A few weeks ago, I was preparing for the last day of school, which means laying everything my kids did over the past year out for display on our dining room table. It was full. Overlapping with books, projects, and papers. I do this so my kids can look back at the year and see all they have accomplished. I praise their grit and ask questions about the year, so they can reflect on all they’ve done.
As I was finishing my table of what seemed to be endless items, I decided to put my own vision therapy binder on the table too, a binder that reminded me of a hard past year, and I just fell into tears.
My tears were not about looking at my kids’ growth… although kids moving on is a happy-sad thing. But it was more about the fact I needed a pause too. I needed to look back and see what I had accomplished, what I had made it through, and what it taught me.
I needed to reflect.
We live in a “What’s next?” culture. Where we register our kids for next year’s baseball season before the current one is even over. Where we make New Year’s resolutions in the dead of winter when it’s hard even to see the new. Where the question everyone asks is, “What are you doing in the next chapter of your life?”
I’ve found this suffocating lately, and it’s because I haven’t been processing where I’ve been.
We don’t reflect. We move to the next thing.
When I say “reflect” I mean take a time out. Look at your year not with a “should have, could have” mindset, but one where you just embrace what it was. Maybe your year was an exciting, award-winning type of year, or perhaps you were merely in survival mode. I think it’s healthy to look back and claim it all.
Maybe your year was spent changing diapers and loving a colicky baby. That takes selfless grit.
Maybe your year was spent weeping over the loss of a loved one and just getting out the door was your most significant accomplishment. That is worth being proud of.
Maybe this was your year where everything was exactly as you wanted it and you couldn’t be more excited about life. Look back on it and enjoy that season!
We all need to reflect. I think only then can be fully able to see what might be next. Maybe then we can see where God’s presence was, where He was lifting us up out of the muck and sustaining us.
I wrote a couple of questions below to help maybe you spur on reflection. Take time out, friends. I would encourage you to think about your last season before you move on to the next. Summer is a great time to do just that. HLLF – Melissa
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What is a single word you would use to describe your last year? Why?
What was the hardest thing you faced? Is it still present?
What was your biggest joy?
What was your biggest relief?
What bad habits did you form? Are you ready to break them?
What are you most proud of this past year?
What took the most grit?
Are you ready for a season of change, or are you still in the middle of something you have yet to figure out?
Over the past year what or who are you the most thankful for and have you told anyone about that?
Is there anything your heart is holding on to that you feel you need to resolve?
What prayers did you pray that were answered?
What did you learn about yourself?
What did you learn about God?
Was there a moment last year that still makes you sad?
Was there a moment last year that still makes you laugh out loud?
Was there anything you overcame?
Who made an impact in your life this past year? Have you told them?
Did you have a moment where you felt completely content?
When did you fail?
When did you shine?
