Happy New Year! As we begin this new year, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the past year and consider my goals for 2025.
A look back
I wrote this about the past, present and future, "Remember the past for wonderful memories and achievements, have optimism and hope for the future, but live each moment in the present." Wise words instead, if I might say so myself! Today I'd like to remember the past to remind myself of some of the accomplishments I made during 2024 and to recognize that I made progress. Sometimes it's hard to acknowledge small "wins" unless you write them down.
Before each new year, I set some goals using the guiding word (my word of the year). 2024 word of the year was Flow. Here’s what I wrote for 2024.
When we are actively involved in trying to reach a goal, we experience a joyful state called “flow”. With this in mind, I set goals in the following areas: Health, spirituality, relationships, service to others and higher purpose.
Some highlights of 2024
presenting my story and talked about Finding Our Voices at the South Carolina Aphasia support group online
Ran a shortened version of Finding Our Voices - an aphasia friendly public speaking group
Continued to moderate the Aphasia, Apraxia and Dysarthria support group on Facebook (I started this group March 21, 2022). We now have 81 members in this private group only for people who have the communication disorders of aphasia, apraxia or dysarthria.
participated in several Aphasia research studies and assisted UMass with their grant application providing my resume and letter of support for their new aphasia assessment that uses video and discussion. (This experience was exhilarating and something I want to do again!)
Completed the National Aphasia Synergy Peer Befriending training; met with my buddy (an awesome experience)
Said YES to all invitations; enjoyed many activities with my granddaughter, daughter, husband, sister and father
Posted 24 blog posts (including 15 posts during an Ultimate Blog Challenge in October)
I didn’t meet the goals set for Aphasia Moments (my podcast) and my memoir. But I did upload 8 episodes of the podcast and started the course on memoir writing on Udemy.
I'm reminded of another quote, "When driving you must look back from time to time, but focus most of your energy to the front because that's the direction you are going in." I don't know who said it, but I think it was an adaption of a Mel Robbins quote.
I think this is a powerful quote becuase we want to go forward...
Now a look forward…..
As I choose my Word of the Year (WOTY) each year, I meditate, pray and ponder what I want for the new year. I ask the questions: What do I want more of? What do I want less of? What will truly make me happy? How do I want to feel? What does God want me to do? How can I use the gifts he gave to me?
I truly believe in synchronicity and so I listen for words, themes, etc that come into my life. I knew that for the new year 2025 I want more peace and tranquility. I want to believe in myself more and be less critical of myself and others. I want to take time before I speak and allow people to assist me when I struggle. I want to accept that I can't change everything even though I want to. I am not in complete control, so this year I want to focus on things that I can change.
Just before the New Year, here’s my brainstorming and choice for 2025 - SERENITY
What really solidified that I was making the right choice was reading the whole Serenity Prayer.
O God grant me the SERENITY to accept the things I cannot change;
the courage to change the things I can;
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
enjoying one moment at a time.
Accepting hardships are a pathway to peace.
Taking, as He did, the sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it.
Trusting the he will make all things right
if I surrender to His will.
That I might be reasonably happy in this life,
and supremely happy with Him forever.
Amen.
Serenity (the state of being calm, peaceful and untroubled). With this as my focus I made a few goals for the year. These goals are in the categories of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. I chose this categories based on an Indian proverb that says, "Everyone is a house with four rooms, a physical, a mental, an emotional and a spiritual. Most of us tend to live in one room most of the time, but unless we go into every room everyday, even if only to keep it aired, we are not a complete person."
If I attend to my physical, emotional, mental and spiritual needs, I'm sure that this year will be a successful one.
So what about you? Do you make resolutions or goals? Do you set a Word of the Year? I would love to know. Please comment.
Until next time.....
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