Reflections

"The great thing in this world is not so much where we are, but in what direction we are going." - Oliver Wendell Holmes

This is the time of year when most reflecting on life is done and not just because of the quick approach at this point of beginning a new year. Every year, when the lights go up for Christmas and I am unpacking all the decorations from the previous Christmas, my mind is flooded with so many thoughts about all that has happened since then. I'm always amazed at how quickly another year has been spent and we're already back to the Christmas season. You see all the areas of growth and how much has changed in the last year. Hopefully many wonderful things have happened for you that far outweighs the bad, and you can see substantial growth. I've had one of the roughest years of my life, but all the blessings do far outweigh the bad I have experienced, especially the growth and strength I have acquired. If life was good all the time, your growth would be stunted, you wouldn't have much need to exercise your faith, and you wouldn't appreciate the good times as much. The more storms you go through and grow through, the more gratitude you have and appreciation for life. 

Celebrations and holidays give us a unique chance for reflection. We look back over past years and celebrations past, remembering occasions where some holidays or years have been better than others. For instance, three years ago, I was still new at the sobriety game and was really struggling. I look back with extreme gratitude that I am no longer that struggling, newly recovering alcoholic. I am grateful that I can remember holidays now instead of spending most of them in an intoxicated state. I don't wake up frantically wondering, " Oh my word, what did I do or say last night?! What did I post on Facebook?! Oh my God I am so ashamed and embarrassed about my behavior?!" I enjoy life and holidays on a much higher level now and overflow with gratitude for the smallest things. The little things are the big things and life takes on a whole new meaning because of the things we do go through. I am grateful that God let me live through all the hazards of my drinking career in which I went pro and retired early hahaha!! 

Reflection can be a gift to yourself or a loved one. It's also an important and healthy way to process emotions and learn from experiences. You also gain self understanding and a whole new perspective on life. I use reflection also as a guide to determine what has worked for me, what hasn't, and what I should do differently. Reflection acts as a mechanism for personal growth and development across various aspects of life, weather it be professional, educational, or personal. 

I am a "list girl" and it helps me to simply sort out my life. You may have a different method, but this is what works for me [ i.e. journaling and taking inventory ]. I use it to determine how I want my life to change in the coming year. I don't make New Year's resolutions because every day is a new day and you don't have to have a new year to hit the restart button and make big changes in your life. New Year's resolutions are fine, I don't discriminate, they just aren't for me. I feel that they are often unrealistic, they are vague and difficult to maintain, and often lead to feelings of failure and disappointment. It's almost like the New Year causes a switch to be flipped and all of a sudden everyone has this large amount of motivation, but they don't know how to sustain it! Pressure, stress, and burnout are often tied to resolutions. Vague resolutions such as, "eat healthier" isn't a planned concrete goal. Write down your goals as you will be far more likely to achieve them. If you want to eat healthier write down what that looks like for you...break down your goals. You are also more likely to achieve them if you don't over commit and under perform. You'd be better off picking a few small goals than one huge one, thus achieving more. 

As I have reflected this year, I may have been through hell and back, but I have grown so much in so many ways. I look back at my life in spite of it all and have a heart that is overwhelmed with gratitude. What do your reflections bring to you?