Lisa notes

5 Key Lessons I Learned from a Year of Curiosity

By LisaNotes December 10, 2024 Curiosity: One Word 2024 14 Comments

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.

5 Key Lessons I Learned from a Year of Curiosity

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.

Sign up for One Word 2025

How Do I Find My One Word of the Year? 7 Strategies to Find the Right Word for You

By LisaNotes December 6, 2024 One Word Community 30 Comments

Resolutions or One Word?

Do you make New Year’s resolutions?

According to the Pew Research Center, 70% of Americans didn’t make any resolutions for 2024. And of the minority who did, only 9% kept them.

If you’d like an alternative to yearly resolutions, simply choose one word or phrase to anchor your year. This simple practice has been life-changing for me and many others.

Maybe you’ve never chosen One Word. Or maybe you’re a seasoned One Word enthusiast.

Either way, the process of finding that special word can be daunting, whether you’re a newbie or a veteran.

But once you do find it, it serves as a touchstone throughout the year. It’s easy to remember one word while it also gives you lots of flexibility. You can adapt it to whatever twists and turns you face as the year unfolds.

Strategies to find your One Word of the Year

How to Choose Your Word

Not sure where to start? Here are 7 strategies to help you uncover a word that resonates with you for next year.

If you’d like support on this journey, consider joining our One Word group for accountability and fresh ideas. Click here to learn more.

So, what will your word be?

1. Mine Your Pain
Your struggles hold clues. What’s been weighing on you? What do you wish you had more of—patience, strength, freedom? Let your current circumstances lead you to a word that feels both personal and relevant to your life for the coming year.

2. Borrow a Metaphor
Think of your year as a story. Is it a season of planting seeds, tearing down walls, or navigating storms? Let a metaphor shape your word, like Harvest, Anchor, or Rebuild.

3. Listen for Echoes
Sometimes you need to stop chasing and start noticing. Words have a way of finding you. Pay attention to recurring themes in conversations, books, lyrics, or even dreams. When a word keeps appearing, it’s worth exploring why.

4. Test Its Texture
Say the word out loud. Write it down. Imagine it on your calendar, your phone’s lock screen, or your journal. Does it energize you? Ground you? If it feels too small or too big, toss it and try again.

Here are a list of 50 words to help get you started.

5. Stretch Its Meaning
A great word is multi-dimensional. Choose something that can grow with you. For example, Balance might mean setting boundaries in January and creating vacation options in July.

6. Break Your Rules
Think you need an “action” word or something profound? You don’t. Your word doesn’t have to be perfect to still be a great option. You might want to choose a phrase instead of a single word. Or opt for twelve monthly words instead of one yearly word, or one word for each season. You get to decide.

7. Speak It Into the World
Once you do decide, don’t keep your word hidden. Share it with a friend or post it somewhere visible. Saying it aloud makes it real and invites others to join in your journey—or even hold you accountable.

Choosing your One Word is less about perfection and more about intention. Don’t overthink it—just start.

Here’s to a year shaped by the power of a single word.

If you’d like help from AI, here are 6 easy AI prompts you can use to help narrow down the right word for you!

Are you choosing One Word for next year? Share in the comments.

If you have One Word of the Year, add your blog posts about it in our monthly linkups. 

If you’re interested in community, join our One Word group here to receive a monthly email with ideas to practice your word. We also have a private One Word Facebook group here.

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Learn more about our community here.

Find more tips here on how to choose your One Word of the Year.

Need more suggestions for words? Here’s the list of past One Words from our One Word community. 

One Word Suggestions

updated December 2025

6 Books I Recommend – December 2024

By LisaNotes December 3, 2024 Books I Recommend 18 Comments

“I woke up thinking a very pleasant thought. There is lots left in the world to read.”
– Nicholson Baker

Here are 4 nonfiction books and 2 novels I recommend from my recent reads. 

[See previously recommended books here]

NONFICTION

1. Fat Talk
Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture
by Virginia Sole-Smith

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This is an important read for all of us who have grown up in a fat phobia culture. It will make you rethink the way you talk about bodies, not just to kids, but to other adults and most importantly, even to yourself.

2. The Small and the Mighty
Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, from the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement
by Sharon McMahon

The Small and the Mighty

“Sharon Says So” writes about several untold stories of heroes in American history. It will inspire you to do your own small “ordinary” things with a new perspective on how important they really are.

3. Ghosts Over the Boiler
Voices from Alabama’s Death Row
by Project Hope to Abolish the Death Penalty

Ghosts Over the Boiler

I was caught off guard by how much this book moved me! It is a powerful collection of writings from the men on Alabama’s death row. It’s quite eye-opening to see their humanity and resilience in such a vulnerable way as they fight to shut down the death penalty.

4. The Art of Forgiving
by Lewis B. Smedes

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As I continue to work on forgiving some deep pains in my life, Lewis Smedes’ words bring direction and hope for my healing. He writes very clearly and directly about both the why and the how of forgiveness.

5. Seek
How Curiosity Can Transform Your Life and Change the World
by Scott Shigeoka 

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I’ve been reading this book all year as part of my One Word journey with Curiosity. It gives lots of ideas about how to practice curiosity in my everyday life. I already want to read it again.

FICTION

6. The God of the Woods
by Liz Moore

The God of the Woods

This is my first Liz Moore mystery, but it won’t be my last. This is a gripping story about two young siblings who disappear in the woods near a summer camp, but years apart. It’s long but I never grew tired of reading it and wanting to know what would happen next.

WHAT I’M READING NOW

  • Nineteen Minutes
    by Jodi Picoult
  • Star-Spangled Jesus
    Leaving Christian Nationalism and Finding A True Faith
    by April Ajoy
  • The Road to Wisdom
    On Truth, Science, Faith, and Trust
    by Francis S. Collins
  • The Violent Take It by Force
    The Christian Movement That Is Threatening Our Democracy
    by Matthew D. Taylor
  • Do You Still Talk to Grandma?
    When the Problematic People in Our Lives Are the Ones We Love
    by Brit Barron
  • Hope for Cynics
    The Surprising Science of Human Goodness
    by Jamil Zaki
  • Aging as a Spiritual Practice
    A Contemplative Guide to Growing Older and Wiser
    by Lewis Richmond

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What good book have you read lately? Please share in the comments.

sharing at these linkups


On the Blog – November 2024

By LisaNotes November 30, 2024 Archives No Comments

Here are brief summaries and links to posts on the blog, Lisa notes, from November 2024.

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See previous months’ archives here

Share 4 Somethings – November 2024

By LisaNotes November 29, 2024 Life updates 33 Comments

This month has been a whirlwind of emotions—of doing, grieving, reflecting, and enduring. In these moments, I’ve been reminded of the beauty and fragility of life, the weight of our choices, and the quiet importance of showing up.

For the 2024 edition of “Share 4 Somethings,” Jennifer asks us to share each month:

  1. Something loved and/or disliked
  2. Something accomplished
  3. Something improved upon and/or that needs improvement
  4. Something noticed

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Something Loved

  • ELECTION DAY FROM THE INSIDE 

Last month I shared here that my husband Jeff and I had been asked to be local poll workers for the general election on November 5. I was honored—and a little nervous—to step into such the role.

Now I’m back to report: it went great!

It was gratifying to facilitate democracy at its most local level. Jeff and I were tasked with handing out the ballots after voters checked in. It kept us busy the entire day, but we loved seeing the hope and eagerness on the voters’ faces.

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We also got a behind-the-scenes look at the many layers of security in our precinct to make sure every vote was counted. At the end of the night I felt more connected to my community and deeply grateful for the experience. I hope we’ll be asked to help again in future elections.

 ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Something Accomplished

  • CELEBRATING UNCLE BOBBY

Last month, I also wrote about celebrating my Uncle Bobby’s 86th birthday with a family meal and singing. It was a beautiful day, where time felt sacred, and one I hope we’ll remember for a long time to come.

And now, that day is seared in my memory as even more sacred because, sadly, Uncle Bobby passed away last week.

He lived a long, meaningful life, and I’m so grateful to have shared this past year even closer beside him as our family journeyed with him through his cancer diagnosis. He remained gentle and kind even in his final days.

Death is a strange companion to life—it reminds us of what we’ve lost while amplifying the love that remains. Here are 5 of Bobby’s 7 nieces and nephews that were able to attend his funeral in Arkansas last Saturday.

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~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Something that Needs Improvement

  • WRESTLING WITH JUSTICE

Ironically, after spending days in the hospital with my incredible uncle, I would come home to read Ghosts Over the Boiler, a striking and powerful collection of essays written by men sentenced to die on Alabama’s death row (I highly recommend the book!).

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One of the co-authors was actually put to death by nitrogen hypoxia the day after my uncle died, the third person in Alabama to die this way in 2024. The man was guilty of a horrendous crime. No doubt. He deserved to face consequences.

But is killing the proper consequence for killing?

I don’t have all the answers, but as more and more states and nations abolish the death penalty, recognizing its flaws as it grows in disfavor with the general public and those in the legal system and with humans all over the world, I wish Alabama would abolish it too. But it hasn’t. Yet.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Something Noticed

  • A LIFESAVING INCONVENIENCE

And then, life reminded me of its fragility again, but in a more mundane way.

This week, I made it through another routine colonoscopy—the day before Thanksgiving. I’ve had several colonoscopies over the years, and while of course I never like the process, it’s not all that bad. And, as I often say, I’d rather have a colonoscopy than colon cancer.

The doctor advised me to have another colonoscopy in one to two years; I’m not happy about having one again so soon, but I’ll do it. If you’re due for one, I encourage you to schedule it soon and get it over with. A day or two of discomfort could very well save your life.

What is something you are loving, accomplishing, improving, or noticing this month?

Share your thoughts in the comments.

I’m linking at these blog parties

Thanks to You, 6 Books I’m Adding to My TBR List
{Nonfiction November Week 5}

By LisaNotes November 26, 2024 Books I Recommend 12 Comments

This is the final week of Nonfiction November 2024 when we share at Deb’s what we’re adding to our to-read list after seeing the books that others have recommended all month at the weekly linkups. I’ve accumulated a long list of books I want to read.

Books I Haven’t Read (Have you?)

Here are 6 (of the many) books I’m adding to my list and what each blogger said that convinced me. A few of these I’ve been meaning to read anyway, so this will hopefully be the push I need to move these titles higher on my list for 2025 reading.

1. Tell Me a Story
The Life Shaping Power of Our Stories
by Daniel Taylor

Tell Me a Story

From Mary Daniels Brown @ Notes in the Margin: “This book dramatically changed my life by introducing me to the concept of life stories and their effect on how we see ourselves, the world, and our place in the world. . . . And, probably most importantly, Taylor’s book taught me how broken or unhealthy stories can be rewritten and healed.”

2. Survivor
Auschwitz, the Death March and my Fight for Freedom
by Sam Pivnik

Survivor

From The Intrepid Angeleno: “This memoir is very well written and I could not put it down. I read it in one day. It’s a good refresher on the steps that Hitler took to put his plan into action so that we can be aware of similar steps being launched in today’s world.”

3. Thinking in Bets
Making Smarter Decisions When You Don’t Have All the Facts
by Annie Duke

Thinking in Bets

From Harry @ Unsolicited Feedback: “I won’t be presumptuous and say that everyone should read Annie Duke’s Thinking in Bets, or that it’ll make the world a better place. But if you do read it, you’ll improve your ability to make decisions and that’ll probably lead to improvements in your life.”

4. Disability Visibility
First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century
Edited by Alice Wong

Disability Visibility

From Rebekah @ She Seeks Nonfiction: “[This book] has stuck with me all year. Her opening paragraph will grab you and not let you go till somehow you’ve just finished the entire book. For how much this book impacted me, it was relatively easy to get through. . . . Changing the title of this post [from “Eye Openers”] to “Mind Openers” isn’t a huge thing, but it shows you how books like these can help more folks adjust the way they think about some of the most marginalized people.”

5. That Librarian
The Fight Against Book Banning in America
by Amanda Jones

That Librarian

From Heather @ Based on a True Story: “The past few years have been eye opening for her. She was a person who was very much in a white conservative Christian bubble except for LGBTQ issues. She’s not an outsider to the people who are attacking her. She’s one of them and they turned on her. . . .The book goes over the emotional and physical toll being on the receiving end of this type of cyberbullying takes on a person.”

6. Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult
A Memoir of Mental Illness and the Quest to Belong Anywhere
by Maria Bamford

Sure, I'll Join Your Cult

From Silver Button Books: “After my cult obsession in 2023, I obviously had to read this one. I didn’t even know it was a memoir which is how I know the title got me. Don’t listen to this audiobook while driving, it is dangerously funny.”

If these books turn out to be as good as I hope, I’ll be sharing more about them with you in 2025!

Have you read any of these 6 books? What book would you recommend? Share in the comments.

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