Happy New Year
Getting ready for 2010
I have a tradition of reviewing the past year and preparing for the New Year. I use these questions to bring clarity, understanding and for creating what I want in the next year. Over a glass of wine Brigitte and I look at the past year, so that we can let go of it and express our gratitude for it. Then we talk about what we want to create and attract into our lives for the coming year.
On this day last year – New Years Eve (Dec 31st 08), heavy with sadness, I was boarding a plane for the UK to be at my Dad’s funeral. He passed away on Christmas day. We talked on the flight that day, using our questions, and as I look back it ended up as an amazing year. It was full of insights, and getting closer with new and old friends and new opportunities, from a sad start to an amazing ending.
You can stay on the surface with these questions or go deeper. “Just how far down the rabbit hole do you want to go?” Well, this is up to you, and I recommend that you ask and answer these questions with gratitude in your heart. Here the questions I use as a starting point, and I refer back to them when I get stuck or rambling on:
Questions to celebrate and recognize the ending of a year…
What were my greatest lessons?
What were my three greatest insights?
What were my three most memorable moments?
What have I attracted into my life this year that I didn’t have last year?
How did I have a positive and profound impact on someone last year?
To whom do I need to offer forgiveness (this includes me) and for what?
What am I willing to leave behind?
How was this year better than year before?
Questions for creating what you want in 2010…
Who am I “becoming” this year?
What strengths/skills have I gained for an outstanding year?
What new skills would I like to develop – personally, professionally?
Which relationships do I want to take to the next level next year?
How would I like to “give back” to my community this coming year?
What would I like to experience “more off” this coming year?
How and what would I like to celebrate, one year from now?
This New Years eve I will celebrate a new year with gratitude and love in my heart.
I wish you a very happy, rich and full year,
Geoffrey
Immensely helpful questions to ask myself. James and I do something similar but more focused on our time together, which is very limited. We make sure we fix our holiday dates and they are then sacred and not to be chipped away at…
I think I will go further down the rabbit hole for 2010.
Many thanks!
Geoffrey,
I found your thoughts very useful as a template to apply to my own thoughts about the past year and the coming year. I remember well your father’s passing as I remember expressing my condolences. I too lost several people dear to me this past year and must admit it brings sober focus to the mortality of man!
I believe people, as a rule, are not generally given to thoughtfulness and thankfulness when looking back over a period of time and your advice is more beneficial than I think you know.
Once again, thank you for maintaining contact through the years and I wish you the best for 2010.
Sid Fattedad
Thanks Geoffrey, for these thoughts regarding our passing year and preparing for a fresh new one.
I heard a quote the other day ” Life is a gift from God. How we spend our life is our gift back to God”!
May you and your family remain well and happy throughout 2010.
Lenora A. Hayman
Travel/Food/Wine Writer
Vancouver
truly loved the article added to my favourites