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As a writer and educator who deeply believes in the power of story, I blend narratives of my own experience with teaching points to share what has cultivated my on-going growth that I hope will support you in your own journey.

Words that Tell Our Stories

Process of Becoming| Prayer & Discernment

January 31, 2026•2 min read

The Practice of Choosing a Word

When I read Gabrielle Bossis' book He and I, I was delighted to realize that she had a practice similar to Word for the Liturgical Year. Often praying around transitions to a new year, "What's my keynote, Lord?" her practice entailed a word or phrase to guide her year. Not only did she have a similar practice, she also recognized it was valuable to document it.

I first integrated the practice of choosing a word into my life in 2010 after hearing teacher bloggers talk about the concept. By the time I picked up Gabrielle's book, I had been incorporating the practice for over a decade and realized the value it held in my overall process of becoming with all the learning, growth, and healing the practice had entailed.

Because He and I shares entries from 1936-1950, reading about Gabrielle's keynote helped me to see that the concept had deeper roots than a recent trend. I wonder at what point the Lord placed the idea on people's hearts to choose/receive words to accompany them as they prayed through the years of their lives.

My Words

Here is a list of my words, revealing a glimpse into my adult life, beginning with the end of my 20s:

2010: Simplicity
2011: Embrace
2012: Gratitude
2013: Nurture
2014: Salud (health in Spanish)
2015: Core
2016: Shine
2017: Filled
2018: Home
2019: Light
2020: Adventure
2021: Deep
2022: Play
2023: Father
2024: Wander
2025: Rooted
2026: Lijar (to sand in Spanish)

Your Words

If you already choose a word for the year, I invite you to spend some time reflecting:

What are the words you have chosen throughout the years?
How do they reflect a glimpse into your story?
What are the threads woven across the years?
How do they reveal the story of your growth and healing?

If you do not yet choose a word for the year, I invite you to consider beginning the practice and documenting it.

A Guide for the Process

Learn more about my guide, Word for the Liturgical Year, that provides support for choosing a word and praying with it through the liturgical seasons.

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Amanda Villagómez

Amanda Villagómez believes in the power of narrative inquiry to illuminate themes woven throughout life’s experiences. Drawing from her expertise as a writer, educator, and qualitative researcher, Amanda guides others through the on-going process of knowing their story, crafting their story, and telling their story. Through the integration of reflection, analysis, and the art of storytelling, Amanda invites you to consider: What’s the story of your soul?

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Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner.