Do you have to work today? Bummer. I used to hate having to come in on those days between the holidays because I used up all my vacation time earlier in the year. No one else was there. No work could get done. Couldn’t they just close the whole shop down for this week?!
Then I realized – no one else was there. Oh my, how much work could get done! (Ah, the power of optimism!) No small talk at the printer. No sidelining my to-do list with your projects. No perfectly silent requirements as my neighbors in the cube farm who didn’t like my music were gone.
I could turn on BBC1 online, which would play their clubbing dance mix since it was about that time locally in London, as loud as I wanted while I tackled those pesky projects that had been hanging out since Labor Day. I’d pick up lunch on these days and bring it back to my desk letting the smells of fish and/or Mexican food waft through the air. Oh, to work alone everyday! (Ah ha – a foreshadowing to my future?!)
But even with this relaxed scene, I would get my work done by 3. What’s a girl to do with two hours of nothing but watching the phone (which will of course not ring until 4:55 pm) on the task list? That’s where today’s lesson comes in.
As we approach the end of the year, it’s always easy to jump right into plans for the next; thinking about resolutions and big goals for 2014. We’ll get there soon, but for today’s lesson, I’d like you to reflect on 2013 instead.
Yoga is all about “union”. To get all hippie for a second, that can include “union with the self – past, present, and future.” I consider taking a look back at the last year (without judgment!) just as valuable a yoga technique as perfecting your crow pose.
I’m a visual person, so writing down the answers to these reflecting questions makes sense to me. I can keep the answers for future reference when I feel like I’ve been marching in place… But just thinking about these questions is a healthy exercise that can be done whenever you have a little free time.
- What is the best thing you did for yourself this year?
- What are three things you did for someone else in 2013?
- How did you move forward (personally, professionally, etc.) this year?
- What mistakes did you make in 2013?
- What are three projects you completed or goals achieved in 2013?
- Who became a better friend in 2013? Is there anyone that didn’t serve you well this year?
- Were you a good friend (employee, child, parent, sister, colleague, student, etc.) this year?
- What four lessons did you learn this year?
- What are you most grateful for when thinking back on 2013?
I’d suggest writing out these answers without editing yourself. As Mr. Mank told us in Freshman English – you first answer is probably the best.
Remember – this is a five minute yoga lesson. No need for essays. One or two word answers may be fine. Wait until you’you’ve answered everything before reading through your list.
Without judgment, observe any patterns. What are the highlights and low lights?
And then… just sit with this list.
It’s easy to jump straight into “well, I didn’t treat my body with care, so in 2014 I need to exercise 5 times a week and cut out all French fries”, but if you give yourself a few hours (or days) to just be with the answers, you may find some other meaning behind the issue. After some time to settle in, you may realize that you were giving too much of your time to work or family, leaving you with no time to take care of yourself. A resolution of “learn to say “no”” in 2014 may be more applicable (and beneficial?)
We’ll have plenty of time to talk resolutions in January. For now, let’s just think how this year went.
Namaste, friends. And happy new year!
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