Zen Gypsies: Reflecting on 2013 and a mindful start for the new year

Zen Gypsies taking time out during the holidays to visit Richmond, VA

(photo by William Parkhurst)

After the hustle and bustle of the holidays has quieted down and the new year has yet to unfold, it is a good time to take the opportunity to take stock of the events of the last 12 months. Carve out a little time to do some self reflection on the year past: what went well, what didn't go quite as planned, what did you learn, what are you grateful for...what are you ready to let go of so you can grow?

It's easy to sometimes get caught up in the flurry of activity of day to day life so not having a few clear goals in mind, time will just slip away and we'll miss out on some of the things that bring us joy or get us towards goals we envision for ourselves.

After you complete the look back, you'll be ready to do a little dreaming and planning for the year ahead: are there people that you want to reconnect with, half finished projects to complete or new skills or hobbies to dive into, or crafting an enjoyable, doable self-care regimen?

Journal supplies at the ready

To help you design and set the stage for a fulfilling year, here are some resources that you can explore:

2013 Annual Review with Chris Guillebeau (This one is a no-nonsense spreadsheet approach where you can see how he works through the process as an example)

Unravelling The Year Ahead with Susannah Conway (A workbook with over 20 pages of self exploration)

Unfolding 2014 with Dawn Barclay (30 pages to explore "your aspirations, inspirations and intentions for 2014")

Zen Gypsies Tea and Journaling Workshop - If you prefer to enjoy the company of others while you work on your self-reflection and are in the Washington, DC local area, join us for a Tea and Journaling Workshop on Saturday, January 18, 2014 from 2:00-4:00pm. We'll provide you with guided prompts to explore in your journal while sipping tea and savoring tasty sandwiches, tidbits and sweets. More info and registration available here.

We hope you set aside some time to honor your accomplishments from the past year and dream the best year yet for 2014.