194. Summing Up the Year
Each year I try to remember to take some time in the last few days of one year and the first few days of a new year to sum up the year just gone. I write it down—because that’s what I do and because then I have it to look back at and remember that particular year of my life.
Organize it however you want to but create a list of Struggles of This Year, a list of Good Things of This Year, a list of Moments from This Year I Wouldn’t Want to Forget, and then whatever categories you want to add (My favorite grandchild saying; my favorite book; a disappointment I had; something I am proud of; how I came out on my resolutions or goals for this year; whatever).
And then write it out. If you leave it in list form, you will forget what the items on the list meant, even though right now you don’t think you will. So write several paragraphs on the hard things of the year, another few paragraphs on the good things, and then still more on your other categories.
Chances are in the next few days you’ll come back to it with something you forgot—that’s o.k.—add to it. I often think that it helps me complete the year in some way. that it helps me go into the new year with a fresh start kind of feeling.
Look back—then get ready to look forward.
