As the year closes, one resounding thud of a thought keeps circling: I don’t want to lose this year too. I want to capture this year, keep it like a songbird in my heart.
And it’s way too easy to let it slip into blankness the way 2020 did. In other words, I feel like I lost one year, and I sure as heck am not going to lose two.
So I’m doing something to capture my year. I’m doing something that cements it into my life, and reminds me that a hundred good things happened to me, my family, and people I love.
I’m purposely and thoughtfully folding up the sweater of my memories and placing it carefully and sweetly in the drawer. This is giving me closure. It’s making my 2021 shine brighter.
Do you want to do this with me?
Here’s what we do. First, this is an energy exercise as much as anything. It’s asking you to call up and touch on one bright sparkle of a moment or event, one after another, until you’re overflowing.
As we write down the 30 best things we did in 2021, we acknowledge that the year was bold, bright, healing, connected, and supportive. We shift from lack, fear, and depression into appreciation, love, and ownership. And hey, keep writing more than 30. Stop whenever it feels right.
Are you ready? My list is below. These are the 30 Brightest Spots in my 2021:
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- I wrote a book—a long overdue book—that compiles all my teachings together. And it was picked up by a great agent! I am over the moon.
- Wrote a second book. This one is pure crazy fiction. No agent wants it yet, but that’s ok. The Right One will come.
- Sent my daughter to college. Ouch! This one hurt a bit, but the pride in my heart overwhelms the ache.
- Had the biggest bumper crop of passionfruit my property has ever grown.
- Learned to make a gazillion passionfruit recipes.
- My family and I travelled to Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. (Hey, it was in the Green Tier!) I forgot that the Spanish Islands regularly have topless beaches and hotel pools. My 15-year-old son got a very unintended education.
- Acquired a dazzling collection of crystals from a dear friend. I can’t tell you how much they light me up. She fulfilled a bucket list entry without even knowing it.
- I exercised. At least somewhat. It’s a start.
- Remodeled my master bath! No more yucky black mold in my tile grout!
- Led an online summit about Lack-Thinking and met some brilliant new people.
- Bought some pretty new dresses. I’m partial to White House Black Market. And, Macys.
- Inhaled a bunch of TV series that felt wickedly decadent: White Lotus, Ted Lasso, Acapulco, 9 Perfect Strangers, Foundation, The Expanse…okay, watched way too much TV….
- Volunteered for my son’s Robotics competition as a judge. Quick learning curve eek!
- Totally remodeled my M.E. School program into a 9-week “summer school” style program. Led my first class through it.
- Went with my mom and daughter to a museum and lunch for the first time in AGES. Unfortunately, she broke her foot there.
- Discovered that lilies grow really well on my property. Planted more.
- Got triple vaccinated. Whew.
- Somehow managed to record another 30 podcast episodes. We’re up to 669 now folks!
- Recommitted to my Flowdreaming practice and did a whole lotta flow (both for my sanity and to be a palatable human being to those around me, LOL).
- Volunteered at my son’s homecoming dance as a chaperone (read: narc) and saw him become Homecoming King.
- Got real clear about what’s next for me and how I want to start writing a whole, whole lot more again.
- Went dorm shopping with my daughter. Who knew there are so many possible bedding combos….and we bought them all…
- Hiked in volcanic calderas and had drinks on a balcony with my hubby overlooking Africa across the water from the Lanzarote coast. Blew my mind.
- Swing-danced with same hubby in a late night bar while people clapped and cheered. I was pretty rusty.
- Did my annual Sessions and Deep Dives event. I get to meet so many good people. Looking forward to the next one in January.
- Finally finished decorating my dining room and painted one wall bright peacock blue. It was 4 years in the making, folks!
- Bought way too much stuff off Amazon.
- Opened my new Flow On! Program and recorded and completed 12 new content-rich courses. Trust me, this is a lot of work!
- Stepped back from social media and found that when I’m on it less, I appreciate it more.
- Threw two epic Halloween parties (outdoors, masked!). YAY!!!!
You know what this shows me? I did A LOT this year. Way more than I give myself credit for. And, a lot of what I did made me feel loved, productive, competent and connected.
It was a good year.
So what’s on YOUR list? Please leave me a comment below! I’d love to hear!
Lots of love to you and wishing you a beautiful holiday season!
What an amazing list! Thank you for the inspiration. Here are a few things on my list:
1. Two mother daughter trips this year
2. Sedona trip is one of my fav places in the world – sunbathing, horseback riding, hiking trails including west fork river, cathedral peak, and dining at some amazing restaurants.
3. I’m in love and loved by a wonderful man.
4. Making new friends and growing new relationships this year
5. Saw the most amazing display of northern lights!
6. Did some overdue repairs around the house, tree trimming, lawn thatching, and grew beautiful plants – dahlias, lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, and more.
7. Spent a lot of time crabbing this year and caught a halibut
8. Had the best week with my girlfriend and her family who flew up from AL – hiking adventures, music, beach bon fire, sharing and lots of laughs and fun.
9. Hiking through wildflowers and meadows to a beach on the 4th of July
10. Ate conch fritters at my fav dive bar in Key Largo
11. Walked through ice caves at the glacier in February
12. Mountain biking to a glacier with a girlfriend
13. Picnics and get togethers with friends and team mates – 4th of july BBQ, birthday celebrations
14. Watched a family of otters swimming along the beach in my backyard eating little fish on summer solstice. Saw a young deer also watching from the beach while the sun set .
15. King crab open – got 2 keepers this year
16. Another year in Diamond. Thank you Summer for all you do. XOXO
Here’s all 30 of mine! Technically, 31. Thank you, Summer! I LOVED this excercise. If I had a shred of doubt or inadequacy, it’s gone now!
Earned two new credentials as a Certified Digital Career Strategist and a Talent Acquisition credential for my HR recertification.
Completed my sixth and final year as my daughter’s Girl Scout Troop Leader
Lost $10,000 on a failed Facebook ad campaign through a marketing agency
Got a clean bill of health after finding a second cyst (luckily, benign) on my last good ovary!
Sold my house THREE DIFFERENT TIMES but could never successfully buy.
Read 30 books and joined two book clubs.
Partnered with two other companies to coach their clients, in addition to my own.
Celebrated my 14th wedding anniversary. (My 15th is next month!)
Gave five talks to business classes at a community college.
Secured my first paid speaking gig!
Recorded 23 podcast episodes and surpassed the 100 episode mark!
Held a virtual reunion with my college friends
Turned 37 and didn’t cry.
Survived the second year of the pandemic without getting COVID
Said goodbye to my grandmother (also my last grandparent)
Celebrated my daughter’s 5th-grade graduation and transitioned her to middle school. I officially have a preteen. (Pray for me!)
Vacationed at Smith Mountain Lake, Great Wolf Lodge, the Adirondacks, and Florida (for this one, my husband flew us there himself!)
Put new carpet in all of our bedrooms and my office. (A bathroom remodel is on the agenda for 2022)
Was invited to participate in four online summits.
Introduced a new resume distribution service to my programs. (More on that soon!)
Added a third resume writer to my team
Paid off our Tesla. (No more car payments for us!)
Committed to regular exercise every morning and I’m really doing it!
Reduced my caffeine intake by half.
Reduced my alcohol by almost half? I’m guessing here but it was a noticeable amount.
Booked seven amazing guests on my podcast and learned a TON from them.
Put out 32 emails to my email followers.
Saw country singer Aaron Lewis in concert.
Surpassed the income goal I set for myself this year.
Joined a local nonprofit supporting women and girls and hosted an online event and a job fair for them.
Closed out my Facebook account and went down to one social media account and with no regrets.
You can join Stage 32, and look me up, join the same network or invite me to join yours. I think there is a screenplay in you! It’s a fun group. My first introduction, I was pitching the idea of a third Saturday Night Fever movie where there is some healing for the women of America from that scene in the car where Tony just sits there while Annette is raped, and then the whole thing is just dismissed as insignificant in the face of the accidental death/suicide of Bobby. I thought there should be a Me, Too moment where that is faced and fixed. Argued with fans who see Tony as a total hero who already apologized so it was good. Anyway, that was my first encounter there, and it sparked an interesting discussion. I made a few attempts at it, still haven’t finished it, but think it’s a good idea.
Thanks Jean, I’ll look up Stage 32. I don’t know if I have a screenplay in me…but you never know! And wow, I had forgotten the plot of Saturday Night Fever. I do remember watching Grease again not too long ago and being shocked about the whole pregnancy thing in it. I’d forgotten the grit in it!
Lost my Brother last year from Covid and I still feel like shit. Can’t seem to get over the hurt and the fact the world sucks right now with all the negative crap going on. You have a flowdream for that? I hope so.
So sorry for your loss. I have lost a cousin. It is hard, not just the grief, but also the anger towards the folks who won’t do their part to help, but instead sabotage all sensible efforts. It feels very frustrating with the new variants that may never have come about had people just followed the common sense guidelines offered by the infectious disease experts. Wishing you healing, you’re not alone.
Ahh Regina, I’m so sorry. My only suggestion is to turn your attention away from the broken bits and focus on how you want to feel inside this world. If the world won’t change, at least WE can.
I know you will feel better, maybe later than sooner, but you will get there.