one little word

I receive various newsletters from different scrapbooking companies and personalities. Most I just skim thru,but a couple I read and reread finding myself drawn to their thoughts and ideas. One of my favorites is from Ali Edwards, she has published numerous books on scrapbooking is a widely sought teacher, (no I have yet to take a class from her, but I will someday) To define what I like about her is difficult, I definately like the way she writes, her ideas are inspiring....not just in scrapbooking but in day to day life. She is the one who coined "Life Artist" and reminds that scrapbooking isn't just about the pictures or the completed albums, it's most about the telling the stories...love that. No I'm not so great at telling the stories, journaling still scares me, but I am truly more inspired to want to put my words down and share those stories.

In her recent newsletter she talks about words, one little word actually. How one word can be so powerful, so strong, so unique. Words stay with you, define you, affect you. One word can change a person's life. One word can evoke a memory of times forgotten, cause laughter or make a person smile. She encourages her readers to choose one word for the year.To use it in their day to day moments, to incorporate it into their conversations, and their stories, and of course into their scrapbooks. To focus on this word in their lives. She sums it up with this "Can you identify a single word that sums up what you want for yourself in 2007?" Loved this! If you want to read Ali's thoughts on this click on the link to her blog, in the column to the right, the entry is dated Thursday, January 4th, 2007.

I have thought about that one word, pondered many, discarded many more...and quite simply found that choosing one word was quite difficult if not impossible. One word to define what I want for an entire year? No pressure, smiling as I type that. Of course I have found my word, do you think I would be posting this if I hadn't? It is a word I want to have more of in my life, it is a word I want to share with those around me, it is a word I am excited to help define 2007 for me.

My word for this year is laughter.