“God choreographed rhythms into creation to remind us to pause from our constant activity to take joy in what he has allowed us to accomplish.” Eryn Lynum The Nature of Rest
The annual rhythm of reflection on New Year’s Eve is a huge part of my yearly choreography. I journal the highs and lows of the year and introspect upon what was, what was not, what could have been, what was expected, and what was actual in the year. In short, yes, it’s quite the process! It is my form of winter hibernation where I hunker down and journal through the experience of the year. And I select a word of phrase to summarize the year. The words of the year chosen in reflection of the year are often more somber compared to the words of the year chosen in anticipation of a coming year as they attempt to contain all the emotions actually experienced rather than the wide open possibility of what could be. This has been particularly true for me the past five years or so as events of life have crashed over me in varying intensities like waves in the sea.
So this year when I sat down to reflect, I was pleasantly surprised how positive I felt. Yes, my victories might seem strange when delineated, but compared to the last several years, they are indeed wins! I ended the year with the same number of organs I started with. I have no additional “spare parts” in my extremities. I renewed my homeowner’s insurance with remarkable ease. I paid off my roof debt, saved some money, continued to work through emotions in counseling, succeeded in large work projects, and demonstrated courage in a wide variety of situations. I absolutely both blossomed and moxie’d this year! 🙂 2025 was a year of comparative calmness for me. I know firsthand that this is not true for everyone and even many in my direct sphere had very challenging years and I was happy to offer support in tangible and intangible ways for them. It was not comparatively calm for all and I can acknowledge and grieve that even while I express my gratitude that the year treated me more kindly than the past five have in general.
I feel as though the completion of 2025 is turning the page on a season of recovery and renewal and planting. There was a very specific reason that I chose blossoming moxie to be my words of the year this year as they would give me the image of being planted instead of abandoned whenever darkness lingered and they would encourage me to grow at a steady, natural pace toward the sunlight. Now as I find myself thankful for the pain and drama that did not happen in 2025, I look forward to the journey and possibilities that await in 2026.
Happy New Year, all!
