Each year around this time, I’ve reflected on everything that passed through my life over the year. With each thing I remember, I feel myself shifting into gratitude, grief, or even just contentment.
The gratitude is for things that have lit up my soul. The grief is for things that are still healing and need me to heal and feel them all the way through. And the contentment is for things that I feel deeply satisfied about, or even proud of.
As I’ve said before, we often forget the sheer amount of joyful living that happened to us and because of us.
This list will help you remember.
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 2023, 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 2023
- Let my hair go more natural (less highlights, more silver) 👩🦳
Built a series of beautiful stone courtyards and paths around my home. Now each evening I walk the paths and commune with my plants and bunnies.
Celebrated the release of my book, Stuff Nobody Taught You, which contains the last 15 years of wisdom from Flow.
Shifted and expanded the content of my podcast, Flowdreaming: Still Kind of Woo-Woo, to let it breathe into new territories.
Helped my son with dozens of college application essays (fingers crossed!) 🎓
Planted an abundant crop of heirloom tomatoes. So many that I have loads of frozen tomato paste that will last me ages. (My favorite and happiest tomato plant is Cherokee Purple.) 🍅
Bought my favorite blouse of the year—it’s brilliant lime green patterned with dark blue hibiscus. Go bold or go home!
Went to a weekend conference all about aliens and alien visitations. It was exactly as fun and zany as I’d expected. #willdoagain 👽
Traveled to Bali for a Flowdreaming retreat with the best group of friends and Flowdreamers you could ever imagine. We spent hours in sacred temples and hiked to mind-boggling waterfalls. #willdoagain (but maybe Costa Rica or Alaska next time?!) 🌈 🦜
Booked a gazillion podcast interviews (Well, 32!)
Said goodbye to my two precious 16-year-old furbabies—my kitties who lived long full lives. 🐈⬛
Got a new iPhone (finally). It’s big.
Began shifting toward doing more live workshops and sessions…and am loving the change and the feeling of connection and “aliveness” it brings.
Attended a conference of Magickal Women and turned myself into a hare (you read that right) as well as took a swim in the sacred lake of the Roman Goddess Diana, among other things. #willdoagain
Invested in some decent skincare products. For what I paid, I better look 27 again.
Planted an abundance of azalea, winter camellias, and mandevillas in my yard, as well as an exotic Giant Burmese Honeysuckle. (Whose giant honeysuckle flowers are, in fact, the size of your palm.) 🌸
Helped my son attain Eagle Scout rank. Congrats honey! We are so proud of you! 🦅
Stayed cancer-free (year 8). Did not stay fat-free.🏆
Spent a lot of time with my hubby watching our koi grow bigger as we swung in hanging chairs by the pond, listening to the waterfall and the breeze in the tree leaves.
Began work on a new book about intuition and mediumship. #newdirections 🔮
Produced 48 podcast episodes, 232 hours of live and on demand coursework, and spent 516 hours in Flow with clients. #busybunny
Rediscovered my love for collared mom-style work shirts with roll-up sleeves.
Fell in love with a bunch of new/old TV series that made/remade an appearance after the strike, including The Americans, This Flag Means Death, Yellowjackets, What We Do in the Shadows, Cobra Kai, Fargo, Monarch, Alone, Love Village (where older Japanese find love!) and Gen V. 📺
Visited Lions, Tigers, and Bears, a large animal rescue in Escondido filled with exotic cats. Wow! (And NOTHING like the Tiger King.) 🐯
Wrote a murder-mystery party for my son, the ultimate Swiftie, based entirely on characters from Taylor’ Swift’s world. He and 23 of his friends acted it out. (And I was actually able to impress teenagers!) 💁♀️
Speaking of music, Spotify clocked me at 13,099 listening minutes this year.
Completely went through my closet and arranged all my clothes like Goldilocks and the Three Bears: fits, too small, too big. (This is not for the faint of heart.) 🗑️
Did my “What If” list and dreamed/Flowdreamed about all sorts of big possibilities for 2024. 🚀
Saw the Barbie movie! 🎀
Gave love and time to the important people in my life, with the intention of giving even more next year. ❤️❤️❤️
What’s on your list? What did you think of mine?? Leave me a comment below!
