Entering a new year is an exciting event. The past year is put behind us and we focus on the possibilities of the next year. It feels like being given an empty slate. A time to dream new dreams.
Each New Year’s Eve, my family sits down and we work on some type of project that I have prepared. This is the first year that we were not able to spend New Year’s all together, so we will actually be doing this the first weekend in January. I’m really looking forward to putting 2018 to rest. It was a really tough year for me, losing both my mom and my youngest brother. Just when we seemed to be ready to get back up again, we were knocked right back down.
Over the years, we’ve tried many different activities, and I’d like to share some of them with you. If you’ve never sat down as a family and done any of these, I encourage you to give them a try. Sitting around the table or on the floor, all together, working and dreaming and planning, is an unforgettable bonding time.
Quite a few years, we’ve made bucket lists for the upcoming year. I encourage everyone to consider adding items to their list that may include: places to go, people to visit, activities to participate in, educational goals to meet, books to read, projects to be completed, etc. There really is no right or wrong way to do this. It’s always fun to bring this back on the following New Year’s Eve and see just how many can be checked off. We each kept them hanging in our bedrooms where they’d serve as reminders at times we may need motivation. I know when I was feeling extremely discouraged, remembering these items I really hoped to achieve kept me moving forward.
One year, we made a blessing jar. Each Friday(well most at least), we wrote down a blessing on a piece of paper and put them in a jar. Then on New Year’s Eve, we took them out one by one to help us remember just how blessed we’d been the previous year.
Last year was my favorite activity that we’ve ever done. We made vision boards. I’d heard of these for years, but this was the first time I’ve made one. Oh, how I loved listening to the kiddos talk and dream and laugh as we made these. Also, the encouraging words they were saying to each other made my heart melt. I have no idea why this day of making these was so special, but I’ll never forget this! I’d been collecting magazines for a few months in anticipation of doing this and man was it worth it. During my darkest days of this last year, I’d look at it and sometimes it was the only thing that got me out of bed and moving. So thankful for the memories this board represents.
This year, we are going to try something new(although the kids don’t know it yet). We are going to come up with a word for 2019. I will have a canvas for each child that they will paint. Then they will put their word for the year in the middle and write other synonyms all around it. I am really excited to give this a try! I’ve heard people talking about how much this has helped them and I feel it’ll be the perfect way to start this year.
I also plan to use some of this time to work on my new planner for the year! A previous post goes more in depth about my planners.
https://learningisawayoflife.com/to-plan-or-not-to-plan-that-is-the-question/
What are some of your traditions for starting off the new year on the right foot?
I love that your family does a creative activity on NYE. Dream boards are my favorite! For starting off the year, I like to write down all my goals for the year. I call them declarations though so that they become more of a demand that I will achieve it. Sharing that list with friends/significant other helps keep me accountable too.
I love this… I would love to be able to get my teens to do vision boards with me! And I especially love the idea of writing down a single word for 2019. I’ll be doing that tomorrow!
I am so excited to do it this weekend. They don’t know what to expect so they haven’t been “brainstorming” their words yet! Can’t wait to see what they come up with.
THIS is good parenting!
I had never heard of a “family” creating a vision board together.
What a UNIQUE idea!
I love that you have a grateful and/or future-oriented family activity as the center of your celebration! ❤️ Sorry to hear about your losses. I lost my mom suddenly 2 years ago, which is partly the reason that I am a woman on fire for doing whatever it takes to realize the vision my husband and I had for our lives when we met over 30 years ago. We’ve just done something similar to a bucket list (and created a post for it); it’s called “19 for 2019.” We chose 19 random, but important goals to check off the list for this year and will revisit it at the end of the year.? Thanks for sharing an awesome family tradition.
Dealing with unexpected loss is so difficult. I’m glad you were able to use it as a catalyst for change. I absolutely love your “19 for 2019” idea!
Reading this made me look back to my younger years. I wish my parents had the time to bond with us.
Me too, I totally understand, and I think that is the missing piece in my puzzle and why I try extra hard with my children.
Totally copying your blessings jar idea! I’m personally working harder on being more positive and that is an excellent aid.