Reflecting…Lessons from 2019
Hello, Friends!
What a lovely day we have here in Illinois! The sun is shining, the wind isn’t blowing (something kind of unusual here on the prairie) and the temperature is almost perfect for a winter day. I’ll be going for a walk this afternoon so I can cross “spend time outdoors almost every day” off my list for today. Before I do that, I want to share some of the lessons I learned in 2019.
Lessons from 2019
I have turned into a goal setting, list making DREAMER-something totally new for me. What about you? Do you have lists and goals and dreams for the new year? I’m all bubbly on the inside about the goodness of the Lord even as we age and the world wants to turn us out to pasture.
There is even FREEDOM in that. Can I get a witness?
My One Little Word for 2020 is “Intentional” and I’ll have a blogpost written soon about that, but before moving on, I did a month by month reflection of 2019. I wanted to take time to be grateful and acknowledge all the blessings God has showered down on us in the past 365 days before thinking about the next 365.
I won’t bore you with the entire list, but I do want to encourage you to make your own. God is good!!!! And it is so encouraging to ACKNOWLEDGE it.
Since I would LOVE to know what you learned this year, I will share at least some of my lessons.
Reflecting on 30 Lessons from 2019
- God’s timing is perfect. Let him take care of things and TRUST HIM.
- Gratitude is EVERYTHING and it is MY JOB. God uses it to change us from the inside out.
- My brain is going to focus on something. Give it something productive to think about instead of getting stuck in a worry-loop
- Say YES and figure it out later, whatever “it” is!
- Treasure hunt in my past.
- Stop rehearsing negativity.
- Using The MODEL changes things!
- Lots of good things are on the other side of FEAR!
- People are mainly good.
- Doubt and Insecurity and people pleasing are issues of PRIDE. Yuck.
More Reflections….
- Obedience is best.
- I spend too much time mindlessly scrolling FB and IG.
- There is something inside me that starts to resist as soon as I make a decision to move forward in an area.
- I cannot control other people…their opinions, their responses, their actions.
- I’m God’s daughter, and that comes with privileges.
- It is ok to “fail”….failing forward is possible and the way to eventual success.
- Our stories are key to sharing how God is moving in our lives.
- My brain tries to prove me right. What I am looking for, I will find. So stop looking for rejection, being ignored or being left out.
- I can choose to stop living from my limitations and start living from my gifts.
- Let God take care of the outcomes.
- The more we give, the more HE gives.
- Things that may seem weird may be just right!
- If you need help, ask. Talk to a counselor. Get it off your chest in a safe place and get some advice from an impartial person.
- It isn’t too late to teach this dog new tricks!
- Learning new things makes me so happy.
- It’s ok to say “no” to one thing so I can say “yes” to something else
- Family is EVERYTHING
- Listen more.
- My words have power and I need to use them wisely.
- Transformation is my birthright through Christ.
- Count the cost. Am I willing to do the hard thing, the challenging thing?
- My thoughts matter.
- A poverty mindset does not honor God. He abundantly blesses us and is not ashamed of it. Open my hands.
- I can have a fixed mindset or a growth mindset and I’m creating my life by the one I choose.
- Stop picturing myself failing and start picturing myself succeeding.
- Do the work, encourage people and leave the results to God.
- Memorize scripture and practice it.
- Fresh air and being outside every day are key.
- Look at each person as someone created in the image of God.
- Be a “There you are!” person.
Truth….
Making this list was really fun, but I hope you realize that many of those lessons came from the school of hard knocks. They weren’t all wrapped up with pretty paper and a nice card. I’m thankful for each one though!
Lots of resources were helpful to me in 2019, but one really stands out. I have listened to many podcasts and read several books by John Maxwell this year and even heard him speak in person. https://www.johnmaxwell.com/blog/
Here is what I learned in 2017 https://avintagefarmwife.com/reflections-worked-2017/
Socrates said, ” The unexamined life is not worth living.”
Michaelangelo said at age 87, “I am still learning.”
Those quotes really speak to me. How about you?
Thanks for reading, friends. I would love to know what you learned this year, so would you share something with us in the comments?
Your list is a great one…as a two I can relate to several of these 😉 I hadn’t taken the time to reflect on what lessons I learned this year, but for certain there were many. It was one of our hardest as a family. Here are a few off the top of my head 😀Number one, that joy and sorrow can coexist. Two, it’s not about me. Three, I can live with far less than I ever imagined and be very content. Four, I am a beauty seeker and Five, God is always faithful.
Thanks for your post, it has made me stop and think. I have so much to the grateful for! ♥️
Kathy! I loved your list and hope that 2020 is an easier one for you and your family. Thank you so much for sharing with us!
I saw your IG the other day, but just now getting to the blog. I like both quotes at the end. I can remember when I was working full time I somehow had the mistaken idea that when I retired I would just be at some mysterious point in life. Oh the idea that we become stagnant or quit learning and growing is just hilarious now. I like you list. I love to pull out a piece of paper and let the brainstormed list of things I learned and want to work on flow at the end of each year. I think it is important to stop at points along the way and reflect and evaluate. I like you list. I have many that are just simple things along the way in the home, but some a little deeper. I will only add one. I have been praying for my adult son and some choices made along the way. God laid on my heart one day early in last year to start working on myself as much as praying for him to change or do things differently. Oh my… that was so true. When I finally started working on my heart things changed in ways I couldn’t even imagine. God does have it all under control.
Here’s to never being to old to learn and listen.
Sandy-We had a very similar experience upon quitting fulltime work. I am busier than ever, only this time I can so no to things that I don’t want to do or when I am just worn out and need a break. Freedom is amazing!!! I hope I follow through with my monthly evaluation and reflection because I think it is very important. God has changed the way I am praying, too! Isn’t that interesting that he did that or both of us?