Day 1 of the NEW YEAR 365 day blog challenge and I’m energized. I love New Year’s Day. It is my favorite day of the year because it is a true new beginning, the start of a brand new year which embraces opportunity and possibility.
I’ve lived through a lot in my 39 years and about twenty years ago I decided I needed to do something that would help me put away the past year and encourage me to think positive for what was in store. So I began to write in my journal on January 1st a reflection of what I longed for in the upcoming year. I’m not talking resolutions, though I did at times mention a desire to be more positive or get in better shape, etc. No I’m referring to an overall attitude restart. Like pushing the little red button on your DVR to restart the system because it gets stuck.
January 1st for me helps give that one moment in the year to ‘restart’ and get ‘unstuck’. 🙂
After writing my reflection I would continue journaling in the same journal and then again on the following January 1st of the next new year I would go back to Day 1 and read what I’d written. I’d reflect on the year and what I was able to work on and possibly get better at, or do away with, depending on the situation. Eventually this led me to recognizing God’s intricate design in the year and how more than anything it was His plan I needed to focus on when I ‘restarted’ for the year.
About five years ago I decided I didn’t want to keep this tradition to myself and I opened it up to the women in my life. Coworkers, friends, relatives, neighbors…I welcome everyone and give them stationary, pens and an envelope and they go all over my home to find a ‘quiet space’ to sit, reflect, and write their letter.
I keep everyone’s letter over the year and when they come on the next New Year’s Day they pick up their letter and have time to read it and then reflect for the next year to write their next letter.
It has been a gift to share this tradition and I have seen women come in with issues heavy on their hearts and leave with their shoulders held back and a smile on their face because in the act of writing out whatever it is that creates the burden they feel they have surrendered it to God for His doing and can leave encouraged and inspired to see what the year will bring.
Join me in this tradition. Write yourself a letter tonight, seal it and put it away till next January 1, 2014. Hit your restart and let’s begin 2013 anew.
Blessings
Shannon