Gratitude Day 549

Thurs., Dec. 31, 2020

Psalm 90:1 – Lord, you have always been our eternal home, our hiding place from generation to generation.

I’ve observed a lot of wishes, statements and anticipation from folks as 2020 ends. It seems nearly everyone is ready to usher this year out like a hot potato.

It seems everyone has had enough 2020 and is ready for something new.

Or the promise of something new.

Or the hope that 2021 will be so much better than 2020.

Yes, it’s been a challenging year. A difficult year. A year by which most everyone cannot compare to another year. It saddens my heart as we continue to read or hear stories about such young people who are falling victim to COVID-19. People who were healthy and without any pre-existing conditions before they contracted this awful virus.

Yet, before we rush into a new year filled with anticipation of greener pastures and bluer skies, can we pause?

Reflect?

Remember?

Learn?

Earlier this week, I sat down with a journal and answered 10 questions about 2020. No matter how challenging year this has been, there are still highlights. Good points. Times when we discovered something new about ourselves or our loved ones. Before we put all of our hope into the simple change of a calendar page, may we challenge ourselves to discover high points from 2020? (Yes, there were some.) And how we’ve changed as an individual?

So please, grab a journal or some paper. Your favorite writing pen and 30 minutes. Seriously. You don’t need anything more than this. Write out your answers to these 10 questions. I encourage you to write your answers because there is something different about actually formulating words on a paper versus just thinking them in your brain. Discover for yourself some highlights from 2020:

1. What makes this year unforgettable?
2. What did you enjoy doing this year?
3. What/who is the one thing/person you are grateful for?
4. What is your biggest win of the year?
5. What did you read/watch/listen to that made the most impact this year?
6. What did you worry about the most and how did it turn out?
7. What was your biggest regret and why?
8. What’s the one thing that changed about yourself?
9. What surprised you the most this year?
10. If you could go back to January 1, 2020, what suggestions would you give your past self?

After I completed this little exercise, I felt more satisfaction about how the year went. There ARE things to value and appreciate from 2020. There ARE lessons that I’ve discovered about myself. There IS much to be grateful for and to celebrate.

So, before you completely close the door on 2020, take a few more minutes to stroll down memory lane and capture the past year. I pray you will find this a helpful exercise.

For lessons and learning edges from 2020, I am grateful.

Blessings –

Dianne

Dear God – For so many, the past 52 weeks have been challenging. Difficult. Life-changing. Yet, out of these challenges we can discover important and life-changing aspects of ourselves. I pray that I will capture these moments in a place where I won’t forget how I grew this past year. Amen.

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