Each year, as the clock approaches midnight on December 31st, I delve through a quick mental scan of the past year.
It’s what we all do, right?
Even those of us who don’t make resolutions. Even those of us who do, but drop them a week or a month later.
We still reflect. New Years is a forced opportunity for each one of us to look in the mirror and say, “What am I doing here?”
In 2011, I counted in the new year alone in a dark wilderness under a blanket of frosty stars. What am I doing here? I’m making a difference. I’m living free. I’m searching.
In 2012, under those same frosty stars, I sat in the leaves, in love. A beautiful way to start a new year. What am I doing here? I’m opening-up. I’m full of love. I’m searching.
In 2013, I cheers to the new year in the open sky after being bumped up to first class. What am I doing here? I’m living for adventure. I’m learning new things. I’m searching.
In 2014, I accidentally slept through the stroke of midnight back underneath those frosty stars. I woke up 3 minutes late, but smiled anyway. What am I doing here? I’m building confidence. I’m feeling content. I’m searching.
In 2015, I celebrated the new year with old friends, cherishing memories and honoring how much I had changed in the previous years. What am I doing here? I’m growing. I’m maturing. I’m searching.
In 2016, I smiled and laughed and played with great friends as we tried to sync our countdown with the second-less face of a stove clock. Happy New Year. What am I doing here? I’m still searching.
Knowing myself, I will always be searching. I’ll always be dreaming about the next adventure. I’ll always be preparing for the next opportunity. I’ll always be waiting for the next step.
The most important aspect of any search is intentionality. It’s important to search for meaning and purpose, instead of hiding from truth.
Why am I doing what I am doing? Will it make me happy? Will it give me peace? Is this my purpose?
Below is a list of questions to ask yourself this new year in order to help determine the intention behind your personal search.
- What did I do this year?
- What didn’t I do?
- What do I regret?
- How did I grow?
- What memories do I cherish?
- What memories do I want to forget?
- How many times did I laugh?
- How many times did I cry?
- What was the most beautiful thing that I’ve seen?
- Which relationships have I strengthened?
- Which relationships have I grown apart from?
- What is the intention behind all of the questions above?
Happy New Year. Happy searching.
Fireflies Aren’t Meant to Live in Jars. Get out and explore.
Fireflies And Jars 