A Year in Review: A Special Holiday Edition

As we have a few weeks left in December, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the year gone by and slow down. This month offers us a chance to pause and take a moment to ourselves, something that’s often overlooked in our fast-paced, go-go-go lives. As high achievers, we’re constantly moving forward, chasing the next big thing. But if we don’t carve out time for reflection, we lose touch with which direction we’re truly heading. I’m personally doing this by sipping on my Dragon Well tea, eastern style, with 8-10 different pouring, while meditating and internalizing what a year we’ve all had.

Reflection is one of the most underrated skills and it’s what provides clarity in planning and goal-setting. Without it, how do we know what’s working, what isn’t, and where we want to go next?

Why Reflection Is Important 💭 

When I was growing up, I often felt like a robot. I followed orders: whether from my elders or society. I did what was expected, and I never had to stop and ask, “What’s true to me?” I didn’t have to question the next step. I just took it.

But eventually, I realized how important it is to reflect. And yes, it’s not easy. In fact, sometimes it’s maddening. I’ve spent weeks pulling my hair out, trying to work through past experiences. But reflection is what’s helped me get where I am today and it makes goal-setting much easier.

It’s through this information you collect that you live intentionally because you will:

• Make better decisions with new information (pivot or stay the course)

• Understand yourself better

• Understand others better

• Recognize patterns of behavior (both good and bad)

Over the last week, I spent time in solitude, listening to music, jotting down each one of these questions, and really taking my time answering them. I encourage you to do the same!

Questions for Reflection ❓️ 

1. What moment from 2024 made me feel the most ALIVE?

2. What did I always try to avoid? Why?

3. What was the most challenging thing I did this year?

4. What will I never give up on?

5. What is something that felt ‘missing’ from my life this year?

6. If you had to give 2024 a theme looking back, what would it be? (try to aim for 5 words or less here)

7. What did I feel the most angry about this year? Am I still carrying this with me?

8. What is the most important goal I achieved this year?

9. Take a look at the last year and evaluate it on a scale of 1-10 in these categories. Which life areas were lacking? Which were strong?

   1. Health & Fitness

   2. Business & Career

   3. Family & Friends

   4. Relationship

   5. Personal Development

   6. Finance

   7. Recreation

   8. Spiritual

10. In what area do I feel I've made my biggest improvements?

11. What books/resource/podcast had the most impact on me and what did I learn from it?

12. What habits or routines helped me feel my best?

13. Who is part of my close circle of trusted individuals now? Both personal and professionally?

14. What took up excessive time this year that I could easily eliminate or delegate?

15. What was the biggest thing that took me by surprise this year?

16. What's the biggest mistake of the year, and the lesson learned as a result?

17. What was the most fun I had this year?

18. If I could travel back to the beginning of the year, what advice would I give myself?

19. Do I have any regrets about this year?

20. What am I proud of ?

Sharing Your Reflections with Your Board of Directors 🎯

Now, here’s the kicker. Sharing these reflections with your "board of directors" (aka: the people who’ve been part of your journey) might be the most daunting thing ever. But trust me, it’s also one of the most rewarding. You’re not just telling them where you’ve been; you’re showing them the value they’ve brought to your journey. So take a moment to thank them. They’ve been there for you, guiding you through highs and lows, and they deserve to hear how they’ve helped shape your growth.

Here’s an example of an email I sent to a mentor of mine in 2023:

My Secret Hack: The ‘2024 Wrapped’ 🎁

You’re all probably wondering ‘what the hell is this presentation she mentioned in the email to her mentor above?’ Well, that’s a secret little hack I learned from my partner (seriously huge shoutout to him!!). As part of my end-of-year routine, I’ve started creating a “2024 Wrapped” presentation, similar to the Spotify Wrapped, but for my life, career, and side projects. It’s a personalized 5-7 slide deck that I send to my mentors.

My boyfriend started doing this in 2020 as a way to stay in touch with his mentors when the world was shutdown and with all the amazing feedback he got, he’s decided to continue this tradition year after year. It’s a great way for the both of us to reflect on our accomplishments individually. For those of you curious, here’s the breakdown of the slides:

• Slide 1: A thank-you to them for their support.

• Slide 2-4: Key highlights of my year: what I learned, what worked, and the milestones I reached.

• Slide 5: Goals for the next year and the areas I want to focus on.

This helps me summarize my year, keep my mentors in the loop, and set the stage for a purposeful 2025. It’s a great way to show gratitude and stay aligned with the people who’ve supported you.

Bonus Tip: Partner Reflection 💕

One of my favorite ways to reflect is by creating a combined “year in review” with my partner. This has become a tradition for us, where we look back at the highlights of the year together and even reflect on the growth we’ve experienced as a team. Now, we have a collection of our years together: a beautiful way to celebrate how far we’ve come and set our intentions for the year ahead.

A Few Big Things I Want to Share with All of You 🌟

As I reflect on the year, here are some milestones I’m especially proud of and so incredibly grateful for:

• My top 5 newsletter articles (they’ve sparked some amazing conversations!).

  1. Finances For Couples 101

  2. The FULL story behind writing 'From Ramen Noodles To Riches'

  3. Why & How I Treated My Family To An Italian Summer

  4. Is Taking Risks Sexy?

  5. What Happened to Our Common Sense?

• Growing this community to 1,000+ subscribers—thank you for being here!

• Focusing on health, wellness, and building the strongest circle around me.

• The launch of my book this January!

  • Check it out here!

• Starting a workout routine, quitting alcohol, running with friends, and training for a triathlon (slowly but surely!).

• Loving and enjoying teas from all around the world and sharing that passion with you.

Giveaway: 5 Signed Copies of My Book 📚

As a token of my gratitude, I’m giving away 5 signed copies of my book to the first five people who reply to this email! Whether you're looking to get a jumpstart on your 2024 goals or just need a little inspiration, I’d love to share it with you 😊 

As we approach the new year, I encourage you to reflect on how far you’ve come and what you want to achieve next. Take the time to pause, appreciate your journey, and map out your next steps.

Let’s finish this year strong, and start the next with intention. 🎯