From our marriage & parenting contributor, Mary Carver.
At this time of year, it is so easy to only be looking forward to the next big event. This year we are going to try and use the holiday season to make the most of he days left in the year. We aren’t going wait until January to make our resolutions and appreciate what we have.
Last week I read an article about how to create a dumpster fire ornament, in honor of the year we’ve had. It was hilarious – and sad.
I mean, yeah, I laughed, but only so I didn’t cry.
Because, for a million reasons, this year has been difficult at best and devastating at worst.
I know I’m not alone in looking forward to a fresh start as we flip over the calendar.
But before we head into a new year, we still have a few days left in this one – and I’m determined to make the best of them.
Rather than simply throwing up our hands in disgust or defeat, let’s take back what’s remaining of this challenging year.
Let’s celebrate what actually worked or went well, and let’s give thanks for the blessings we received in the midst of hardships.
No matter how this year has treated us, I believe we can still end well. Here’s how:
1. Make a gratitude list.
I know, I know, you’ve heard this one a thousand times.
But there’s a reason for that: it works!
No matter how bad a situation (or calendar year) might be, we always have something to be thankful for.
Are you healthy?
Do you have a place to live?
Is your family nearby – or far away?
Do you have at least one person to love and who loves you?
Did you read a good book or see a great movie?
Have you created a piece of art or finished a project?
Did you make it through Thanksgiving or the election cycle or a trip to the post office without coming to blows with anyone?
Then you have something to be thankful for!
2. Look at the photographic evidence.
Instead of clicking over to Facebook one more time, open up the gallery on your phone.
Scroll through your own photos and take time to appreciate those goofy smiles, those messy faces, the trips to the zoo or the doctor’s office, the impromptu road trips or picnics, the selfies and the you-can’t-make-me-smile serious faces.
Remember the sunset, the finish line, the delicious dessert, the colorful leaves.
Whether you’ve already printed all your photos and placed them in a lovely album or scrapbook, or they’re stacked up on your phone (and hopefully saved in the cloud), I bet you have some evidence that this year brought something lovely, something beautiful, something good.
3. Find the silver linings. I’m not sitting at a desk gazing out the window to a pastoral scene as I type this post.
Nope. I’m sitting in my living room, balancing my laptop on a TV tray while my toddler sits on my lap smelling slightly of her overnight diaper and watching Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.
And as often happens in our house, Daniel Tiger is sharing a message that is almost unnervingly relevant for our day. Daniel and his friends are singing about disappointment, and here’s the advice they have for us all: “When something seems bad, turn it around and find something good.”
Seriously, Daniel Tiger?
Seriously.
You really can’t argue with that preschool wisdom.
And as I’ve reflected on the last year, it really is something I’ve considered.
What are the silver linings hiding on the edges of this hard season?
For me I’ve had to face how my fear of confrontation has led to unhealthy relationships and behaviors. (Which is, initially, still a bummer but ultimately a good thing to realize.)
I’ve also been forced to stop waffling on some political issues as this divisive year has made it clearer than ever what my priorities and values are.
And, most importantly, going through a tough season is always a catalyst for appreciation and gratitude for me, making me more thankful than ever for my family, my freedoms, and my faith.
All of these silver linings come at the cost of some very dark clouds, but I am grateful for them nonetheless.
4. Give back – and then some.
One of the most encouraging messages I’ve seen following some of this year’s troubles is a call to action.
No matter where you fall on all the issues that have divided our world, every one of us can reach out to others, serve others, love others.
Just like the well-known and oft-quoted advice from Gandhi suggests, rather than complaining about a dumpster fire of a season, be the change you wish to see in the world instead.
The benefit goes beyond what you give to other people, too, because not only does helping those in need combat injustices you perceive, it also helps you adjust your perspective.
It gives you a bigger picture and more accurate way to gauge your own circumstances.
It also gives you a sense of more control and therefore increases your overall satisfaction.
Talk about win-win!
5. Don’t wait for January 1.
We don’t have to start a new habit on a Monday, and we don’t have to wait for January 1 to turn over a new leaf of gratitude, compassion, and positivity.
We can do that today.
The world may seem like it’s spinning off its axis some days, but we are still in control of our own choices.
We get to decide how we receive news, how we process situations, how we respond to circumstances.
We get to choose.
Let’s make the best of the days we have, friend, no matter what the calendar says.
Let’s be kind when we don’t have to, let’s be thankful even when it’s difficult, let’s look for the good and be the good.
Let’s end this year well.
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