Word of the Year for 2023

I dont know that I am motivated right now to keep up. I just keep telling myself to focus on my word, and if I get the creative side done, then so be it. I wasn't inspired -- at all -- by Ali's class this past month so I just didn't do anything in my album. I am debating going back and making my own prompt but who knows if I will. 

For me, it's not so much about doing every prompt....it's more about when life is hard (and right now, it's hard) that I remember to close my eyes and think about being strong. That I am able to do the internal work for being strong and if the crafting happens, then yay. And if not, then I at least know I was strong personally. 

I have decided I'm throwing in the towel on a standalone project based on the class. I just wasn't feeling it. The new videos came out and I'm just not feeling them either. I stand by my word. But this isn't the project for me.

Lots of good food for thought here.

I love your Word linda I’m kind of at a place in life right now where I’m feeling stuck. I can’t really change much and it drives me a little nuts. I could however dive into the things I’m currently doing and continue to enjoy them.

Very interesting mom that the words you have hated also produced growth.

I’m going to try to continue my album since it’s all setup and I bought all the things. I think I need to do some more journaling this year.

Fresh is my word too! And I'm living it.

I'm keeping up with my word Move but have completely stopped my OLW project. I have so much happening right now that something had to go. It was stressing me out not to get to some scrapbook projects but there is just not enough time right now.Maybe later this summer.

I’m doing ok I guess. I like the project well enough - the prompts that aren’t as much my thing I just modify. My issue is that I have too many projects going on for me and it kind of stresses me out which I don’t like since it’s supposed to be fun. I have to finish up last months prompt - the pages are half done and then do this month. Today is my yes day. I don’t think I’ll do the project again (this was my first time) but if I do, I will do a travelers notebook. I wish I would have done that this year- I don’t need all these pages in my binder for this project. My word is home. I feel like I learned some stuff about my word/my self but now it feels kind of stagnant like there aren’t any new revelations the past two months or so.

It's been awhile...how is everyone doing with their word/project?

I'm caught up in my album. Happy with my progress but feeling like this word is kind forgettable this year. Already starting to think of my word for next year. I'm planning to take the class but not purchase any products and just stash bust.

I confess I got bogged down in February and never went back to it. Seriously considering just picking back up in March of 2024 using this year's prompts/pages.

I halfheartedly tried to make a project out of my word but it really wasn't my thing. But as far as being inspired by my word - continue - I feel like I'm managing to make progress on some on-going projects without taking on new projects (win) but I'm not doing too well with some self-care aspects but I keep getting back on the wagon so to speak ...I guess I'm continuing to try?

It's a little early in the year for me to start thinking about a 2024 word but sometime in mid-late December I'll start 'listening' for the right word

I feel pretty good about what I've done so far. I did not buy the class since I haven't been thrilled with it since the structure changed in 2021. I liked it better when it was just Ali. I purchased the class from 2015-2022, so I have a backlog of prompts. For October, I completed a prompt from a few years ago, with a self-portrait and a list of what I'm grateful for about myself. This is different from just a gratitude prompt since the focus is on me and my skills and qualities. I think it was very valuable since it shows me how I have grown this year. For November, I am following a prompt from 2016: "This month we are connecting with our word via 4 prompts: I believe, I know, I love, and I learned." I think I will keep it simple by addressing each of the prompts on a separate 4X6 card and decorating with washi. (Ali does mixed media on the cards, and I'm just no good at it!) Next year, I may use a traveler's notebook or something smaller to document my word.

Overall my practice and participation has been good. I always drop off some along the way and some years I drop off most of the year - LOL - but I still love having a word and getting prompts even if I don't do them. Last month while journaling I started thinking about words for next year. Joy is a nice word, but it is not actionable in the way that other words are. I definitely want a more actionable word in 2024. I will buy the class because even though I have done this for 10-15 years, I like getting the email prompts and accountability to push me to do the project. For me it is a really good fit of a project even if I am invested at different levels year to year.

I like the notebooks they have offered the past couple of years so hoping for another one of those for 2024 + the class. Beyond that, not sure if I will buy products. Will just depend on the look of the new collection. I do like having the prompt cards already in physical product.

Regarding progress. I have done something in my notebook/journal related to the prompt each month - might be the first year for that! Some months are more involved and engaging than others. This month I looked at on the first but need to read again. I think Joy was tricky for me. I like the word, but to me Joy is more of a result than something you do. It has been a good word this year but I am ready for the next one.

I will be retiring in April and my youngest graduates HS in May, so I am thinking a lot about words that would represent and help me through these big changes.

Words on my list so far:
Pivot
Enjoy
Acceptance
Reckoning
Restore
Awaken

This thread is always a good prompt for me to reengage with my word

I purchased the class from 2018 and have all the digital files to print it myself. Wondering if it would make sense to follow that class since it's already paid for and see if I like this project? I've always wanted to try it, just never made it work.

If I did use the 2018 class, any advice on picking a word? That seems to be the hardest part for me. I'm doing a huge home decluttering project in 2024, so I was thinking of using the word clutter. But that sounds negative, I need to put a positive spin on it. Less? Clean? I don't know.

Does Ali still offer a main kit for OLW? And then I see there is a quarterly supplement subscription? So all in this could cost $200? Jeepers.

I chose simplify when I did something similar. Other ideas - order, free/freeing, organise, change, release, sort...less would work also. I do agree with you that a positive spin is better than a word with negative energy

Good luck (and come join the decluttering/organising yearly thread on NSBR)