It’s no secret that this year has been…challenging. Just a year ago the first COVID vaccines were rolling out to front-line caregivers and those most at risk, and I shared in the general optimism that in 2021 we’d get past this Pandemic thing. 

Thus, my plan for 2021 included all the ideas that had been abandoned in the wreckage of 2020, plus a few new items. Yes, it was going to be a Perfect Year!

Here we sit at the end of our second Pandemic Year, newly familiar with the Greek alphabet (alpha, beta, gamma, delta <yada yada> omicron!), languishing, the Hybrid Workplace, and supply chain woes.

After all that, I’m happy to see 2021 in the rearview mirror. Done is even better than Perfect! 

Part 2: Transitions and Intentions

We human beings love to watch things in transition: sunrises and sunsets, the emergence of spring flowers, the foliage of autumn leaves, and the passing of one year to the next. The Roman god Janus (the doorkeeper, namesake of January) captures this with his two faces, one looking back and one looking ahead. 

Let’s do that, shall we? 

In this section I offer several tools to help you take stock of the past year and set intentions for the next.  

My Annual Planning Kit

Reflections from a Master Coach

1.  How has the past year been a gift to me? (It’s been a non-stop dumpster fire AND you’re still here. What have you learned, where did you stretch, what happened that might not have in a less tumultuous year?)
2. What’s been a comfort to me? (What are the silver linings you’ve discovered? Because you could not do ABC, what XYZs emerged instead? A friend was able to spend two months with his terminally ill father before he died, because work-from-home.)
3. Who do I love? (Go big on this one. Family & friends, of course. AND what about artists, leaders, poets, authors, chefs, role models, anyone else who’s made your life richer?)
4. How am I a gift to the world? (Even if you impact only a tiny corner of the world, you DO! In what ways do you GIVE more than GET? Take credit for that)

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Remember, Leadership is not about a title: Anyone can be a leader who holds a space for others to pause, reflect & learn, and design a future that they will love. 

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Part 4: Thanks, and Third Decade Ahead

And that’s a wrap on Happiness #201. In January I’ll start my third decade of blogging. When I began this ezine 20 years ago I opened with a peculiar note: here’s how many words you’ll read and minutes you’ll need to invest. After posting #200 last month I paused to do some Math: I’ve written over 410,000 words about Happiness, Leadership, Coaching, and perspectives on life.  Thanks for reading along. 

Be Merry and Happy as you race into the New Year! 

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Happiness Principle #8 is Stimulate Your Development, which is what you’re doing when you create a plan and set goals. For even more ideas to support your Happiness, Post this summary of The 13 Principles of Happiness on your fridge or wall and try one every month of the new year!