Before You Turn the Page
As the year begins to gently wind down, I find myself drawn into a familiar rhythm, a quiet pause where reflection naturally rises to the surface. There’s something about this time of year that invites us to look back, not with judgment, but with curiosity. To notice where we’ve been. To acknowledge what we’ve carried. To recognize what we’ve grown through. And yet, so often, when we take stock of a year, our minds race straight to what didn’t get done: the unfinished projects, the goals still waiting, and the ideas that never quite took shape. We’re quick to overlook the courage it took just to keep going.
Over the last few years, I’ve made it a practice to reflect on the past twelve months, not to critique myself, but to honor myself. To notice the steps I took, the lessons I learned, and the quiet victories that may not have made headlines but mattered deeply all the same. Because growth doesn’t always announce itself loudly. Sometimes it whispers.
Before you rush toward the new year, I invite you to pause and ask a different set of questions:
What did I show up for this year?
Where did I stretch, even when it felt uncomfortable?
What did I learn about myself along the way?
Maybe you navigated a difficult season with more grace than you thought possible. Maybe you set a boundary that once felt impossible. Maybe you kept choosing yourself, one small decision at a time. These things count. They matter just as much, if not more than anything you didn’t cross off a list. When we focus only on what’s missing, we miss the richness of what’s already here.
One of the most freeing truths I’ve embraced is this is I’m not in competition with anyone else. No ones timelines, nor accomplishments or highlight reels. No one else’s journey is a reflection of mine.
The only comparison that matters is who I am today versus who I was a year ago, and even that deserves gentleness. Because we don’t always see the inner work we’ve done until we slow down long enough to name it. Progress doesn’t always look productive. Sometimes it looks like rest, or healing, or even learning what no longer fits. And that’s still progress.
Once you’ve honored where you’ve been, it becomes easier to imagine where you’d like to go next, not from a place of “I should,” but from a place of “I desire.” Instead of rigid goals, consider choosing a direction.
Ask yourself:
What do I want to feel more of in the coming year?
What deserves more of my energy?
What feels ready to be nurtured?
Then choose a few gentle actions that support that direction. Small, doable steps that move you forward without overwhelming you. Momentum doesn’t come from massive leaps, it comes from consistency and care.
Before the calendar turns, take a moment to celebrate yourself. Celebrate the moments you showed courage. The times you chose kindness. The resilience you didn’t even realize you had. You lived a whole year, you grew, you learned, and you became. And that is worthy of acknowledgment.
So as this year closes, let it end not with criticism, but with gratitude, for the person you were, the person you are, and the person you’re still becoming. The journey ahead isn’t about catching up or measuring up. It’s about continuing, thoughtfully, intentionally, and in your own time. You’re doing better than you think. You’ve come farther than you realize. And the next chapter will unfold exactly as it’s meant to. So, before you turn the page, take a moment to honor where you’ve been.
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