2013 was a big year for a lot of people. I know it certainly was for me. I can honestly say it was one of the most challenging, and most transformational years I have had in a very long time. I learned so much about myself and others. I feel as thought I connected with a great mystery that brought deep understanding and yet at the same time it remained elusive. There were times I thought 2013 would break me, only to realize that by going into the fire I was burning away the dross. I was becoming purified. Just like the clay pot that goes into the fire to become a vessel to hold things, the challenges I faced (while seemingly insurmountable) made me stronger, more compassionate, more whole.Every year I like to find some kind of way to connect with the energy of the past year, a ceremony of sorts, whether it is through journalling, meditating, or dancing, or some other way that feels right. Every year it is different, but every year I do something before the New Year to honour the one that is passing, to acknowledge it, and to let go of what I need to leave behind. That way I can face the New Year, Fresh and Clear and Hopeful.This is an exercise I have done in the past to help reflect upon the past year, and to help prepare for the energy and opportunities the new one brings.I hope you find it a fun and enlightening experience.
Step 1: Review the past year and write down every major happening or event that stood out for you
Step 2: Once you have your list, ask yourself a few questions:
What made this year remarkable?
Who are the people who entered my life this year?
Who were the people who left it?
What were my greatest accomplishments/achievements?
What were my favorite times/moments?
What was the biggest disappointment?
What was the best surprise?
When I look back on the year, I could never have imagined_______(fill in the blank).
What was the most important thing you learned this year?
What was the single most important/significant event of the year?
How would I like next year to be different?
You can have fun doing this exercise alone, with a spouse or partner, with a good friend, or as a whole family. It’s remarkable to see all that you’ve accomplished, celebrated, and lived through during one year.
Reflecting upon 2013 allows you to carry forward the wisdom from the experiences you have had this past year, to help you decide what you would like to carry forward, and what you would like to leave behind. It helps you prepare for the Brand New Year and the opportunity 2014 brings, to consciously create your new reality and begin anew.
Biggest Blessings!
Kerri