Part 1: Goodnight, 2016: My year in reflection
Many people have declared 2016 awful and deplorable, and generally everyone seems to be very glad for the arrival of a fresh start. Despite the fact that the idea of a “new year” is entirely arbitrary, and entirely something we human beings fabricated for our own purposes, it does do just that: it serves its purpose. Mentally, the rollover of our arbitrary calendar year always seems to refresh and enliven us. The enthusiasm and gusto everyone has leapt into 2017 with is rather contagious. It does give me hope, despite it all.
As I look back on 2016 personally, though, it wasn’t a terrible year for me. It was, in truth, a very good year. I managed to keep my changed mindset nearly all year long. And that is HUGE for me! I only started getting frustrated at my slow progress toward the end of the year, but then everything settled down once more after I found and began regularly implementing/using my Tools for Success (coming in Part 2). It was a year of a LOT of firsts for me, things that have propelled me forward in ways I couldn’t have imagined back in January 2016. I have grown SO MUCH this year as a person, as an author, and as a business owner, it’s unbelievable.
The hubby, too, took a big step in 2016, leaving a very stable and comfortable job to go to school (expensively) to gain the knowledge he needed to entirely switch career paths. That hasn’t exactly worked out the way we planned, but he did immediately land a job in his new career field, and he did start right out of the gate making more money than he had after years at his other job. Despite the difficulties this new career path has given both of us, in the long run I do believe it was the right move for him. He is still trying to figure out where he really fits there, but once he finds that sweet spot, he’ll be so much happier! (And so will I!)
The last sunset of 2016, taken from my bedroom window.
2016 had some crappy times, for sure. Tragedies both large and far away and close to home, meaningful celebrity deaths, November 9th (god help us). But it has changed me also, and for the better.
It has made me into a fighter rather than a bystander.
It has made me more aware and involved in my community and local governments.
It has made me even more grateful for everything and everyone I have.
It has made me more generous and giving.
It has made me contemplate and clearly define my core values.
It has made me increase my intellectual reading and meditation practices.
And in addition to all of this, of course, there are my novels and shorts, poems and children’s books. The stories I still plan to write.
I have employed various tools these last few months to help me feel less helpless and to give me direction in my distress after November 8th, and that led to the discovery of more tools that will ensure I have the best possible blueprint for 2017. Without these things … I’m not sure where I’d be right now. Interestingly enough, in searching for tools to use to calm myself and direct my energy most efficiently, I also discovered tools which have helped me shape my plans for 2017. Everyone makes New Year’s Resolutions … but very few people actually succeed at meeting or maintaining these resolutions.
I did not want to be one of those people under #resolutionfail. I didn’t want to repeat my own mistakes from the last few years, where I set many lofty goals and maybe only accomplished one or two of them. I wanted to do things right in 2017, from the beginning. Just as I discovered that having a plan to combat hate and bigotry went a long way toward easing my feelings of helplessness and panic, I discovered that having a solid, proven plan for my 2017 goals went a long way in solidifying my determination to reach them. (Not to mention increased my chances of doing so to begin with.)
Unexpectedly, though it seems obvious now, I’ve discovered this self-care (of mind and emotions) has directly influenced my 2017 goals, which has directly influenced my writing and business life.
In Part 2 of my New Year’s post, I’ll detail the tools I’ve been using lately to redirect my anxiety into productivity, as well as the tools I’ve been using to outline my goals for 2017 with more clarity than ever before.
Stay tuned!
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