3 Simple Rituals to Close Out the Year
As December unfolds, it offers the perfect time to bid adieu to the past 12 months. Rituals to gracefully part ways with the past year bring a sense of closure. They allow us to harvest the lessons, preserve memories, and find peace amidst life’s experiences. Here’s three simple ways to gracefully conclude the year.
1. Reflection: Nourishing Your Inner Self
Devote some time looking back on last year. There’s lots of ways to do this – the important part is picking one that speaks to YOU. Consider grabbing a journal and reflecting on memories and lessons learned. Scroll through your photos, retracing your steps from January onward. Or revisit your planner or journal if you have one and reread the narrative of last year. Make a list of your best moments, least favorite experiences or key takeaways. Again, the goal is a personal reflection that resonates with you!
2. Celebration: Commemorating Your Triumphs
Dedicate time to celebrate the accomplishments and victories that have defined your year! Have a festive bon voyage party for 2023, complete with toasts for 2023 and well-wishes for 2024. If solitude is your cup of tea, craft a list highlighting your significant wins and give yourself a gold star ⭐ for each achievement. Pick an activity of celebration that aligns with your personal preferences and acknowledge your accomplishments over the past 12 months.
3. Letting Go: Clearing the Path for New Beginnings
The art of letting go is a powerful practice to make room for the possibilities of the new year. Consider dedicating a day (or week) of purging and decluttering – clear out your physical belongings and clutter. Empty out those outdated files and photos. Clear out your calendar – reduce or eliminate commitments or relationships that drain you! For a more dramatic letting-go ritual, have a bonfire and ceremoniously (or not!) release your notes/goals/lists from the past year into the fire. Here in Minnesota, a daring person might embrace a cold plunge in ice water to clear your energy and mind from this year to make room for the new year ahead. (I prefer the bonfire! 🔥)
You can do one, two or ALL of these rituals to close out the year. You can do it by yourself or you can invite family and friends to join you. Whatever you choose, cultivate a ritual or practice that resonates with you. Keep it simple and it will be powerful!
Warmly – with hot cocoa and marshmallows,
Mary