In between the holiday shopping, cooking and entertaining lies the perfect time for reflecting on the year gone by and setting the tone for the year to come. You can keep it simple by asking yourself these three questions.
What did you learn?
If you've taken a class, sat in a workshop, read a book, earned a degree or listened to a speaker, you obviously have learned something. For me this year, it was earning my certification as an Integrative Health Coach. But, it's the less obvious lessons that you learn through everyday life from everyday people that are often overlooked. Each experience in life, no matter how high or low, is an opportunity to learn.
One of my biggest lessons this year came about after I had surgery on my thumb. I was in a cast for six weeks and could only use one hand. I had to practice what I preach - slow down, ask for help, nurture the body. And also that it's perfectly okay to sit around and do nothing! There is a time for work and a time for play, but I realized this was a time for rest, even if that meant breaking a twenty-year tradition of hosting a Thanksgiving party.
Take a moment to remember what happened to you in 2014. What did you learn from all of it? It helps to make a list of the silver linings from your most challenging situations.
What did you do that was new?
You're never too old to try something new. That's what makes life interesting and fun. You might have a bucket list - big accomplishments before you leave the earth. Or it may just be simple things that you want to incorporate into your life.
A natural transition in my life this year brought the opportunity to try a few new things, one of which was traveling on vacation alone. I normally prefer to travel with other people. Instead, I spent a week at a fitness spa in Mexico and then four weeks in Lake Tahoe alone, during which I frequently went out on long bike rides by myself to train for a 30-mile event.
If you can't think of anything you did this year that was new, make sure you put "do something new" on your bucket list for 2015!
What's your one big dream for 2015?
I'm a big believer in big dreams. Your dream may change year to year but whatever it is, it should be nurtured and acknowledged. And yes, that means telling everyone about it no matter how over-the-top it might be.
My big dream for 2015 is to have my script based on my book, Note To Self: Love, optioned for a feature film. I was fortunate enough to be introduced to a professional scriptwriter who loved the story and helped me write the script.
The universe is fascinating and unpredictable, and as such, all things are possible. To borrow a line from the original 1947 holiday movie, Miracle on 34th Street--"Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to."
Happy holidays everyone!