Before the year slips quietly into memory, I pause—coffee in hand—to remember what went right.
2025 says adios. 2026 waits patiently at the door.
Every year on December 31, I go to my favorite coffee shop with a notebook and a pen—no technology allowed for this project. I order my coffee, find a quiet table, and begin remembering all the good things that happened during the year. One by one, I write them down in cursive, numbering each entry.
It was easier when my wife was alive. We would brainstorm together, and there was a beautiful synergy between us—one memory sparking another, light calling forth more light. I still remember the good moments easily, but now the process is a bit slower. And that’s okay.
Here’s the surprising part: as I write, a huge smile spreads across my face and stays there the entire time. I imagine other coffee shop patrons wondering if they can get whatever the barista put in my drink. (LOL.)
This little ritual serves another purpose. During the coming year, when things don’t go the way I hoped, I return to that gratitude list. It reminds me—again and again—that things have worked out before, and they will work out again.
Happy New Year to you—and to all those you love.
Something to Think About
What might change in your life if you ended the year by writing down everything that went right?
Happy New Year to You and All those You Love.