Here we are at the end of 2024 with our One Words! We made it!

On a scale of 1️⃣ (lowest) to 5️⃣ (highest), how many stars would you give your word this year? ⭐  

Here are some questions to help you decide. 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. Did my word stay relevant? Why or why not?
2. How often did I notice my word this year, and where?
3. Did my word meet my expectations? Why or why not?
4. Did my word surprise me? How?
5. How did I grow because of my word?
6. Am I glad I chose this word? Why or why not?
7. Would I recommend this word to someone else? Why?
8. How many stars would I give my word? 

Share any of your answers below in the comments, in a blog post to link up here, or in our One Word Facebook group (anyone can join!).

Here are answers for my word CURIOSITY:

1. Curiosity proved to be an incredibly relevant word. Curiosity is part of being human, from our first breath until our last.
2. I noticed my word all the time. I’m not sure if curiosity is simply more talked about these days, or if I was more tuned in because it was my word. Maybe both?
3. Curiosity did live up to my expectations. It found its way into so many different experiences.
4. Curiosity surprised me by how frequently it came up. I hadn’t expected it to be so available in almost every area of my life; we can use curiosity anywhere.
5. Curiosity helped me grow by steering me away from being as judgmental and instead being more open-minded.
6. I am very glad I chose curiosity! It turned out to be not only be an educational and relational word, but also a fun one.
7. I would recommend curiosity to anyone as a One Word choice—but even more as a lifelong practice.
8. Curiosity gets 5 stars! ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  

WHAT’S NEXT? Take Our Facebook Polls!

If you’re in our One Word Facebook group, please scroll through and join the fun. We’ve posted polls about how many stars you’d give your old word, how you choose a new word, what inspires your selection, and more. It’s a great way to say goodbye to our old words and welcome in our new words. 

Today’s linkup here will be open for two weeks from Monday, December 23, through Monday, January 7.

Our first linkup of 2025 launches on Saturday, January 25. We’ll have new challenges and a linkup every 25th of the month throughout ‘25—mark your calendars.  

How many stars do you give your One Word 2024? Please leave a comment here.

If you’d like to receive our monthly One Word emails and ideas, join here any time of the year.

• Get more One Word ideas here
• See 7 strategies here for choosing your One Word of the Year

Link Up About Your One Word!

As 2024 comes to a close, I’m reflecting on a year shaped by my One Word of the Year: Curiosity.

Through small acts, deep questions, and unexpected discoveries, I’ve learned that curiosity is not just about seeking answers—it’s about fostering compassion, presence, and connection.

I appreciate how Curiosity guided my path this year, weaving itself into relationships and personal growth. Here are five key takeaways from my journey:

1. Curiosity fosters compassion

Compassion and curiosity are more intertwined than I realized; one invites the other. Revisiting compassion after a decade (Compassion was my One Word in 2014) reminded me that staying curious about others’ perspectives is a valuable tool to deepen empathy.

From the unexpected kindness in “From Band-Aids to Water Bottles” to bridging divides in “4 Ways to Love Your Politically Opposite Neighbor,” curiosity showed me that understanding and compassion often begin with asking questions—even when it’s uncomfortable.

2. Curiosity finds freedom beyond either/or thinking

Often it’s easiest to see only binary choices—this or that, black or white, in or out. But curiosity uncovers alternatives. In “Beyond the Either/Or: Finding Freedom a Third Way,” I explored that asking “What else is possible?” can reveal previously unknown options.

Similarly, reflecting on “Can You Find a New Way to See an Old Problem?” I found that sometimes an old problem can be solved if we’ll just look at it from a fresh perspective.

3. Curiosity strengthens relationships

I found this to be a foundational truth: Practicing curiosity in relationships helps create stronger connections.

“4 Curious Practices to Deepen Your Relationships” showed me how simple it can be to use curiosity to show interest in others, while “Practicing the Art of Curiosity and Conversations” reminded me that even difficult discussions can yield growth.

Each interaction we have with fellow human beings holds an opportunity to learn something new about someone else—and yourself.

4. Curiosity enhances presence

Being curious about where I am and how I feel brought deeper appreciation to everyday moments (harkening back to yet another One Word—Now—from 2015).]

Whether pondering “How Present Are You in Your Happy Place?” or navigating a “Curiosity Walk” that didn’t go as planned, I learned that presence is about noticing—noticing my thoughts, surroundings, and emotions.

5. Curiosity sparks wonder and resilience

Curiosity can sometimes turn obstacles into opportunities for wonder and growth. From imagining how Benjamin Franklin might marvel at today’s world to rethinking time in “How Much of Your Now Are You Using for Later?” curiosity reminded me that the human spirit thrives on exploring the unknown while embracing the present.

This year, curiosity didn’t just enrich my life—it reconstructed it. The questions it prompted and actions it invited opened one door after another to new insights, deeper relationships, and unexpected joys.

As I prepare for 2025, I hope to carry forward the lessons curiosity has given me: to stay open, stay present, and never stop exploring.

What have you been curious about this year? Let’s talk about it. Did you have One Word in 2024? Share in the comments.

If you want companionship with your One Word for 2025, click here to learn more about our One Word community. Our next monthly linkup will open here on Monday, December 23, and remain open for 2 weeks.

Then join our community here for free.

As you pause to give thanks in November, if you’ve had a One Word of the Year, can you also thank your word for the gifts it has brought into your life, in both expected and unexpected ways?

Here’s a simple gratitude exercise to try:

Take a few quiet moments to think about 5 or 6 things you’re thankful for as a result of your word. Write down each one as if you’re speaking directly to your word. Start with, “Thank you for…”

Need some ideas?

– “Thank you for this lesson you taught me…”
– “Thank you for helping me meet these people…”
– “Thank you for improving this attitude…”
– “Thank you for motivating this change…”
– “Thank you for deepening this spiritual practice…”

If you’d like, write these reflections on a real thank-you card. Keep it somewhere you’ll see in the next few weeks to remind you of the gift your One Word has been in 2024.

Here’s my thank-you note to my word CURIOSITY:

Dear Curiosity,

♥ Thank you for teaching me the power of curious uncertainty—that staying open, even when it’s uncomfortable, is often more valuable than the false safety of already knowing.

♥ Thank you for leading me to new friends: the climate advocates I’ve met in person this year, the seekers I’ve connected with online, the volunteers in my community doing good things, and even me—I’ve learned more about myself as I’ve opened up to people curious to know me (curiosity flows in both directions).

♥ Thank you for showing me how curiosity can foster compassion rather than judgment, inviting understanding instead of arguments or judgments.

♥ Thank you for inspiring me to ask more often, “Can you tell me more?”—a small question but one that’s allowed me to hear some amazing life stories.

♥ And thank you for deepening a spiritual practice I’ve always loved: memorizing meaningful truths to embed in my heart, such as this gem from Joseph Campbell: “We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the life that is waiting for us.”

With my gratitude,
Lisa

We would love to see your list, too! Share in the comments below, link up a blog post here, or snap a quick photo of your list to post in our Facebook group.

This linkup will stay live for two weeks from Sunday, November 24, through Sunday, December 8. Next month’s linkup will open on Monday, December 23 (one day early) through Tuesday, January 7.

What are you grateful for this year thanks to your One Word?  Please leave a comment here.

If you’d like to receive our monthly One Word emails and ideas, join here any time of the year.

• Get more One Word ideas here

Link Up About Your One Word!

“Love and compassion grow when we see that there are really no viable alternatives.”
– Joseph Goldstein

While my One Word of the Year is Curiosity, I change subwords every two weeks. Curiosity and Awe. Curiosity and Wisdom. Curiosity and Kindness, etc.

And these two weeks in November? It’s Curiosity and Compassion, which is especially curious to me because Compassion was its own Word of the Year for me ten years ago.

And it was one of my favorites.

Never assume your One Word is finished with you when the year is up. Words have a way of circling back around again and again.

What did I learn about Compassion ten years ago that I can carry alongside Curiosity these next two weeks? I looked back and reminded myself of these six lessons on compassion that are still applicable today.

1. PITY ISN’T THE SAME AS COMPASSION

I don’t know about you, but I hate feeling pitied. But I do appreciate someone showing me compassion. I’m curious about what the difference is exactly, and why one feels bad and the other feels good.

Perhaps it’s because compassion means accepting people’s pain as it is, whereas pity views a person as a project that needs fixing. Real compassion is one human being relating to another through love instead of through a hierarchy of helper over helpee.

2. COMPASSION CAN WRECK YOU

Some encounters bring both heartbreak and transformation. I still remember the pain of stepping into the deep poverty of families living in Guatemalan slums.

These moments remind me of what Jeff Goins wrote in Wrecked: “Our brokenheartedness at the injustices we witness is what gives us compassion. So when we rush past these messy and uncomfortable moments, we take away the experiences that teach us mercy.” I want to remain curious enough about people’s pain to risk being wrecked by what I find.

3. SOMETIMES COMPASSION IS QUIET

Compassion doesn’t always use words. It can be as subtle as wearing all black in solidarity with the grieving, making eye contact with the lonely, or choosing to sit at the table with those who feel invisible.

Quiet choices can speak loudly. Be curious about when to speak up and when to simply be present.

4. COMPASSION CAN BE SMALL

The more I see the needs for compassion, though, the more I see my own limits. With a friend facing homelessness, for example, her needs outstrip what I can give. I have to remind myself that doing something, anything, is still better than doing nothing.

Compassion is movement, even if it’s slow and steady. Curiosity is staying alert to any small step you can take in the right direction.

5. WE BEGIN AGAIN IN COMPASSION EVERY DAY

Every day is an invitation to start again in compassion. Sometimes I look at friends who are pros at showing compassion, and I feel so inadequate. I’m curious about how they do it and I want to learn from them.

Yet nobody is a complete expert in this. As we are each presented with unique opportunities, we can learn anew the best way to show compassion, again and again.

6. GIVE YOURSELF COMPASSION TOO

Perhaps the boldest lesson I’ve learned about compassion has been more recent than ten years ago. The past three years I’ve been working on giving myself compassion, too. Self-compassion doesn’t come naturally to those of us who were taught to only meet the needs of others instead of tending to our own needs as well. I’ve had to grow curious about why showing compassion to myself feels selfish, when it’s not.

The work of Kristin Neff is teaching me that we can be better givers of compassion to others if we’ve learned how to also give compassion to ourselves. Compassion isn’t a zero sum game; instead of depleting, it multiplies the more we practice it.

Compassion is a gift to both give and receive, creating a web of connections that extends to everyone around us, including ourselves.

I’m curious where I’ll see the need for compassion this week, and how I’ll learn to respond.

Share your thoughts in the comments.

Read more about compassion:

• When Compassion for Others Takes a Sharp Turn: A Lesson in Vulnerability
  Our mother/daughter experience donating blood took an unexpected turn, reminding me of the value of vulnerability and the importance of compassion.
• I’m Not Sure—Is That Compassionate?
  Is being uncertain a path to compassion? Can admitting we don’t know open us to deeper connections?
• What Can I Do? For Now, This Is My Something
  My friend needs something I can’t give. What can I do? For now, this is my only something.

Yes, it’s already time to start thinking about your One Word for 2025! 

Are you already getting ideas for your next One Word? Don’t wait until December or January. What you choose now will help frame your entire year. 

Take a moment in the next few days to listen for a word that resonates with you. 

And if you’re adventurous, get AI to help you choose your word—find 6 prompts here!

5 QUESTIONS

Here are five questions to explore what matters most to you and to guide your choice. I give my own answers here.

1. What worked well—and what fell flat—with my One Word 2024?

My One Word 2024 CURIOSITY turned out to be incredibly versatile. Curiosity can be applied in any situation, at any time, and in any place. The challenge was focusing it enough to make it practical. To keep it manageable, I paired Curiosity with 26 other words this year (ex: wonder, gratitude, empathy, attention), rotating a new word every other week. It kept things fresh and gave me direction. 

2. Do I have unfinished business with my 2024 word that can evolve into my 2025 word, or is it time for a new direction?

Because almost anything can be explored through curiosity, I think whatever word I choose next can naturally lead into another cycle of discovery and curiosity.  

3. What challenges or opportunities are on my horizon, and which word will empower me to face them head-on?

I foresee familiar challenges in 2025 that I’ve had in 2024: navigating loss and grief, finding ways to live true to my values, staying connected with those who choose to be part of my life, and continuing to work on causes that matter to me. I’m trying to find one word that can encompass those goals. 

4. Does my 2025 word need to be fiercer, lighter, more playful, or more serious to match where I’m headed?

I toy with the idea of choosing a more playful word each year, but in the end, I’m always drawn back to something more serious. I want a word with purpose—one that helps me make the most of the years I have left.

5. Which word lights a fire in me, inspiring me to live my values?

Right now I’m torn between two different directions. One set of words I’ve been considering is: Connect or Matter or Ripple. The other set includes: Here or Impermanence. I’m not sure yet, so I’ll keep thinking about it.

BONUS CHALLENGE

Sketch out the journey of your past One Words. Do you notice any patterns or progression? Could those be leading you to your next word?

For fun, I threw my last 5 words (2020-2024) into ChatGPT and asked it to create an image. With a few of my own modifications, here it is. I can personally see how one word led to the next each year, even if it’s not obvious to someone looking from the outside. 

Let us know what word you’re thinking of choosing for 2025! Our October linkup will stay open from Thursday, October 24, until midnight on Thursday, November 7. Next month’s linkup will open on Sunday, November 24 (and on the 24th of each month for 2024).

If you’d like to receive our monthly One Word emails and ideas, join here any time of the year.

Link all of your ONE WORD blog posts below. Do you already have an idea for a 2025 One Word of the Year? Share your potential words or an update on this year’s word in the comments.

• Get more One Word ideas here

Link Up About Your One Word!

We had spent a sunny morning at the beach, and we were wrapping up lunch at the condo. My 3-year-old grandson H was about to go down for his nap. I asked him, “After your nap, are you going to go back to the beach or will you go to the pool?”

Two options, right? I expected him to choose one of the two, but his response surprised me.

Life often feels like it’s defined by strict choices: in or out, right or wrong, win or lose. We’re conditioned to think in terms of black and white, as if there are only two options at any given moment. And if the option we prefer doesn’t work out, we feel disappointed.

Take the upcoming Presidential election in the US, for example. If you’re a voter, you likely already know which candidate you want to win. You may imagine a huge celebration if your person wins, and may feel devastated at even the thought of the other candidate winning.

But what if there’s more? What if, by shifting our mindset to embrace non-dual thinking, we can discover a third way—even if we can’t see it yet—that can bring more possibilities into our lives?

By embracing the nuance and grey areas of life, we free ourselves from the constraints of black-and-white thinking. What if, instead of asking ourselves what should we choose when faced with two options, we ask, “What else could we do?” Research shows we actually discover more options when we simply exchange should and could.

What do we gain from this shift? Aside from a greater quantity of options, we might also gain a better quality option . . . which might then bring more peace, more calm, more freedom. When we let go of our need to force things into tidy boxes, we find that life is more flexible, more open to surprises, and ultimately, more joyful.

When I asked H about his decision between the beach or the pool, I expected one of two answers, but he saw a third option—one I hadn’t even thought of. He said, “The hose!” Near the hotel entryway, a water hose was hooked up to a faucet for beachgoers to wash sand off their feet before they headed inside. This hose became one of H’s favorite stops to play in the water.

Children are often better at seeing the world this way. They don’t always operate within the narrow confines of “either/or.”  H’s answer was a small but powerful reminder that there’s often a third option waiting for us if we stay curious and open-minded.

Maybe the third option isn’t always obvious. When we vote in November, only one of two candidates will be the winner, after all. However, that doesn’t mean that all decisions in the government will be made by only one of these two people over the next four years. Remember there will be thousands and thousands of other government employees and people in the country (and outside the country) who will also be making decisions and influencing each other.

We can’t yet even imagine all the possibilities that are in front of us. There is always more going on than we know. Stay open to the power of curiosity.

Look for the hose too, not only the beach or the pool.

Share your thoughts in the comments.

Instructions

1. The first fourth of your walk:
Notice only what you feel, such as the air temperature, your muscles, your breath.

2. The second fourth of your walk:
Notice only what you see, such as the leaves on the trees, the airplane in the sky, the squirrel on the ground.

3. The third fourth of your walk:
Notice only what you hear, such as a car driving by, the slam of a front door, a robin’s song.

4. The fourth fourth of your walk:
Notice only what you’re thinking, such as why this is hard to do, what you will eat when you get home, what you wished you’d said in that conversation you wished you hadn’t had.

~ * ~ * ~

My Turn

I begin the test again today.

I lace up my shoes. I put on my sunglasses. I walk out my front door.

1. What do I feel?
I feel the air is cooler in the shade, and my legs starting to hurt as I walk up the hill, and my quicker pace than yesterday’s pace.

2. What do I see?
I see that the neighbor sawed down three trees since my last walk and that another neighbor cut his grass . . .

but I also feel the heat of the sun on the back of my neck.

3. What do I hear?
I hear a lawnmower in the neighborhood across the street . . .

but I also see someone watering their lawn . . .

and I feel a pebble in my shoe.

4. What am I thinking?
. . . but I hear the teen driver revving his engine . . .

and I see the rabbit freeze in its tracks as I near . . .

and I feel the breeze picking up.

~ * ~ * ~

My Grade

My walk is now over. I failed to keep my mind centered on only the proper task in each section. I couldn’t follow the instructions to the letter.

But I grade myself an A+ anyway. For feeling, for hearing, for walking, for noticing, all along the way.

It was an indulgent walk of curiosity, quite the prize. It is its own reward.

Have you had a curiosity walk lately? Share your thoughts in the comments.

I’m experimenting with Curiosity this year, my One Word of 2024.

Dive deeper into your One Word’s meaning and see if there are any new discoveries or perspectives that will enhance your journey.

Link all of your ONE WORD blog posts below. Share an update about your One Word in the comments.

~ * ~ * ~

9 Months of Growth: Where Are You Now?

Can you believe you’ve already spent nine months with your One Word? Whether it’s been a smooth journey or one full of unexpected challenges, I hope this time has brought growth and insight for you.

But the year isn’t over yet. There’s still plenty of time to deepen your connection to your word in this last quarter of 2024.

A New Exploration of Your One Word

Here’s a fun exercise to take your One Word a little further: look up your word on Wikipedia or another resource and see what new information you can find. It doesn’t have to be a long search—just find 2-3 new facts about your word.

Once you’ve gathered new information, reflect on the following:

• What surprised you?
• Did this new information change your perspective?
• Did it give you new ideas to practice or live out your word?

Using my One Word CURIOSITY, here are my answers:

• Surprised me:
  I’ve always associated curiosity with the symbol of a magnifying glass. But according to Wikipedia, space and telescopes are also “quintessential symbols for curiosity.” 
• Changed my perspective:
  Research shows that higher amounts of dopamine are released when a reward is unexpected rather than known. I don’t typically like surprises, but perhaps I should reconsider and more actively embrace curiosity and the excitement that comes with uncertainty (UNCERTAINTY was actually my One Word of the Year in 2021; it’s still not letting go of me).
• New practice:
  Because I read that curiosity helps improve memory, I plan to pay more attention to new or unusual details in my experiences, especially when it’s something I want to remember better.

Share Your Insights

Whether what you discover confirms what you already knew or opens up something completely new, it’s valuable to reflect on how this impacts your journey. We would love to hear what you uncover!

Feel free to share your insights below in a comment, in our Facebook group here, or in a blog post.

We’re all on this journey together, and your discoveries might inspire someone else.

Join Our September Linkup

Our September linkup will stay open from Tuesday, September 24, until midnight on Tuesday, October 8. It’s the perfect time to connect with others, share your progress, and celebrate how far you’ve come with your word. Next month’s linkup will open on Thursday, October 24 (and on the 24th of each month for 2024).

Use this last quarter as an opportunity to fully embrace the power of your One Word.

If you’d like to receive our monthly One Word emails and ideas, join here any time of the year.

What new fact have you learned about your One Word this year? Share in the comments.

• Get more One Word ideas here

Link Up About Your One Word!

“If I had to summarize the entirety of an enlightened person’s life in a few words, it would be complete acceptance of what is. As we accept what is, our minds are relaxed and composed while the world changes rapidly around us.”
– Sunim Haemin, from The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down

The Weight of Distance

I am sitting at my kitchen table, with the greeting card in one hand and my pen in another. As I write down a birthday wish, I carefully measure each word I choose. I keep it intentionally short, hoping my brevity will make my message more likely to be read, more likely to be heard in the heart I’m hoping to reach.

I sign my name and lick the envelope closed.

Then I break. I crumble to the floor in a heap and wail.

I want to be in person to deliver this birthday wish, just as I want to be in person for ballgames, for Christmas gatherings, for an ordinary occasional picnic in the park.

But these things are no longer an option.

An Unexpected Theme in Memory

I stay on the floor a few minutes. I feel the weight of all I’m missing by this distance. But I can’t linger here forever, so I force myself up.

I check what’s next on my to-do list: “Memory practice.” I look up my list of words to review today.

And for the first time, I notice a theme among the poems and quotes I’m memorizing. It’s not a theme I consciously chose at the beginning of this year (if so, it would have been Curiosity, my One Word of the Year), but oddly enough, or curiously enough, perhaps this unconscious theme has been choosing me.

For example, this week’s words are:

“There is one thing in life that you can always rely on: life being as it is.”
– Charlotte Joko Beck

Last week’s words were:

“We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the life that is waiting for us.”
– Joseph Campbell

I’m still curious. I glance back at other quotes I’ve been memorizing.

Two months ago I began memorizing:

“Hope is definitely not the same thing as optimism. It is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out.”
– Vaclav Havel

And in February, I’d chosen:

“Accept—then act. Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it. Make it your friend and ally, not your enemy.”
– Eckhart Tolle

Choosing Acceptance, Again and Again

Yes. There is definitely a theme weaving through these pieces: Choose acceptance.

I know I’ve been resisting, struggling to accept what life has placed before me, clinging to things I wish were different. I still don’t want to believe how things have unraveled. Big things. And then smaller things that also changed, as they rippled out in the wake of the bigger things.

Yet the words on my memorization list urge me forward, encouraging me to face the reality that is here, not the dream I had planned. Make the best of what is, not what could have been.

I turn again to the lines I’m committing to memory, words that almost feel like a plea:

“When you walk to the edge of all the light you have
and take that first step into the darkness of the unknown,
you must believe that one of two things will happen:
There will be something solid for you to stand upon,
or, you will be taught how to fly.”
– Patrick Overton

With these words echoing in my heart, I put on my shoes and walk outside to the mailbox as it waits for me. I place the birthday card inside the box, raise the small red flag, and send the card on its way with all my love into the darkness of the unknown, trusting that it, too, will land somewhere solid, into the places I can’t be.

And if it can’t land there, I trust that it will somehow learn to fly, just as I am having to learn. One day at a time. One quote at a time.

Share your thoughts in the comments.

Link all of your ONE WORD blog posts below. Share an update about your One Word in the comments.

~ * ~ * ~

Can We Talk?

This month, dive deeper into your One Word by engaging in thoughtful conversations with others. Here’s how:

1. Decide on 3 People

Identify three people you can discuss your word with and schedule a time to chat.

2. Ask These Questions

Pick a few of these questions to guide your discussion.

• How would you define [my One Word] in your own words?
• What do you think is the opposite of [my word]?
• How frequently do you think about [my word] yourself: rarely or often?
• Where does [my word] show up in your daily life?
• Any suggestions for how I can better practice [my word]?

Discussing your word with others can spark fresh insights and foster a deeper connection as you practice it.

3. Share with ­­Us

We’d love to hear about one or all of your conversations! Share in the comments or in our One Word Facebook group. 

I had a conversation with my husband Jeff about my word CURIOSITY.

One of his interesting comments was about an exercise of curiosity he did at work before he retired: the 5 Why’s. If you didn’t understand something, you asked “Why?” five times, giving you a more complete understanding than before.

A second interesting comment Jeff made was that he’s often curious about me. I’m choosing to take that as a good thing. (Right???)

Next Linkup

This One Word linkup will remain open for 2 weeks for your One Word posts, closing at midnight on Saturday, September 7. Link as many posts as you’d like about your One Word.  

Our September linkup will open on Tuesday, September 24 (and on the 24th of each month for 2024).

If you’d like to receive our monthly One Word emails and ideas, join here any time of the year.

Have you had a conversation about your One Word? What did you learn? Leave a comment here.

• Get more One Word ideas here

Link Up About Your One Word!