A New Year. A Fresh Start.

A short note today, just to wish everyone a Happy January.

Slow and Steady

The messages I’ve received today tell me that many people are off to a slow start this year. If that’s you, it’s ok. Give yourself permission to go with the flow. Read a good book, wrap up tight and go for a walk, binge on old movies (I’ve been watching Kavanaugh, QC on Prime today). 2020 will still be there when you’re ready for it. And so will the Christmas tree.

Savor the Memories

I like to take a day or two while the rest of the world is planning New Years’ Eve parties or recovering from them to reflect on the year that just ended.  I page through last year’s day planner and transfer important information into the next year’s volume.  As I do that, I read the entries for each month.  Since use the same planner for personal and professional goals, activities, appointments, , and reflections, reviewing the entries helps me capture the flavor of the year. Did I over-schedule? Reach too far? Not far enough?  How about balance? What activities did I enjoy most and might like to do again? Which ones do I want to remove from my life ? (I’m retired, after all).

One thing I haven’t been doing, is recording the books I read and books I want to read. I plan to do that this year.

I also scroll through the year’s pictures, delete the duds and chuckle over the happy memories.

Before the year ramps up and my calendar gets full, I’ll go through last year’s financial records to get ready for my tax appointment in February. Experience has taught me that if I don’t do it right away, I won’t get it done. That triggers another kind of reflection. Did I overspend? Spend too much on the wrong things? Fail to make all the repairs my aging house required? One year I’ll get it right. Maybe.

What do you do to mark the end of one year and the beginning of another? Do you have any personal traditions or routines? I hope you’ll share them with us by using the contact form below. We can learn from one another.

Meanwhile, Happy New Year!

Marlene

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