Now, where were we?

 As we roll into the first full week of 2025, some may feel the need to discard the year that has just passed. So often, a new year is rung in amidst chants of "New year, new me!" and other similar proclamations, which seem to encourage the purposeful forgetting of all that has taken place in the previous 365 days.  What a waste that would be!  Imagine planting seeds in the early spring and instead of continuing to tend to them as the months pass by, simply ignoring or tilling them under just as they begin to show signs of green shoots poking through the soil.

I feel like we are programmed and encouraged to always be on the quest for newness - especially when the calendar turns from December to January.  After all, the start of a new project or early stages of commitment to a goal is often the most exciting part of the journey.  We get ourselves geared up to try something new, perhaps reaching outside of our comfort zone and into that space of unknown outcomes.  We buckle down and work through the many challenges that come our way, always keeping our desired end-state in mind.  Sometimes we slow down and sometimes we change course, but if the aim is true and we are in a place of really wanting the outcome we have set our mind to, we continue to strive and reach in the direction of that finish line.  

But what happens if we are not quite there as the clock strikes 12 on December 31?  Does that erase all the work we have done up to that point?  Does that automatically mean we consider our efforts to be less than successful and our outcome a failure?  Could it simply mean that we needed more time and that we could continue on our path into the new year?  What if all we needed to do on New Year's day was to take a moment to evaluate and ensure that we still are in pursuit of an outcome that means something to us.  There doesn't necessarily need to be an overhaul and redo, perhaps just a pause for reflection before regrouping and carrying on.  

As much as I love the symbolism of a new year marking a time for new beginnings and clean slates, I also believe that we owe it to ourselves to respect the work going on ALL year long - regardless of the date on the calendar.  It feels too short-sighted to simply start the new year with a new batch of to-dos and a crumpled list of last year's unfinished business, without looking at what the year has taught us and bringing forward the wisdom that we gained.  

Here's to a new year filled with mystery and some unfinished business!


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