2023 to 2024: How reflection helps me prepare for the new year


By: Rodaina Ibrahim

The end of 2023 is finally here. To some, it may feel like the year was too short; for others too long. I know I was certainly a bit surprised when I realized that 2024 is some days away. It really puts things in perspective, how a year can go by without us even realizing it. Precious Mini has been up for some time now, and it has been a fantastic journey so far.

With the end of the year upon us, feelings of sadness might set in. Maybe we think that this year has passed, and we did not accomplish our goals. Maybe it was a year filled with loss and unfortunate circumstances. It might be something completely different. What helps me is to write things down. Jot anything that happened this year, good or bad. Get your reflections and thoughts out on paper. Maybe you are a parent that is feeling insecure about something; write it down. Maybe there is a habit that you want to change; write it down too. Don’t forget to write the good ones too. Maybe there is more good this year than you remember.

This is a reflection exercise for me. I tend to look for what I am happy with and what I think I need to improve on. Maybe it is a bad habit that I wasn’t able to kick. Maybe a situation with a friend that I am not over yet. It can be a lot of things. For you, the reader, use this time to see what has been resolved and what still needs a resolution. What habit you want to keep and what you want to improve on. What situations still need to be resolved, etc. It can be a lot of different things.

This exercise helps me fully realize that all of this happened, and that I have no control over the past. It also gives me a tool to help me make my future more safe, prosperous, and filled with contentment. It does not ensure that things won’t go wrong, but helps me create a roadmap of what I can do to make the next year better, and a plan to help me when things do not go as planned. Maybe this will help you too.

The year is over and a new one is coming. A new year filled with the promise of opportunity, new experiences, and hope. You never know what your future holds, and that might cause anxiety for some, but it is quite exciting. Think of the new year as a new adventure, filled with exciting new experiences.

The next few blogs will talk about goal creating and organizational methods. I hope you will find these beneficial as you embark on a new year of adventure.