One Little Word® 2022 | Pause

Since 2006 I've been choosing a single word to walk with over the course the 12 months from January through December. I call it One Little Word®. It's a personal growth/reflection project that uses memory keeping as the vehicle to help us live with intention.

My past words have included: 

  • Play
  • Peace
  • Vitality
  • Nurture
  • Story
  • Light
  • Up
  • Open
  • Thrive
  • Give
  • Whole
  • Connect
  • Space
  • Habit
  • Less
  • Heart

For 2022 I'm going to focus on the word pause

I’m currently in the process of welcoming “pause” into my life. It’s a word that’s speaking to me and I’m actively reminding myself that I don’t have to know why and I don’t have to have any answers right now besides saying yes to the adventure. Most of us alive right now have experienced some degree of pause over the last few years - for me this is more about pausing before reacting, pausing before making decisions, pausing to take it all in, pausing to celebrate, pausing to make sure I'm living the way I want to be living. I'm looking forward to seeing what I learn from this word in 2022. 

You're invited to join me in choosing word and working to make it visible in your own life in 2022. 

SHARE YOUR WORD IN THE COMMENTS

I’d love to read what word you’ve chosen or are considering for 2022. In the comments feel free to simply leave your word as your comment or write a bit about why you are choosing this word. Next week I’ll combine all the words into a single post – it's become tradition and super inspiring to see all the words in one place.

If you’re new to the concept of One Little Word®, you can read some of my previous posts here:  20072008200920102011201220132014201520162017 and 2018

JOIN US IN MAKING OUR WORDS VISIBLE

Since 2011 I've been offering a One Little Word® online workshop that's goal is to help you stay connected to your word throughout the year. It's not complicated and it doesn't take a lot of time and we have a wonderful community of people who come together to share the journey. Each month you receive an email reminder to head back to the classroom for some sort of creative prompt/writing reflection from myself or the OLW Team (in 2021 this became a Team effort). As with most years, the majority of the prompts will be similar to past years as I find that I enjoy the process of doing the same prompts with different words each year - it's never the same. New videos are recorded each year that include our personal reflections on the process with our new words.  

You can read all the details about this workshop and sign up here. You can watch a video walkthrough of some of my past album projects here to get an idea of past prompts. Registration is $5 off until December 31, 2021

SHOP THE COLLECTION

I've also created a selection of products to help you document your journey with your word -  check those out here

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80 thoughts

  1. Mel_12 says…
    12/29/2021

    I'm going with PAUSE also. I hesitated when I saw you had picked it too Ali but it is simply the word for me this year so there we go. I am so looking forward to hearing all your voices again in the workshop in 2022!

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Joelaw says…
    12/29/2021

    Hope

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. minkaclark says…
    12/29/2021

    JOY is my word for 2022 so I focus on the people, places and things that bring JOY into my life and let go of things that don’t.

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. angiegiles says…
    12/29/2021

    Delight

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. AmyJ says…
    12/29/2021

    Joy will be my word for 2022. . . a word I've pushed back against for several years and avoided. But the time feels right to take on, as you say, the adventure and see what God has in store for me on this journey.

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. achaffin39 says…
    12/29/2021

    I choose 'gift.' My daughter came in after one of her final exams and said the test was easier than she expected. I told her to accept it as a gift and move on. I surprised myself with my reaction, and it made me think that 'gift' would be a great word to guide me in 2022. Right now, I see it shaping my outlook for the year, but I'm open to other ways it will unfold for me.

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. christyj says…
    12/29/2021

    Grace

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. KathyGraybeal says…
    12/29/2021

    I recently retired from public library work. Librarians tend to be absorbed by their servant leadership (in a very good way). I'm no exception.

    So, I have chosen LEISURE for 2022. How many ways can I define it to help me realize and fulfill those dreams that lie ahead for me?

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. starrsstripes says…
    12/29/2021

    CENTER

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. rancherswifekate says…
    12/29/2021

    Savour

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. jemi says…
    12/29/2021

    Write. What I need this year to listen to myself, find an outlet, find out what I'm feeling, and remembering there is good too.

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. dtramontin says…
    12/29/2021

    Release. Ready to focus on letting things go so I have room to welcome new things into my life.

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. hollyann says…
    12/29/2021

    I am choosing the word “grateful” for 2022—I want to focus on seeing the positive things in my life, big but mostly small, every day moments—-snippets of my life that give me reason to be happy and see joy. I am hoping by focusing on what I have to be grateful for, the more present in the moment I will become. ♥️

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Tf6082 says…
    12/29/2021

    Connections

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. jambajuice57 says…
    12/29/2021

    Look

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. LoriLB says…
    12/29/2021

    Pause

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. LEHORD says…
    12/29/2021

    Present

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. ciahansen says…
      01/06/2022

      me too! And I'm thinking of it in all of its senses: being present, giving presents, and what I want to present to the world.

  18. sammar says…
    12/29/2021

    Clear. Clear my head, clear my desk, clear my schedule, clear my to do list. Many ways to go about this. I believe the word stuck with me when I listened to Ali and Liz's audio about finding a word from the heart. I think that was what it was called. I loved it!!

    Reply 3 Replies
    1. stormsts says…
      12/30/2021

      I have looked for the audio you are referring to but haven’t found it. Can you direct me where to find it? Thanks!

    2. faithn1god says…
      12/30/2021

      I would love to know what audio you are referring to as well. Thanks!

    3. sammar says…
      12/31/2021

      I originally found it in the One Little Word December 1st lesson. But I believe it is also on Ali's blog (I tried to copy it below). From November 30th. I loved listening to it. I hope this helps.

      NOVEMBER 30, 2021
      One Little Word® | Choosing A Word From A Place Of Love

  19. Susanmik says…
    12/29/2021

    My word for this year will be simplify with a companion word of serenity.

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. evalyn says…
    12/29/2021

    My word this year is Forward.

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Minoone says…
    12/29/2021

    Adventure

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. sortedscrapper says…
    12/29/2021

    Shake is my word for 2022. Need to shake things up and shake things off.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. sammar says…
      12/31/2021

      Love that!!

  23. CaroleJulius says…
    12/29/2021

    My word for 2022 is practice. It's all about giving myself permission to try things but not be perfect at them, to keep showing up and allow myself to sometimes succeed and sometimes fail but always keep practicing.

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. grammatransformed says…
    12/29/2021

    grace

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. KittenCreates says…
    12/29/2021

    My word for 2022 is MEND. I was inspired by Liz and her journey with this word, and throughout the year it kept calling to me. I'm so looking forward to another journey with all the inspiring artists who will guide us again this year! Thanks to all of you.

    Reply 0 Replies

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