It seems like most people I speak to had challenges in 2023. Like a lot of challenges. Like it hit them harder than any year prior (despite going through 2020).
I certainly experienced that.
At the end of 2023, my husband experienced a horrific accident that left him and I reeling and deep in recovery: mind, body and soul. His accident has me wading through grief and hardship in a way that I haven’t experienced in a long, long time (my mom died when I was 16 years old which was extremely difficult).
Someone sent me this Desmond Tutu quote recently which I’ve held as an anchor through this heavy time:
“We are meant to live in joy. This does not mean that life will be easy or painless. It means that we can turn our faces to the wind and accept that this is the storm we must pass through.”
Despite initially feeling extremely overwhelmed, almost paralyzed with what to do and lacking any and all motivation to do anything more than care for myself and my husband, I truly believe that there is such power in grief and sadness and hardship.
At the very least, it expands our capacity to feel.
We are truly burst wide open at the seams and worn down by trials and tribulations, but in a way that fosters (at least it can), more connection, more reliance on others (which builds community), and more compassion for what others are going through.
There is benefit to the pain.
And while I’ve also let go of the idea of “trying to figure out what the meaning of all this is”, I am leaning into trust more and more. Trusting that I can handle what comes to me. Trusting that the Universe (God, Spirit, etc.) has my back. Trusting that this experience will be expansive. Trusting that I will get through it.
I may not ever know why this happened but I do believe in the power of looking back at life lessons and taking inventory of what has occurred and how we reacted to it and in what ways we could do better.
Therefore, in a remarkable burst of inspiration, I sat down the other day to reflect on 2023 and set myself up for 2024.
I’d love to offer up these questions to you, dear reader, as we open up to a new chapter, a new year and a fresh start.
Questions to ask yourself as we begin 2024:
What were your 2023 highlights?
What were your lowlights/what challenges did you overcome?
What were your biggest aha’s of 2023?
What do you want more of/less of in 2024?
What are your 2024 desires?
What routines would support these desires?
My superpowers are…
My words for 2024 are…
Keep going. You’ve got this.
xo
Sensi