Pause, Reflect, and Let Go of 2021

Dear Friends,

It's mid-December and we are finishing up another year. And, for many of us, what a challenging year it was! I'm a very big fan of slowing down, especially at the end of things, and December is an especially potent time to slow down. 

Last Saturday the Nourish Your Vitality group met for our monthly retreat and together we honored 2021, and went through a process of pausing, reflecting, journaling, and acknowledging our year in order to let it go. I believe that looking back before we move ahead can help us build a much better foundation for 2022. 

The process was so helpful I decided to share it with the whole community. Set aside some time to write out your answers or better yet, find a friend and and do it together. 

Look back with love and gentleness--it may have been so intense you can't remember some parts of the year. Just asking the questions will start the consciousness percolating.

1) Take stock of your year

--what were the highlights?

--what were the big events?

--what were the milestones?

2) Did you have any big transitions?

--were there any big changes for you, either losses or gains? Some of these might be: a marriage, moving, the loss of a parent or a loved one, having a new baby, starting a new job, losing a job, experiencing a health crisis, or coming into an inheritance.

3) Can you see any themes?

--here are some we found: Letting Go, Turning Inward, Transformation and Growth, Taking Risks, New Life, Family and Loved Ones. 

4) Did large scale social or global events impact your life this year?

--did politics, the economy, climate change, or the pandemic affect you? If so, in what way?

5) Did you have anything that supported you during the events of 2021 in a big way?

--a meditation practice or a group of friends? Good sleep, nourishing food, or exercise that you did on a regular basis? Was there some new software that changed your life for the better? What got you through, or helped you thrive?

6) What are you most proud of in the last year?

7) What are you ready to change, let go of, or forgive?

--were there people, places, or things that were not life enhancing for you? 

8) What are some of the lessons you learned?

9) What do you most want to celebrate?

--remember to honor even the small steps you took this year.

--were there goals you met, accomplishments made, or was healing done this year?

--did you become more conscious or loving?

I hope these questions and this process help you to recognize what you learned in 2021 and honor the completed year.  Once we honor where we've been we can decide where we'd like to go.

I leave you with another view from my base in Siena. The fog is lifting and the sun is coming out!