I hope that you, like me, have been able to take a bit of time of rest and celebration this holiday season!
I'm disciplining myself to rest, to stop, to focus on unproductivity and lazy time with my family.
Every year, at this time, I've also taken time to reflect on the year, and myself in it. I'm popping in to share three resources that I have appreciated, if you are looking to do some reflection yourself!
#1: Essential Questions to Ask Yourself at the End of the Year
I have used this general outline as a guide for reflection for many years now. I like that it incorporates specific reflection on the year, as well as looking at patterns & themes that may only be apparent from seeing all the bits & pieces together.
It is really a sort of glorified highlight/lowlight reel, but also much more. Kind of like St. Ignatius's spiritual practice of the Examen (on which this book is an excellent, simple resource), there is a richness that goes beyond a simple best & worst list.
#2: 20 Questions for a New Year
Alternatively, this list from The Art of Simple / Tsh Oxenreider was the penultimate post from a 12-year blog. More context is in the post itself, but here are her questions for reflection on the past year:
- What was the single best thing that happened this past year?
- What was the single most challenging thing that happened?
- What was an unexpected joy this past year?
- What was an unexpected obstacle?
- Pick three words to describe this past year.
- Pick three words your partner or close friend would use to describe your year.
- Pick three words your partner or close friend would use to describe their year.
- What were the best books you read this year?
- Who were your most valuable relationships with?
- What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year?
- In what way(s) did you grow emotionally?
- In what way(s) did you grow spiritually?
- In what way(s) did you grow physically?
- In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others?
- What was the most enjoyable part of your work (both professionally and at home)?
- What was the most challenging part of your work (both professionally and at home)?
- What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?
- What was the best way you used your time this past year?
- What was biggest thing you learned this past year?
- Create a phrase or statement that describes this past year for you.
#3: Or, maybe just 2...
In contrast, another longtime blogger, Anne Bogel (Modern Mrs. Darcy), reflects using only two questions:
1. What worked for me last year?
2. What didn't?
I hope that one of those can be helpful, if you' re interested! Let me know how it goes, or about any other fun or fascinating tools you have come across.
As for dignify...
We're still shipping, as usual, and will be adding new blankets in 2 weeks.
The last of the holiday goodies are heartily discounted, and of course we've got lots of beautiful blankets for your gift cards or if you were gifted any Christmas cash! (Or if, like me, you have a Christmastime birthday :)