There is a first time for everything. I’ve tried to put into words what made 2015 a special year for me. Here is my A-Z “Jahresrückblick”. (I prefer the German word for “year-in-review”.
A
Appreciation
I’ve always been thankful but never put much thought into it.
That changed in 2015. I took a lot of time to appreciate all those little moments. Recognizing those has simply made life more beautiful.
B
Blog
2015 was the year I started to blog.
Writing has proved to be quite cathartic.
A way to find my way again.
It wasn’t so easy to decide which language to write in.
My native tongue is Dutch but by now I dream in German yet, I ended up picking English. Not a choice I regret, but I did learn rather fast that to write better English, I’d have to read more English books. So I did, and I am by far not done yet. Not with reading, nor with writing :) I’ve also taking a writing course that I can highly recommend.
With the start of my new job in November, I haven’t written that much anymore. In 2016, I want to get into the habit of posting regularly again. Starting today :)
C
Character
#BeYou, it’s so easily said but who are we?
Let’s not make it more complex than it is either.
I have always been me, but it feels like being, even more me, than ever before :)
It’s reaching that moment when you can smile at yourself.
When you can look yourself in the eye and say “you’re quite ok”.
“Im reinen mit sich selbst.” To be at one with oneself.
Not cocky or arrogant but simply happy – a certain inner alignment.
D
Dance
Hans Bos said: “While I dance I cannot judge, I cannot hate, I cannot separate Myself from Life. I can only be joyful & whole. That is why I dance!”
Perhaps a bit theatrical but I’d say last year was a dance.
Life is a dance.
E
Embrace
My word of the year 2015
I wanted to get the whole world to embrace.
I still do :)
Because there is nothing more beautiful than feeling embraced.
Perhaps that sounds cheesy.
But sometimes the most cheesy things are nonetheless terribly true.
It’s about making people feel worthy, welcome, included, accepted.
I am not saying everyone will ever accept and love everyone.
I don’t need to be loved by everyone.
But if everyone would feel embraced by someone, the world would look different.
F
Feelings
The elephant and the rider
The head and the heart
The year 2015 was intense
But in a very good way.
Like feeling very alive & aware.
G
Gratitude
It all started with appreciation.
What followed I’d call gratitude.
Adding it all up together
The sum of things
That warm & cozy feeling inside.
Ready to pay it forward.
H
Hello
“A simple hello could lead to a million things.”
Ask Adele :)
For me, it’s more about the beauty of new beginnings.
Starting a new job and leaving my old one after eight years certainly was a big thing.
But it was also the right thing to do, and I am very excited I did.
I
Intuition
At first, I wrote “Incite”. My big ambition :)
I want to do something that inspires others and makes them want to join in.
But I am still not quite clear on what that is :D
Till then I’ll let intuition lead.
Like Steve Job said: Sometimes the dots only connect afterwards.
I trust in that.
J
Jippie-ei-jeh
Hurray to life
A clear yes to following the wild part of your heart
To make little “Freudesprünge” (Jumps of joy)
To be like a dog when he sees the ocean
That feeling :)
I’ve felt that quite often in 2015.
K
Kindness
Kindness is king
Always
No matter what the situation is like
Kindness is never wrong
Something to remind ourselves of every day.
During the past year, I’ve met a whole bunch of extremly kind people
In real life but also on Twitter/Social Media
I am very grateful for that.
We become more like the people we hang out with.
I think this is very true.
So at this point, a big thank you to my Twitter connections :)
L
Love
How do you spell love?
– Piglet
You don’t spell it
You feel it
– Pooh
2015 was a lovely year
M
Music
A song can take you places.
Like a book can as well.
When you don’t, have time to read,
then just listen,
and get carried away.
During 2015, I’ve created my first Monday playlist
And played it nearly every day :)
N
Now
To live in the moment
An art not many master
I’ve never meditated in the classical sense
But I’ve learned that when I dance – I am right here
In the present moment.
& at times where it’s just not appropriate to start dancing
A deep breath does the job as well :)
O
Older
I turned 40.
A few more grey hairs
A little more experience
Every age has it’s benefits
I’m very sure of that.
Older & wiser they say :)
P
Photography
I’ve always loved making pictures but with my new camera, this hobby has gotten another dimension.
I’ve started a photograhy course now, to be able to steer the camera better and get away from just trial & error. 2015 has set the scene, but there is a ton more to discover, and I’m very much looking forward to that.
Q
Quintessence
What is the quintessence of life?
A question I’ve never put much thought into.
And then suddently I did.
I’ve read many books this year.
“Men’s search for meaning” from Victor Frankl
“The woman who went to bed for a year” from Sue Townsend
“Time and the Art of Living” from Robert Grudin
“The happiness hypothesis” from Jonathan Haidt
“Everybody Matters” from Bob Chapman & Raj Sisodia
And many more.
What do I want to leave in this world?
I sure hope, I have some more time to find that out :)
But no matter how I turn things, I am proud of where I am at.
I have a wonderful family, great neighbours, friends & collegues.
To not disappoint, those people, that are closest to you, is one of the most important things in life.
R
Ripple
Everything we do creates a ripple.
I’ve realized that, more so, the past year, than before.
We can all create small ripples, and those will ripple on.
Every small contribution impacts the world at large.
Things don’t always have to be big, to be meaningfull.
Small acts matter, as they add up.
S
Sun
Even when the sun is not there
The sun is still there
We can be like the sun for others
Isn’t that a wonderful thought?
2015 was a sunny year.
T
Time
One of my most important takeaways from 2015;
time you’ve enjoyed wasting is not wasted.
Could I have done more?
Surely. The answer to that question is: always.
But it’s perfectly fine to take a pause here and there.
To live here and now without regrets.
& make time our friend, not our enemy.
U
Unstoppable
Someone told me last year I was unstoppable.
I considered that a compliment.
I like that feeling of breaking through barriers.
An inner drive that makes you continue, no matter what.
But I’ve also learned, that not everything has to happen immediately.
I’ve become more patient – hey :)
With myself and with others.
At least most of the time ;-D
V
View
We all have our own views.
But do we know what they are?
Something I’ve been poundering on in 2015
I would like to get more of my views on paper.
More writing to be done in 2016 . . .
W
Wonderland
Not a place I escape to
But a place I carry with me
One of the most beautiful realizations of 2015
I’d wish for everyone to find theirs.
Their own wonderland.
X
For me, the X stands for crossing things off
Like as in ticking the box
“Done that – been there.”
I don’t think I’ve crossed off that many things in 2015
I’ve started a lot of new things
But those have no endings, just beginnings
Perhaps that’s why my goal for 2016 is to create a bucket list :)
Y
Year
2015 had 365 days
2016 will have 366
I can’t help but think of what I’ll do with the extra day :)
Probably the same as with all the other ones.
Make each day count
Think I’ve done pretty well on that in 2015.
Z
Zoom
We own the camera
Through which we view our life
We decide where we put our focus
We can zoom in
Or zoom out
Broaden our horizons
Or narrow it down to something that catches our eye.
We can train ourselves
To see beauty
Everywhere.
Anywhere.
It is all there.
I wish everyone a superb 2016.
When I read this all again it sounds a bit like “Friede – Freude – Eierkuchen”, as if everything was just perfect. Like in a fairy tale. Well, I can assure my feet are both on the ground. And yes my kids do argue with another, I did cry a few tears here and there and stepped in some dog poop. But reality is a fascinating beast. To say we create it ourselves may be too extreme, but we sure hell can play with it. Just like my daughter learns how to play the piano, we can learn how to get in tune with our lives.
