When someone says, “Happy New Year,” do you think of a party with hats, streamers, noisemakers, food, and music? I used to connect the two.
Now I schedule time between Christmas and New Year’s Eve to sit with my calendar and my journal. I go back over the year to see what I’ve accomplished of lasting value. I look at what I’ve done in terms of the legacy I will leave behind. What about you?
After that time of reflection, I consider what one word I’ll place on a sticky note on a kitchen cupboard, my bathroom mirror, and my desk and what quotation I’ll claim for the New Year. Have you done something similar in the past? If you haven’t, try it for a year and let me know how it goes. Your word could be beautiful.
On New Year’s Eve if not sooner, I again sit with my journal and my calendar to think about goals and dreams for the coming year. Do I have a new book on my heart to write? What about a speaking topic to explore? What speakers’ conference would I like to attend? What about a writers’ conference or retreat?
My book, Moving from Broken to Beautiful: 9 Life Lessons to Help You Move Forward, came about in 2015 because of my quiet time in 2014 pondering the New Year. I already know my book on forgiveness will come out in 2016.
Those of you with children might consider activities and travels with your children. I still remember the year I took my son to Mexico for a six-week study program. We stayed with a pre-screened family in their lovely home.
My son wasn’t interested in learning Spanish until he spotted a cute little Mexican girl at the college café. Then he learned whole sentences one after another.
Plan for 2016 to be better than 2015 no matter what happens. Look forward to it with joy.
Happy New Year!
