Year End Reflections

The passage of one year--and in this case a decade--is a natural time to reflect on the past year and make plans, perhaps even resolutions for the new year. I'm taking a page from Michael Hyatt's end of year reflections blog. Michael Hyatt is the CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishing and one of my favorite bloggers.

He suggests asking and answering the following questions as we put the passing year into perspective - and apply the lessons learned in 2009 to 2010.

1. If the last year were a movie of your life, what would the genre be? Drama, romance, adventure, comendy, tragedy, or a combination?

• I would describe my past year as a combination of adventure and tragedy. Tragedy may be a little harsh to describe job loss, especially since mine is a second income. Drama may be a better genre to describe the feelings and experiences that accompany job loss and the roller coaster of emotions that are part of the job search.

2. What were the two or three major themes that kept recurring?

• uncertainty and loss
• small, but certain evidences of God's care and provision despite uncertainty and loss
• blessing of caring family and friends

3. What did you accomplish this past year that you are the most proud of?

• launching my freelance business
• stepping out of my comfort zone to network and volunteer for new activities

4. What do you feel you should have been acknowledged for but weren't?

• what I could have contributed to my former employer as a freelancer/independent contractor

5. What diappointments or regrets did you experience this past year?

• loss of two important communities--co-workers and church family
• disappointment and regret that there have been no attempts at reconciliation with our former church family

6. What was missing from last year as you look back?

• enjoying each day for what it had to offer. I was more often too worried about finding another job.
• trusting God's promise that he has a purpose and plan for my life. I'm just impatient to see it.

7. What were the major life-lessons you learned this past year?

• greater discernment regarding various leadership styles and which styles resonate with me and are helpful to my growth
• while conflict is never in God's design, there are times that resolution does not happen, yet God accomplishes his purposes regardless. That was probably the most helpful and healing insight I took from Unpacking Forgiveness (Chris Braun), one of the books I read following our fallout with a church in which we had invested the last 2 1/2 years of our life. We've moved on and are being blessed in our current church home--and trust that God continues to bless our previous church.
• life is a journey--if I'm too comfortable in one spot I'm likely not growing spiritually. God makes himself known in the discomforts and difficult places of life.

I especially appreciate Hyatt's advice following this exercise. "Acknowledge the past and complete it. It's over. There's nothing you can do to change it. Close that chapter and turn to the next one." Good advice--which I am going to try to follow.
How about you? What year-end advice do you have?