Let This Year Help You Plan for the New Year

As the year draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to pause, breathe, and take a gentle look back. In this episode, we’re reflecting on the past year — the blessings, the lessons, and even the challenges — and discovering how each one can help guide us into the new year with peace, gratitude, and purpose.

Join me for a simple, heartfelt conversation about slowing down, finding meaning in the moments you’ve lived, and carrying faith and wisdom forward. Because sometimes, the best way to prepare for what’s ahead is by honoring what’s already been.

Transcript

Episode 196 - How Can this Year Help You in the New Year?

It’s that time again — the close of another year. The air feels just a little bit different, doesn’t it? There’s something about December that makes us stop for a moment, take a deep breath, and look back over our shoulder at everything that’s happened. Maybe we’ve had a year filled with blessings — a few dreams realized, new relationships, new growth. Or maybe, like many of us, it’s been a mix — some joy, some loss, some lessons we didn’t exactly ask for, but that we can now see were necessary.

Either way, before we turn the calendar to a new year, it’s worth pausing. Not rushing to make resolutions or set goals or run headlong into January. But instead, to take a gentle moment to reflect. To ask ourselves a few simple questions — ones that don’t overwhelm us or pile on any guilt, but that invite peace and understanding.

 A few of those questions could be: How did this year shape you? What did you learn — about life, about faith, about yourself? What did you discover you truly value? And maybe most importantly, how can all of that — the good and the not-so-good — help you in the year ahead?

Reflection is a beautiful part of simple living. It’s slowing down long enough to notice. To take inventory - not just of the pantry or the garden or the to-do list, but of the heart. It’s looking at the past with gratitude and a bit of grace, rather than regret. Because when we pause and reflect, we start to see things a little clearer — what really mattered, what we could have let go of sooner, and where we might like to grow next.

You see, one of the simplest ways to prepare for the year ahead isn’t by adding more to your list. It’s by looking back and learning from what’s already been lived. Every season leaves us something — a lesson tucked in the ordinary, a truth hidden in the struggle, or a blessing we might’ve overlooked when life was busy.

Today, I want to invite you to join me in a gentle reflection. Not a complicated one — you don’t need a fancy journal or a quiet retreat. All you really need is just a few quiet moments, maybe with a cup of coffee or tea, where you can breathe and think back over this past year.

Start with gratitude. It’s such a powerful place to begin. What moments from this year made you smile — the kind of deep smile that comes from your soul? Was it a morning sunrise that reminded you of God’s goodness? A meal shared with family, where laughter filled the kitchen? Maybe it was a quiet answer to prayer, or an unexpected blessing when you needed it most.

Sometimes gratitude hides in the smallest places — a neighbor’s kindness, a warm fire on a cold day, or the strength you didn’t realize you had until you needed it. Take a moment to name those blessings. Write them down if you’d like. Let them settle in your heart. Gratitude has a way of softening the rough edges of memory and reminding us that even in hard years, goodness is never too far away.

Once you’ve taken stock of the blessings, think about the lessons. Every year teaches us something — even if we didn’t enjoy the class. Maybe you learned that you’re stronger than you thought. Or that slowing down doesn’t mean falling behind — it means catching up with what really matters. Maybe you discovered the beauty of saying no, or the peace that comes with setting boundaries. Or perhaps you learned that you don’t have to do everything, and that rest is not a reward — it’s a rhythm we’re meant to live by.

Whatever those lessons are, hold them gently. You don’t have to have mastered them yet. Sometimes it takes more than one year for a truth to really take root. But recognizing it is the first step. These lessons become the stepping stones into the new year — they guide us toward wiser choices, more intentional living, and a deeper kind of peace.

And of course, not every part of the year was easy. We’ve all had moments we’d rather not repeat — times of uncertainty, disappointment, or loss. It’s okay to acknowledge those too. They’re part of your story. But here’s the beauty — even in the hardest seasons, there’s something to be gained. Maybe it’s empathy, or patience, or faith that deepened when nothing else made sense. Maybe it’s realizing you can let go of perfection, or that you’re capable of beginning again.

When we reflect with grace, we begin to see that even the tough times have purpose. They build us — quietly, tenderly, even when it hurts. And those experiences, while not always pleasant, can become the very strength we carry into the next year.

Now, think about the simple joys that carried you through this past year. Maybe it was tending your garden, or baking bread on a Saturday afternoon. Maybe it was a favorite hymn or verse that reminded you of God’s presence. Maybe it was gathering with family, sitting on the porch, or walking through your neighborhood and greeting friends. These are the simple threads that weave the tapestry of a meaningful life. As you look to the new year, you might ask — how can I hold onto these moments more intentionally? How can I make room for what truly brings peace and joy?

Simplifying isn’t always about clearing out the clutter in our closets — though that can help. It’s also about clearing out the noise in our hearts. Letting go of unrealistic expectations. Releasing the rush. Choosing what matters most. Maybe this year taught you that slower days lead to more meaningful ones. Or that connection is more important than perfection. Carry that lesson forward. Let it shape the way you plan your days in the year ahead.

And because this is a season of new beginnings, it’s natural to look ahead — to dream, to hope, to plan. But before you set resolutions or write goals, take a moment to ask yourself: what do I want more of in my life? Not more stuff or more busyness — but more peace, more joy, more faith, more time for what fills my soul. And just as importantly — what do I want less of? Less hurry, less comparison, less striving to be what I’m not called to be.

A simple life is a life built on intention. It’s not about doing without — it’s about doing with purpose. So, when you reflect on this past year, think about what made you feel most alive, most connected, most in tune with your faith and your values. Those are your guideposts. They’ll help you simplify in the best kind of way — not by subtracting joy, but by clearing space for it.

And as you look ahead, don’t forget to bring faith with you. God’s hand has been in every moment of this year — even the ones you didn’t understand. He’s been weaving your story with care, shaping your days with both grace and purpose. As you reflect, take comfort in knowing that He’s already gone before you into the new year. You can trust that what’s coming will be filled with opportunities to grow, to serve, to love, and to live simply and well.

Maybe this year wasn’t what you expected. Maybe it was better. Maybe it was harder. But either way, it has given you something precious — experience. Wisdom. Perspective. It’s built something in you that you didn’t have before. And all of that — the gratitude, the lessons, the joys, and even the challenges — can help you walk into the new year with confidence and peace.

As you sit with your thoughts and sip your tea, let this reflection be gentle. You don’t need to fix everything or plan every detail. Just open your heart to what you’ve learned and what you’ve loved. Let this year speak softly to you — reminding you of who you’re becoming and what truly matters.

And when you’re ready, lift your eyes toward the horizon of a brand-new year. Don’t rush — just breathe it in. There’s something beautiful about beginning again — about knowing you can take all that’s been and let it guide what’s to come.

So, here’s to the simple lessons, the quiet blessings, and the faith that’s carried you through. Here’s to slowing down, reflecting, and choosing what matters most. And here’s to walking into a new year with gratitude for what’s been, and hope for what’s yet to be.

Because maybe the best way to step into the future is by honoring the past — and letting this year help you shape the next one, with simplicity, grace, and faith.