It’s Christmas Eve morning and I’m sitting in my living room staring out of the window at all the snow that has fallen in the past 24 hours. I’m enjoying my coffee as I think back to the year that has so quickly come and gone.
It isn’t always easy to see our blessings when we are in the thick of living life. But in hindsight, we can clearly see that even the less pleasant events of the year were blessings in disguise.
Over the years, I’ve come to adopt a few traditions, or rituals, as part of my year-end holiday celebration. They allow me to let go of one year and step into a new future with ease and grace.
Allow me to share…
The first thing I do is wind down for the holidays. In the days leading up to Christmas Eve, I stop going to the stores. No last minute shopping. The reason for this is that it gets stressful. The energy of it, and the collective, is a rushed and stressed vibe that I don’t particularly enjoy. As years have passed, I’ve come to learn the importance of putting my well being at the forefront of everything I do. I understand that how I feel is radiating into my home and to the people I love and share my life with. Why bring in a scattered and stressed energy when what I truly crave is peace and joy.
This might be different for you. And it’s important to make choices based on what you feel is best for you.
The second thing that I do, and this is what I am contemplating this morning, is to look back at my year and all the wonderful blessings that have come my way. All the things I am grateful for. My achievements, my breakthroughs as well as my lessons learned and my personal growth. I feel it’s a little illusionary to only be grateful for the good things. It’s also important to feel gratitude for the events that led us to growth and lessons learned.
I think my biggest lesson this year has been about boundaries. Not only setting personal boundaries, but also respecting my own boundaries without wavering on them or making exceptions to “keep the peace”. It wasn’t a pleasant lesson to learn, but I assure you that I feel a tremendous amount of gratitude for the learning of it.
The last thing I do before the end of the year. This is usually something I work on between Christmas and the New Year. I write up a list of 100 things I want to “manifest” or create in the coming year. I hand-write this list on regular lined paper. At the top of the page I write: “In 2023, I have…” and begin my list. I always scan or take pictures of the pages to keep in my phone for reference. The paper hand written copy I will burn in my fireplace or rip up into small pieces at midnight as the year changes. This releases the energy I have poured into writing my list into the Universe. I will review the digital copy of the list at the end of the year to see how much I achieved. More to be grateful for!
I would love to know what your holiday traditions are. How do you transition from one year to another. If you don’t have any traditions and would like to start something, feel free to give mine a try.
I have a little gift to get you started. I have created a list of 50 ways you can crush the things that keep you from happiness and success. You can access this free document below.
On a final note, I want to wish you a very blessed holiday season. Regardless of what you choose to celebrate and how you choose to celebrate, I hope you are blessed in every possible way.
May 2023 be your best year yet.
May Baydoun - Coaching 