Embracing the New Year: A few words on Perspective

I have had the greatest honor and best adventures of spending New Year’s around the world.
I’ve celebrated in Costa Rica, England, Malaysia, and Greece.
Costa Rica is the most sentimental- and Greece is the most heartbreaking.

Recently I came across a blog post I wrote on January 1st of 2014- my Malaysian New Year. I cannot believe it’s been a decade!

In it I wrote about being in college when Starbucks had the best cups.
The “The way I see it cups.”

From that blog:

For hours I would ponder the viewpoints shared on the cups.

There were some cups I especially loved and others I didn’t care for. Some were shocking others reflective. I was always hopeful to receive my latte in a cup with a viewpoint that made me think, “I see it the exact same way!”

The way I see it, perspective is one of the most beautiful and exhausting aspects of this thing called life. Perhaps perspective is formed in a single instance but expressed in and impacting a thousand other moments.

Or perhaps perspective is gathered along the way, so slowly you don’t even recognize you’ve been carrying it around seeing it through it for all these years.

Ten years, later… at the threshold of a new year, filled with reflection and anticipation, I invite you once again to examine the perspectives you hold. Whether they are perspectives that have been formed or impacted by a single event, or seeds you’ve nurtured and grown intentionally over time. Perspectives you have on purpose.
Or perhaps some that need to be reframed.

A few prompts to reflect on:

What were the highlights and accomplishments of the past year?

What challenges did you face, and how did you navigate through them?

What lessons did you learn about yourself and your relationships?

What aspects of your life brought you joy and fulfillment?

Cultivating Gratitude: Consider starting the new year by acknowledging the things you are grateful for. Gratitude shifts our focus from what’s lacking to what’s abundant in our lives.

Reframing Challenges: How can they be seen as opportunities for growth. What can you learn from adversity, and how can it propel you forward?

Identify Values: What principles are most important to you? Whether it’s connection, authenticity, or personal growth, are your behaviors in alignment with your intentions?

Let’s carry with us the wisdom gained from the past (whether it’s wisdom from this year or this past decade)
and the intentions that will shape our future.

May this year be one of perspective, resilience and transformative growth.
Cheers to embracing the journey ahead with an open heart and a courageous spirit.