I’ve been toying around with choosing One Little Word (OLW) for a while now. As best as my speedy, somewhat superficial Google search could find, this practice was started by Ali Edwards as a creative project. She wrote, “In 2006 I began a tradition of choosing one word for myself each January—a word to focus on, to live with, to investigate, to write about, to craft with, and to reflect upon as I go about my daily life.” This is a practice that’s always intrigued me, but I’ve only joined in twice before. This year, however, without any conscious intention, I found myself contemplating potential word candidates early in December. Apparently, I was once again drawn to the idea of having a word as a sort of guide, or touchstone, to come back to again and again throughout the year.
Over the past weeks, I’ve considered a few words. At first I thought, “Hmmm….How about “Choose” for a OLW? That could be a good word.” And it could be. But then I remembered that “Choose” had been my word in 2016. Oops. I’m not sure exactly what that says about me, but my first thought was…stagnation.
Back to the drawing board.
I thought of “Grow” next. I liked the gardening connection and the idea of metaphorically tending the soil, pulling out weeds, nourishing new growth. I’d like to grow and push myself into new areas of challenge this year. Still, it felt a bit too passive and didn’t fully resonate. On multiple layers I also didn’t love the definition’s big emphasis on simply getting larger.
“Begin?” I considered that for a while. I liked the push toward starting something, toward moving forward. It felt simple but potentially powerful. Still, it didn’t feel quite right.
Then, another word came to me: “Cultivate.” It’s akin to grow, but implies more deliberate, active choice.
I repeated the word out loud several times. I liked that it was a verb. I even liked the way it felt in my mouth when I said it. I looked it up. (Sometimes a word has meanings that you haven’t considered, and I wanted to cover my bases.) With cultivate, there’s the obvious definition of preparing for and growing crops, but there’s a lot of interesting nuance, too. Merriam-Webster includes these definitions: “to foster the growth of”, “to improve by labor, care, or study : refine”, and to “further or encourage.” The Cambridge Dictionary includes “to try to develop and improve something” and “to create a new condition by directed effort”.
I can think of so many things I want to cultivate within myself and within my immediate environment–relationships, curiosity, creativity, gratitude, a growth mindset, and on and on and on. It feels like a good fit. It combines aspects of choice, grow and begin in one dynamic and purposeful word.
So, there it is. I’m in. I’m tilling the soil and planting the fertilizer. My OLW for 2023: Cultivate.
Nix the comfort zone 
I so enjoyed your thought processes as you came to this years one little word. I agree with referencing dictionary. It’s the lessen known meanings that can make a word be “it”. I think cultivate will serve you well!
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I love playing around with dictionaries. It’s fascinating when you discover a nuance of meaning or discover your understanding of a word was slightly skewed.
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Ooooh, I love this word! Nurturing the conditions to grow and bloom is a beautiful way to anticipate the opening of new petals! Perfect!
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I’m hoping I’m a better theoretical gardener than an actual one! lol
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Cultivate is a word to live by…and grow with, though it also implies only growing the things you really want to grow. That seems like a sizable and significant difference. I look forward to reading the words and images of what you’ve sown and nurtured.
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Yes! That difference is exactly what made cultivate feel right.
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I enjoyed reading about your process and such intentional thinking around your OLW. Cultivate is a lovely word and fits you well as you continue to “cultivate” a life.
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Cultivating feels especially important at this point in my life.
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Perfect.
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Thanks!
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Nice! Good pick.
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Thanks! So far it feels like a good fit.
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You’ve chosen an excellent word. It’s a word I’ve considered often since reading “Cultivating Genius.” I have a feeling the word will be on your mind daily s d serve you well in 2023z
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Yet another book I haven’t read. I just got back from trying to get “Rest is Resistance” at the library (per your post), but sadly their only copy went out today. I put my name on the list.
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I listened to the audiobook. Sadly, it wasn’t on the Libby app. Maybe it’s there via your library system.
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I’m on the wait list for the book 🙂 I actually ordered and gave a copy to a friend of mine who I think will really enjoy it.
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I love how you explained your thoughts on various words that popped into your mind. Cultivate sounds like a perfect OLW-especially with that last definition. It will be fun to hear how this words encourages throughout the year. 🙂
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That last definition definitely appealed to me, too!
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Molly, I enjoyed your process. I like to compare definitions in different dictionaries, also. Cultivate does sound good when you say it aloud. Cultivate with all those possibilities is a great keeper OLW.
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I’m optimistic it will be a good fit. (Look at me cultivating a positive attitude already! lol)
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Molly, I like your word cultivate. It appeals to my sense as a gardener and also as a lifelong learner. I picked my word in December but have not shared it with anyone as of yet. Instead of being deliberate this year about a word (I haven’t always been a fan of this trend), I think my word found me instead of my finding it! Perhaps I’ll share in the coming weeks. Thanks for your thoughtful post.
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I like the idea of your word finding you and suspect that’s the best way, all around. Here’s hoping you and your word have a lovely relationship this year, whether or not you choose to reveal it to the larger world.
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Congratulations on finding your word. May it guide you well!
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Thanks, Terje. I’m hopeful that the word will remind me to make deliberate choices as to where I want to put my time and energy.
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Cultivate is a great word, Molly! I’m sure it’ll serve you well this year.
Something awful happened to me on Sunday concerning the book I’m working on. I keep returning to my one little word, which is ONWARD, to help me charter a path forward. OLWs are pretty powerful.
Enjoy cultivating this year!
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Onward is a word with a lot of energy, and it sounds like it’s already been working for you. I hope everything has smoothed out with your book!
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It really is perfect….and I loved following your journey to discovery
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I think that even if all I do is periodically ask myself “What am I cultivating in my life right now?”, I’ll come out ahead.
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May your kneeling in the soil of cultivation bring you to the flow of growth!
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Your post was a good reminder for Hannah and our son Will, both of whom I sent the post to. A year ago they had the tradition of picking a monthly word. They now plan to restart that tradition. Thanks. Stay warm!
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