Reflection and Anticipation

What will you remember about 2021?

What will spring to mind when you think back over this year?

The first few days of January are always a reflective time for me, but I imagine they are also a reflective time for many. We look back before we look ahead because reflection is the process that turns experience into insight. What you reflect on determines what you will learn.

Reflection is defined as both: an image that you see when you look in a mirror or other shiny surface; your ideas or opinions about something that you have thought about carefully.

The definitions above are both appropriate for my purpose. It allows me to see things I want to change or things I am proud of that I want to continue. I always guide my reflection process by my calendar. I look back on appointments I had, trips I took, to dos I accomplished, and other time commitments I made to help me determine how I might invest my time in the year that is to come.

As I review those dates on my calendar, I look beyond just where and how I spent my time, and I call to mind the people and purpose for which that time was spent. I am usually content with what I gleaned from those moments as relationships are so important to me. Time with people, listening, and sharing is time well spent.

After my review, I start planning what is next or anticipating what is to come.

Anticipate is defined as both: to imagine or expect that something will happen; to take action in preparation for something that you think will happen.

I have learned if I do not plan that my days start blurring. The days seem the be repetitive and the time gets away. If I put things down that I am looking forward to and can plan, it makes all the difference. It may be a trip, a date with a friend, a task I was to accomplish, something I want to read or learn, etc.

This year a few of my items that I plan on putting on my calendar include:

• Reading more - NO TIME LIKE THE FUTURE by Michael J. Fox is up first in January.

• Scheduling time to see and catch up with friends I could not get to during all the COVID craziness.

• Working on my cooking skills and inviting others to share a meal.

• Planning a dream trip. It has been a few years since I went somewhere big. I do not think with some of the work commitments that I will take it this year, but I want to plan it and have it set for 2023.

• Learning an instrument so I am proficient enough with it that I can enjoy playing some with others. I have a ukulele that I got several years ago that I have dabbled with and a guitar that I got during COVID that I have not spent time on, so I plan to schedule the time to learn and practice.

While I still set goals around finances, health, etc., what is planned from my time of reflection and anticipation is separate but as important to me in feeling accomplished and full at the end of the year.

What are you reflecting on and anticipating? I am very optimistic about 2022 and I hope you are too!

Until next time… -Leigh