Lessons from 2017

Lessons from 2017: I struggled to write down a list of lessons for 2017. At the start of the year I had a really clear list of things I wanted to achieve that year, like sell the spoon, pay off debts, etc. At the end of the year, I had achieved most of it and didn’t feel any better or different.

I had written a bucket list for the year and put it on the back of the toilet door so I would see it every morning. (see photo)

I started with the end in mind by posing the question – If it was 31/12/17 what would an awesome year look like?

I also wanted to remind myself to focus on my goals, and what’s important to me, rather than constantly looking at everyone else’s success and comparing myself.

One key theme of the year was about slowing down and saying no –  to myself just as much as others. I got critical with my time with notes like this:

It’s easy to get depressed about not measuring up when you read about the success of others, or constantly think I need to do more
and

‘…..Don’t look back; don’t re-read old emails, fret, and dwell on past decisions. Put my best into what I do; trust it’s right and focus forward.

Avoid activities that suck up time and leave me stressed. Point people in the right direction and help but don’t be the owner and driver of these types of projects.

Focus on kiwiHomes – that is where momentum, growth, and fun is coming from. It’s easier to make decisions about what to do next from a position of momentum.

Get out of bed and the house earlier in the morning….’

And this quote that I jotted down stuck with me:

“It is not that we have so little time but that we lose so much.”

“People are frugal in guarding their personal property; but as soon as it comes to squandering time, they are most wasteful of the one thing in which it is right to be stingy.”

This blog post made me think: http://waitbutwhy.com/2015/12/the-tail-end.html

It really put into perspective that there is a limited amount of time for the activities we do, and, rather than just coasting through, slow down and appreciate each moment. Of course, this is easier said than done, but one of the ways I applied it was to look for the bright side of tough things.

When the kids woke up in the middle of the night and wanted a hug is a good example of this. I would think, “They are not going to want this forever. How many hugs do I have left with them?”

The key takeaway from the year seemed to revolve around time. I wanted to go into 2018 being more purposeful with my time. So I asked myself the folllowing:

How we spend it – so carefully in some areas and so reckless in others.

How engaged are we with our surroundings?

How many things are we doing for the last time without realizing it (like holding our kids hand on the way to school)?