You are a bold superstar, lady! Love that idea and the images you put with 'em (and the fact that they're from your travels, which I know is a big puzzle piece for ya!). Super loveliness.
January 5th, 2012 at 11:52 am
You're so right, Rita! Way to shift your perspective and be a glass-half-full type of lady (not that you're not already, but ya know what I mean). Yay!
January 5th, 2012 at 11:53 am
Ooh, the hardest thing, but the best to practice and be mindful of. Although if you keep doing what you're doing, the trust is sure to come
January 5th, 2012 at 11:54 am
It IS scary (I got chills when reading your definition of it!), Marthe, but it's exciting, too – and I live for that feeling! Enjoy all the growth it brings.
January 5th, 2012 at 11:55 am
And we got another Abundance! Such a wonderful word, and yes, it's not specific on just one aspect of your life. I have a feeling that no matter what happens, Abundance will be seen, felt, and coming your way Deanna!
January 5th, 2012 at 7:31 pm
Hello Sweets. My word for 2012 is TEAM. I'm creating teams all year long for all my projects. It's amazeballs. Hearts + a coffee date soon.
xo
January 8th, 2012 at 10:31 am
Don't know why my blog won't come up with my name- that stinks! But here it is: http://lemonlemonlemon.wordpress.com/
Business card pic is coming up some time this week. Part of that whole "possible" thing is trying to make it possible to get some things done…
January 15th, 2012 at 7:08 pm
Yeah ya are! You're such a leader – it's a natural fit/word for ya.
And YES to coffee, and soon!