Annual Reflection: 2019
Dearest 2019, it’s time for my annual reflection!
What kind of year did we have together?
My highs include spending a month in Melbourne at a Montessori training, a super-fun birthday dinner and late-night dancing party, my first-ever cruise (even though I realized I am not a cruise person), my first-ever RV trip (even though I realized I am not an RV person), an incredible summer vacation in upstate New York, a summer visit from my mom, a visit from some of our best friends from Oakland, regular Saturday Suppers, regular pizza dinners with neighbors, two fun weddings, Thanksgiving at the beach with my family, two really exciting projects at work, the resurrection of this blog, the launch of a weekly newsletter, and the idea of a Family Gap Year.
My lows included difficulty at work (which is resolved now), a spike in really challenging behavior from one of my children (it’s getting better), Matt’s struggles at his job (resolved now), the death of our beloved Hoss (even though it was the best possible death), and ending the year with almost 20 pounds of extra weight.
Here is what I said I wanted to be true about you, 2019:
I want to flourish through relationships this year. I want to feel a deep sense of connection with my husband, my children, my extended family, my colleagues, my neighbors, and friends. I want to go deep and heal the wounds I have been carrying with me all these years. I want my body to feel healthy and strong.
2019 Intentions
Wow. Now that I read over it, I’m realizing it’s essentially 9 different things! So how did I do on each?
- Connection with Husband = A
- Connection with Colleagues = B
- Connection with Neighbors = A
- Connection with Children = A-
- Connection with Extended Family = A
- Connection with Friends = A
- Healing Wounds = C (I got sidetracked working on my son’s issues and just finally got into regular therapy for healing my own wounds)
- Feeling Healthy = F
- Feeling Strong = D
2019, I am so grateful for the health of my boys, my partner, his family, and my family. I am so grateful for these extra years with my grandparents. I am grateful for our home and our neighborhood. I am grateful for our school and the community there. I am grateful for the staff that goes above and beyond in service of our children. I am grateful for another year of this life, and I do not take for granted the fact that my body is aging. I am so grateful for my partnership with Matt. He’s still the best decision I ever made.
I am proud of myself for starting therapy. I am proud of myself for the continued work I am doing with my leadership coach. I am proud of myself for trying to make adjustments to the ways that the negative impacts of my trauma creep into my life and impact how I interact with others.
I am scared of what is happening in our world right now and scared for my children’s future within it. I am so grateful for the opportunity to do work every single day that is aligned with supporting human flourishing so that we build a better world for all.
Thank you for this year together, 2019. I am full of gratitude!