Comments on: ONE LITTLE WORD

By: Rhonda Kane

Rhonda Kane — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 01:00:28 +0000

I think I’ve finally decided on what my word will be for this year: Worship. I truly believe that as we worship God, we are changed. And that if our motivation for doing is worship, then God gets the glory. And if our response to our circumstances is worship, then we can begin to see our circumstances from God’s perspective. I want worship to radiate from the core of my being into everything I do. I want worship to be my catalyst and motivation. And I anticipate that if my focus is worship, then I am going to be a bit more “transformed” by the end of the year.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:37:06 +0000

I’ve been mulling it over since I first read it. After reading (and posting about) Dave’s take today, I’ve settled on: Release.

Life is such a rich mix of joy and pain, I’m reminded that it is all so very temporary. Nothing lasts forever. Everything changes. I tell my children this over and over. I remind my congregation of it repeatedly.

The world changes. Our environment changes. Our bodies change. Our moods change. In the mix of all of them, there aren’t many that I have much power to control.

So, my word is Release.

As the poet Mary Oliver writes:
To live in this world

you must be able
to do three things:
to love what is mortal;
to hold it

against your bones knowing
your own life depends on it;
and, when the time comes to let it go,
to let it go.

‘release’

By: Dana

Dana — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:08:20 +0000

Thanks for inspiring me, Kari! I will be leaning into gentleness this year. I’m thinking that needs to turn inward to begin with. I love this idea! I’ve always balked at NY’s resolutions, but this is such a lovely way to carry an intention front and center! I am going to do this with family and friends, since I have not significant other over the age of 7!

Gently,
Dana

By: Amanda Mays

Amanda Mays — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:43:39 +0000

I played with the One Word idea a couple years ago after I read Eat Pray Love. Gilbert writes about a friend in Rome that tells her every city and person has one word that is their word. I remember tagging that page with my nerdo post-it flags and thinking how cool that was. I mulled it over & couldn’t come up with anything right off the bat, but a few days later it just came to me like it was destined to be mine… EMPATHY.

This is my core word, I love it, and I think it fits me perfectly. I do like the idea of adopting a new word every year to use as a positive guide throughout the year. This weekend I will have to find a quite place to go through the process and select another word to empower me this year. I’m excited to see what I’ll come up with and how that will impact me. =)

By: Melinda

Melinda — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:40:18 +0000

Hi Kari:
I am just feeling so grounded and ready for 2010 with my word in hand: BREATHE! Thank you for the gift of that word. It spoke volumes to me. I just came across a link to Christine Kane’s website on another site. Great minds and ideas do indeed converge. Can’t wait to hear what word is speaking to you for 2010.

By: Lisa Novitsky

Lisa Novitsky — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:26:08 +0000

Kari – Thank you so much for the post today. So awesome – the convergence of thoughts from people who do not know each other personally and the synchronicity of them finding each other…Two days ago I wrote down three words and I currently have those three words on a stickie right in front of me – very similar but also profoundly different…waiting to be led to which one it will be. I’m thinking some of the links you provide here may help. I can’t wait to spend a little time “delving” tonight.

By: Kari at MamaBloo

Kari at MamaBloo — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:23:20 +0000

Yes, Sug, you get an A! Thanks for sharing!

By: Christiana Childers

Christiana Childers — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:40:04 +0000

My word for the year is LISTEN. It kind of came from nowhere but I knew that was it the moment I wrote it. I already called Kari and told her my word and she said it was an “advanced” word. I feel like my English Teacher just gave me an A! The rule follower in me is very pleased with myself. But I’m a little fightened about this word in an good, awed way. Here are a few words that came up when I plugged it into dictionary.com –

1. to give attention with the ear; attend closely for the purpose of hearing; give ear.
2. to pay attention; heed; obey
3. to wait attentively for a sound

Sorry for the long comment. I just wanted to share!

By: Kari at MamaBloo

Kari at MamaBloo — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:16:38 +0000

Joli, thank you for jumping right in with your word. For some reason this year I am having a tough time stopping on a word and letting it “be”. We’ll see where this week takes me!

By: Joli

Joli — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:30:16 +0000

How timly this is as I was just thinking about this subject as I got ready for work this morning.
After having 2 weeks off from work there should have been many other things going on in my head but I was thinking of my word for 2010. The start of a new year, a new decade. What one word I can draw from at work, at home or wherever I am that will see me, us, through. There are various words that could work. One word more so for the kids. Another for work and yet another for family. I decided to still hold on to my one word I use all the time.
Every day I draw on this word.
The one word that is my blanket catch-all for all my ‘one words’ that I can use.
Faith.
Faith gives me the strength.
Faith gives me peace of mind.
Faith puts everything in perspective for me.
Yep, that my word, faith.