As the Year 2023 Comes to a Close

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ously?</h2><p id="ebc1">I have much more self-compassion than I previously did this past year. Meditating and reading books such as “Radical Acceptance” by Tara Brach have assisted me in being less combative with myself. I am more willing to forgive myself for past mistakes as well as change the language I use with myself. Perfectionism and pleasing are much less important to me. I don’t want to intentionally hurt anyone, yet I want to speak my peace as well and no longer suffocate myself in holding back what needs to be said. I am “softer” with myself and have slowed down a bit more to think rather than react.</p><h2 id="ce16">· How has what you enjoy shifted this year?</h2><p id="c82c">Instead of running from place to place, I continue to give myself the gift of pausing. My calendar doesn’t need to be as full of social activities that overload and deplete my energy. I am shifting out of overload (well, some of the time!) and enjoying giving myself more space, whether to write, enjoy sunsets or just notice the sounds, smells, and colors surrounding me. Crowds and large groups of people are not what gives me pleasure anymore. I still enjoy concerts and activities where people gather but I am much more at peace and less anxious when I am one to one with a friend or a smaller intimate group.</p><p id="caba">Maybe I’m more of an introvert than I thought!</p><h2 id="a40f">· What was a discovery you made this year?</h2><p id="bac5">I am a person who loves to learn but I tend to overload myself. I have many ideas that enter my mind but I cannot achieve them all. It’s helpful for me to make a list of what I might be interested in doing or achieving. I then might look at the list another day and realize that I don’t have the time or the inclination to achieve them all. The top two or three are enough! No one is pushing me to do, do, do but me.</p><p id="0e1c">My friendships are extremely important to me yet I do not need to be the person to reach out and make plans every time. The people that care, can and will reach out to me in time. I have become more patient in waiting for responses as people have different ways of communicating whether by phone, email/text. I am allowing myself to be more present and in the moment.</p><h2 id="c56d">If you would like to view and ponder the full list of the twenty questions, you can view them here:</h2><div id="c9d1" class="link-block"> <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/in-practice/201812/20-enjoyable-end-year-review-questions?eml"> <div> <div> <h2>20 Enjoyable End-of-Year Review Questions</h2> <div><h3>Before you jump to New Year's resolutions, try this fun end-of-year review.</h3></div>

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  <div><p>www.psychologytoday.com</p></div>
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    </div><p id="93cd">And if you would like to share any of your answers, please tag me so that I may view them!</p><p id="74d8">Recently I read an article by the talented writer <a href="undefined">Rick Allen</a> who speaks about personal authenticity and self-reliance. You can read it here:</p><div id="9e42" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/the-power-of-self-reliance-in-personal-and-relationship-growth-6378452620cc">
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            <h2>The Power of Self-Reliance in Personal and Relationship Growth</h2>
            <div><h3>Navigating Self-Reliance and Independence in Modern Relationships</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
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    </div><p id="66ba">And here’s another from talented writer <a href="undefined">Liberty Forrest, Author</a> who speaks of Christmas and the holidays. It’s inspiring and heartfelt:</p><div id="3f00" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/i-used-to-hate-christmas-98f777c37a69">
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            <h2>I Used To Hate Christmas</h2>
            <div><h3>Until it gave me a most unexpected gift</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
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    </div><h2 id="4783">Wishing you and yours a joyous season and much light for the upcoming Winter Solstice.</h2><div id="981c" class="link-block">
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            <h2>Get an email whenever Suzie Alexander publishes.</h2>
            <div><h3>Get an email whenever Suzie Alexander publishes. By signing up, you will create a Medium account if you don't already…</h3></div>
            <div><p>suzieinspires.medium.com</p></div>
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I’m reflecting on a few questions

Recently, I came upon an article called “20 Enjoyable End-of-Year” Review Questions. I am not one to make New Year’s resolutions but I do think about the coming year and what new adventures/new learnings I want to invite in.

Many of us are self-critical and can spend a lot of time thinking about what we could have done this year or maybe even “should” have done. Instead of beating up on yourself, the theme here is to learn from your successes!

As I look back on 2023, I want to thank those of you who have followed my journey here on Medium. Like any year, it’s been a year of ups, downs and “in-betweens!” Some of the challenges have included a move to a new home which is stressful to anyone and some very difficult relationship challenges. It has been a year of clarifying what is really important to me as well as how I might make a difference in the world.

All in all, I have been blessed with mainly good health, love of partner, friends and family, new coaching clients and so much more. I am one lucky woman.

And so, I’d like to choose four of the twenty questions to share with you here:

· What relationship was the biggest positive surprise to you this year?

I would have to say that I am beyond surprised to have a loving, kind relationship with one of my sisters. A year ago I might have said “I would like to divorce this person.” Was it time or distance that changed how we respond and treat each other now? When we lived closer to one another, it seemed as if tempers would flair and we might have even gone a month without speaking. Our relationship would play on me the whole time and I could feel her anger and resentment, let alone mine! Is it because I have more compassion for myself and her as time has passed? Whatever has changed, we have a much different relationship now. Would I tell her my deepest, darkest secrets? Probably not, but I am speaking to her more and I believe she is actually listening! I am not trying to change her anymore and I love and accept her. This has made a huge difference in my life..

· How did your self-perception change this year? In what ways have you started to see yourself more positively than you did previously?

I have much more self-compassion than I previously did this past year. Meditating and reading books such as “Radical Acceptance” by Tara Brach have assisted me in being less combative with myself. I am more willing to forgive myself for past mistakes as well as change the language I use with myself. Perfectionism and pleasing are much less important to me. I don’t want to intentionally hurt anyone, yet I want to speak my peace as well and no longer suffocate myself in holding back what needs to be said. I am “softer” with myself and have slowed down a bit more to think rather than react.

· How has what you enjoy shifted this year?

Instead of running from place to place, I continue to give myself the gift of pausing. My calendar doesn’t need to be as full of social activities that overload and deplete my energy. I am shifting out of overload (well, some of the time!) and enjoying giving myself more space, whether to write, enjoy sunsets or just notice the sounds, smells, and colors surrounding me. Crowds and large groups of people are not what gives me pleasure anymore. I still enjoy concerts and activities where people gather but I am much more at peace and less anxious when I am one to one with a friend or a smaller intimate group.

Maybe I’m more of an introvert than I thought!

· What was a discovery you made this year?

I am a person who loves to learn but I tend to overload myself. I have many ideas that enter my mind but I cannot achieve them all. It’s helpful for me to make a list of what I might be interested in doing or achieving. I then might look at the list another day and realize that I don’t have the time or the inclination to achieve them all. The top two or three are enough! No one is pushing me to do, do, do but me.

My friendships are extremely important to me yet I do not need to be the person to reach out and make plans every time. The people that care, can and will reach out to me in time. I have become more patient in waiting for responses as people have different ways of communicating whether by phone, email/text. I am allowing myself to be more present and in the moment.