What happened in 2023?

It’s December now, the final month of 2023.

You could say we’re in the home stretch of the year. I don’t love that frame because it makes it sound like a year is something to get through. Like it’s hard work to make it to the end of a year. Like you can’t wait for it to be over. No, I don’t like that frame. Besides, a year is just a social construct, anyway, not a physical reality.

Still, a year is as good a milestone as any for checking in. For asking: what have I been up to?

Do a little exercise with me.

Next time you’re in the car or on the bus or next time you find yourself waiting somewhere, talk through your year. Talk through it from beginning to end.

What were you up to at the start of the year? Which projects were you working on? Which people were you spending time with?

You can narrate your 2023 out loud or do this exercise silently in your head.

Ask: what happened? Which good things happened? And which bad things? Walk through the months in order. Who or what entered your life? Who or what left? What did you achieve? What didn’t go so well? What did you try and what did you learn?

I did this exercise this morning while driving and it had me feeling pretty emotional. But that was good. It put things into perspective. It’s so easy to get lost in the day-to-day.

Do this little exercise, particularly if you don’t often take the time to reflect. It might make you feel proud of what you’ve accomplished. Or it might serve as a kick in the butt. It could also reveal some useful insights.

Let me know how it goes.