Last week, I posted Part I of a powerful process to help you reflect on 2012 and plan for an amazing 2013: Review 2012: Ten Journaling Questions to Help You Reflect on the Past Year. Yesterday, I posted my own review of the past year: Growth: A Review of 2012. And now, I’m sharing blog posts from a few awesome ladies in our HBW community who conducted their own annual reviews!
Here are some inspiring reviews of 2012 from bloggers in our community who used the journaling questions from last week’s post:
2012 Reflection | Something About Mahogany
Reflections: 2012 in Review | So She Writes by Miss Dre
Reflecting on 2012 | Four Page Letter
Faster than the speed of light: my review of 2012 | Elisa M. Ortiz
The Year of Finding My Stride: 2012 in Review | Fabulous & Frugal
And here are a few more posts from ladies who posted their 2012 reflections using their own questions or prompts:
My Highlights of 2012 | Kim Coles (who you may remember as “Synclaire” from Living Single)
Life Lessons in 2012: Preparing for Act Two | Lorri Key
What 2012 taught me about trust, body image, friendship and self-care | Chivon John
2012 Year in Review: What I’ve Realized…. | Ms. Travel Chic
Have you completed your review of 2012 yet? If so, feel free to share all or part of your review with us in the comments! If you blogged about it, go ahead and post the link so we can read it.
What I Want to Remember About 2012
1. What was the most valuable lesson you learned this year?
I learned the importance of being still. There were two times this year that I found myself in a panic because things didn’t go as I’ve planned. I sent myself into despair, depression, and mental torture, but once I sat still and quieted my mind I found the best resolution and/or plan and was able to move forward. Going forward I will be quiet and still before I thrash around in fear of drowning. I will peacefully float into my next phase.
2. What was the biggest personal milestone you reached this year in your relationships, health, finances, education and/or lifestyle?
I finally graduated from college with my bachelor’s degree!! It was a long hard road but I was determined to accomplish it and I did. This is the most proud I have ever been of myself.
I also opened up to dating again as in truly being open to allowing someone into my space.
3. What professional accomplishments (at work or in your business) were you most proud of this year?
I figured out what my passion is and how to make that my business. It took me a few months later to finally write it down.
4. What was your favorite family/friends moment from 2012?
Traveling to Germany to spend time with my mom, brother, kids, and nephews, and best friend this summer was my favorite family moment. I hadn’t felt “home” in a long time, and it felt so good to feel that again.
5. What was the best book/blog/song/movie/restaurant/city/country/etc. you discovered this year?
My favorite discovery of 2012 was when I took the bike tour in Paris this summer. It was such a liberating experience to go off alone in a new city in a new country and trust strangers to get me through it. I learned so much about the city but even more about my own growth in those 3 hours. That was one of the best memories of my life so far.
Best blog: Humans of New York- it reminds me what I love about the city that I wish I never left
Best song: Keep Your Head Up-Andy Grammer-it was my theme song of 2012 and going forward
What I Want to Leave Behind As I Enter 2013
1. Which personal development area(s) did you make the LEAST progress on this year: health, finances, education, relationships, family, work and/or lifestyle?
I made the least development in my health. I neglected good eating habits, gained weight, barely exercised. I also did not clear up any debts. I started the year with that as a goal and did not complete it.
2. What promises (to yourself or others) did you break in 2012?
I promised myself to get my health in order by getting in shape and sticking to a healthy lifestyle in terms of eating and working out.
While I did open up to dating. I gave up fairly quickly after a few bad experiences. And then I let an old flame back that should have been left alone.
3. What arguments/gossip/hurtful comments, if any, did you participate in or make this year that you wish you could take back and/or apologize for?
I participated in a group on Facebook that was pretty toxic. The conversations were mostly negative in nature and added no value to my life. I wish I could take the time that I spent in that group back.
1. What opportunities, if any, did you miss out on in 2012 because of fear or procrastination?
I did not network because of fear. I feared not belonging or being accepted. It has hurt me in my search for employment and building relationships to help me with my future business plans.
1. What did you do in 2012, if anything, that was out of alignment with your values?
There was a lot of idle time that I did not take advantage of. I also allowed a person back in my life that left me hurt before. I went backwards when I knew I shouldn’t have and especially knowing the likelihood of a different outcome was zilch.
On December 31st I did put my review of 2012 to words which was awesome because it gave extra life to a whirlwind year. It’s only in the last 3 years that I’ve done recaps and reviewed lessons learned. To sum, 2012 was the year of letting go with the kicker of looking for and accepting the new. There were lots of tears with each release but when they dried a better me emerged every time!
Thank you for every post you gave us in 2012.
http://lovingmemore.wordpress.com/2013/01/01/so-on-the-last-day-of-2012-i-find/
Melissa,
I echo your feeling of 2012 being a year of letting go.
Rosetta
because I feel I let go of so much I had to just write a review outlining all that I shed this year, what I retained, and then look forward to 2013 and my hopes for what I want to fill in now that I have this space. I am still thinking and writing with a plan to be done in the next week. Some other deadlines are taking precedence this week. Thanks for the prompts.
What I Want to Bring Into My Life in 2013
1. What do you deserve more of next year? What do you deserve less of next year?
I deserve and want real love next year. I want a boyfriend and eventually a husband who truly loves me. There I said it. This independent Black woman wants a real man who loves my dirty drawers. This man will know that loves mean sacrifice and giving. I want the type of love identified in Corinthians.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
I want to love and serve him. I want to be a loving person. I deserve less anxiety.
2. What personal milestone(s) do you most want to reach in your relationships, health, family, finances, education and/or lifestyle?
I want to continue to get healthy. I want to lose weight. I want to cook at least two days a week. I want my child and I to enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables. I want my child to continue to excel intellectually, spiritually, and socially. I want to continue with violin lessons and possibly introduce her to martial arts or dance. I want to teach her how to read so that she goes into kindergarten as a reader.
2013 is my year of destiny. I am sewing into where I’m reaping. I must walk by faith.
3. What professional accomplishments (at work or in your business) do you want to see for yourself next year?
I want to write two research articles. I want to present my research at two conferences. I want to have my research published in a peer-reviewed journal.
I want to establish a business for my daughter and nephew to take over if they so choose.
4. What do you want to learn in 2013?
I am sewing into where I’m going. I want to continue to learn to play the violin.
5. What do you want to cross off of your bucket list in 2013?
I want to do a 60-mile bike ride somewhere fun. I want to do the Tinkerbell half-marathon and the Santa Barbara half-marathon. With me and the family going to D.C. in 2013, a trip out of the country is out of the question. But I do want to do more REI activities.
What I Want My Life to Look Like in 2013
1. What part of your life do you want to pay more attention to in 2013?
I definitively want to pay more attention to my love life and my spiritual life.
2. Who do you want to spend more time with in 2013? Who do you want to spend less time with in 2013?
I want to spend more time with my family and true friends. If I have to name some specific people, I’d like to spend more time with Pamala, Brooke and Elaine. I want to spend more time with the saints.
3. Which activities, habits or behaviors, if any, do you want to stop doing in 2013 because they no longer serve you?
I will not reach out to anyone who has not proven himself worthy of my attention. I will not reach out and attempt to restore anything with anyone who has been abusive to me in the past. I will let them (it) go. When someone has repeatedly shown me who they are, I will believe them. Otherwise, I am living life as a sadomasochist. No more. I must move on.
4. Which activities do you want to start and/or continue doing in 2013?
Running and exercise. I want to get out at least once a week and do something fun. I want to let people around me know that I am “looking” to meet someone.
5. What will your ideal day look like next year?
Great question. I would get up in the morning and workout. I will start and end my day with prayer and meditation.
[ Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place ] Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark 1:34-36
I will read to my child each night. We will do arts and crafts after we have done homework. There may be music in the home but there will be no television except for weekends. Of course, in between these things will be work and I will be productive.
What I Want to Remember About 2012
6. What was the most valuable lesson you learned this year?
Past performance predicts future performance. If someone didn’t pay their bills in the past, then they are unlikely to pay them in the future. That’s why creditors ask for credit reports. That’s why schools ask for transcripts. I knew better than to revisit something that was finished. No more.
Wait before you send an email off. Confer with your circle first. Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:30-31 (in Context) Isaiah 40 (Whole Chapter)
Don’t trip over silly stuff (child learning song) because what you are tripping about will be resolved. Child will do fine. Be quiet . . . be still and wait.
Don’t engage with an idiot no matter what because that makes for two idiots. Judge a person based upon their past performance. What have they DONE? What fruit(s) have they produced? In the words of Janet Jackson, “what have you done for me lately?” Again, DON’T engage with an idiot. You can love from afar. You should not have people in your life, who are abusive and take from you.
7. What was the biggest personal milestone you reached this year in your relationships, health, finances, education and/or lifestyle?
Relationships – In November 2012, I told my boss that I was dating and told him to be on the “look out” for me. I should have done this long ago. This wasn’t much but it was a step.
Health – In October 2012, I joined the Inland Empire Running Club. I ran 8 miles in November 2012. I couldn’t believe this. I want to continue with this.
Finances – December 2012, I submitted all of the paperwork and gathered the funds to fund my refinance that will lower my mortgage payment by $500.
Lifestyles – June 2012, Maya and I started violin lessons. Seeing Lauren learn to play has been a joy. I plant the seeds and she will grow. No need to worry. Example, in April she practiced songs for Easter and sang them beautifully. I did not need to stress about her performance.
8. What professional accomplishments (at work or in your business) were you most proud of this year?
I completed my second year as an ALJ. I participated in the CBAS project in October. I was an ALJII out of class for four months (July 2012 to October 2012). I restored effective communication with my boss. I realized that speaking to her in a more revered way allows me to get what I want.
9. What was your favorite family/friends moment from 2012?
Spending time with family in Nashville, TN. Spending Christmas with my parents and baby at my home was wonderful. I also enjoyed seeing Lauren perform at the Easter service at New Hope. She did a great job!
10. What was the best book/blog/song/movie/restaurant/city/country/etc. you discovered this year?
Happyblackwoman.blogspot.com
What I Want to Leave Behind As I Enter 2013
5. Which personal development area(s) did you make the LEAST progress on this year: health, finances, education, relationships, family, work and/or lifestyle?
I definitely made the least progress when it came to dating. On December 1, 2012, I had a big setback. That setback resolved itself on December 31, 2012, so it was very short-lived.
6. What promises (to yourself or others) did you break in 2012?
I gave someone another chance to be in my life that did not deserve it and was never worthy of being in my life.
7. What arguments/gossip/hurtful comments, if any, did you participate in or make this year that you wish you could take back and/or apologize for?
Don’t gossip.
8. What opportunities, if any, did you miss out on in 2012 because of fear or procrastination?
Didn’t start dating throughout 2012. I sat home and did not get out and meet people. I did not tell others that I was back in the dating game.
What did you do in 2012, if anything, that was out of alignment with your values?
Allowed someone back into my life who was undeserving to be in my life.