Organization, End of the Year Reflection, and New Beginnings
The end of the year is both a closing and an opening. For individuals in Maryland and DC, this reflection explores how organization, family rituals, and personal growth set the stage for renewal.
The traditional way to end the year is to get organized. It is time to pull your finances together and file your taxes on time. Collecting data, organizing receipts, pulling out the insurance forms to be sure you claim all the medical deductions, and on we go. If you are like me, you have licensing requirements, and those forms need to be completed. If you are really efficient, you will review your insurance plans, both medical and personal, to check on whether you are getting good service for your money. I am changing my car insurance to a plan that provides better service. Since I drive around Washington, DC, I have to plan to be hit every other year, and this year the smash up happened while the car was parked on the street.
The end of the year also brings families together for ritualized celebrations. December is a good time to take a personal survey and come to decisions about the future. Look at your individual choices as you have an opportunity to change some lifestyle experiences that will benefit you and your family. Perhaps alcohol should be reduced, or eliminated. Maybe you could exercise in a way that will extend your life so you can play with your grandchildren or great grandchildren. Perhaps it is time to revamp your spiritual life and find ways to use your resources that give you pleasure as well as benefit the community. We live longer when we have successful relationships. How are you doing in this area? Where could you go to build new relationships?
You may also be looking at your space and deciding to reorganize and declutter. Remember all of those things you have taken to the attic? Each trip, you said to yourself that you would get to that next year. Well, next year has come and gone and come and gone. The attic is jammed, and donation trucks regularly pass through your neighborhood, so it is time.
Making plans for the new year can be fun. Think of the places you would like to visit and the people you would like to see. Whether you have devoted time to travel or are the one who enjoys the recliner in the TV room, you can reflect on the people and places you would like to experience. Making plans is a part of holding ourselves accountable. Maybe you have a cousin you have been meaning to visit for years and have just put it off. Perhaps you talk of seeing a place in the world, but never make those plans. Challenge yourself to take action in the coming year. Maybe there is something you said you want to learn but have never taken the risk. Why not? Go for it. Stretching yourself can be very satisfying.
So, it is the end of the year. Or the beginning of the new one.
Want to explore more about year-end reflection and renewal? Visit Psychology Today’s article on why year-end reflection matters and Greater Good’s guide to how year-end reflection builds resilience.
If you’re reflecting on organization, relationships, or personal growth this season, therapy can help. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support clarity, resilience, and emotional growth.
By Dr. Gloria K Vanderhorst