Reflection

Reflections on December

Retirement Reflections

I didn’t realize how much I love December until I began writing about it. It’s not the glitter and the glamour but the much deeper offerings this month brings.

December gives us a clean break from our routines. It invites us to reflect, to celebrate, and to close the cover on the past so that we can refresh and begin anew.

From holiday gatherings, to family dinners, to cards and letters, December nudges us to connect with one another. If we allow it, the joy of the season can become infectious.

I love holiday traditions, both old and new. A few years back, inspired by this video, I gifted a candle to several close friends. The following year, the exact same candle that I had given to one friend was gifted back to me – in its exact same wrapping! And so it began. I have just regifted that candle back (in its original packaging) to that same friend. God willing, we will both be able to keep this tradition going for many more years to come.

My Words of the Year for 2023 were Connection, Forgiveness and Kindness. Unlike previous years, I chose to keep them private until now. Together, these three small words provided powerful focus and direction. Keeping them private, moved me from the external to the internal. With surprising ease, these words soon became my daily mantra. I seldom began a day without reflecting upon them and they quickly helped to clarify my priorities. They were so effective that I thought I might keep them as is for next year. But recently, a new word has nudged itself into my brain which I believe will not only continue but further extend the intentionality and motivation inspired by this year’s WOTY.

The birth of Christ, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, Bodhi Day, Chinese New Year and many more cultural and faith-based traditions invite us to contemplate, connect, respect, forgive and to take our own small steps towards kindness and peace. This, to me, makes December the most cherished month of all.
*image source: Facebook.

What does December mean to you? Do you use a word/intention/resolution to help guide your decisions and actions? What’s been on your calendar?

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Cohosts: Jo @ And Anyways, Debbie @ Deb’s World, Sue @ Women Living Well After 50 and Donna @ RetirementReflections.
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Published by Retirement Reflections

Prior to retirement, I lived and worked in Beijing China for fourteen years (Middle School Principal/Deputy Director at The Western Academy of Beijing). Leaving international life behind, my husband and I retired to Vancouver Island in June 2015. To document both this transition and our new adventures, ‘Retirement Reflections’ was born. I hope that you enjoy reading these reflections, and will be willing to share your own.

71 thoughts on “Reflections on December”

  1. A lovely post, thanks. I like December as well, especially for connecting. There are people I only connect with in December and it is so good to catch up with them. Your words for 2023 are perfect. I didn’t choose one word but a statement – “savour the moment” Something I’m not good at and needed to work on. I think I am better at it but could use more work.

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    1. Hi, Darlene – ‘Savour the Moment’ is a wonderful phrase. This is a practice that I very much believe in. Like you, I think I am getting a bit better at it — but more practice (and gentle reminders) are still needed on my part. Wishing you a wonderful year ahead!

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  4. Hello Donna, what a lovely tradition you have started with your friend and the candle. Thank you for sharing your words of the year and although you kept them private you have definitely been ‘living’ them. Thank you for your friendship personally and in the blogging world and I wish you every happiness in 2024. I love co-hosting #WBOYC? with you, Deb and Jo. xx

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    1. Thanks so much, Sue. Your friendship means the world to me. I greatly appreciate cohosting with you. Without these linkup commitments I am not sure that I would still be blogging. I am very pleased that I still am. It will be 8 years as of this coming January 1. 😀

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  6. Your story of the candle made me laugh, Donna! Before I noticed the video link, it was the same SNL skit that came to mind. I love that you’ve turned it into a tradition with your friend. December to me is a cooling down after all the hustle and bustle of the year. The holidays, of course, bring their own chaos, but soon the stillness of January will come and I personally can’t wait. 😊

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  7. December does take on a different feeling to the rest of the year. Parties, charity, winding down, celebration. Have a lovely New Yearb #WBOYC

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  8. Your words so eloquently articulate how I feel about December. A time of connection (my WOTY), traditions, and our hope for peace. Those 3 words were your guiding light and you definitely appear to live by those and gratitude. I feel so lucky to have developed this blogging friendship with you. All the best in 2024, thanks for hosting. Bernie

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  12. Hi Donna – I love that final thought about how so many of our traditions lead towards peace and contemplation. Your pocket words were lovely – are you going to share your 2024 word or keep it in your pocket again? I needed assistance to drill down to my WOTY for 2024 – I just couldn’t find the right one – but I think I’ve nailed it now and I’m looking forward to it guiding me. Loved seeing all your Chrissy photos and I hope next year is a joyful one xx

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  13. December is different isn’t it? For teacher me it’s always been about ‘the end of the school year’..we have school from late January to around mid December, with 3 holiday breaks of around 2 weeks after 10 weeks of term. I may be retired but my family are still very much part of a school routine. It’s also a HOT, humid and sometimes wet month…and this December is proving that so. I loved reading about your December and WOTY too. I value this link up and blogging friendships and will be back in 2024. Warm wishes Denyse x

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  14. Hi Donna, this is a lovely reflection on December. I must admit that this year, I crawled through the last week of work. The aftercare from my boys operations on 5 Dec and a work deadline for the 14th nearly killed me 😊.i am feeling much better now after some rest. My new word for 2024 is fortitude 💖

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  15. Lovely post Donna thank you. For me, December invariably shifts between busy-ness and quiet. A special month as I now reflect on it. A worthwhile focus for me will be Peace. A healthy happy and joyous 2024 to you and family.

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  16. Hi Donna – I love the three words that you have been carrying in your heart this year. They are certainly powerful words that could bring so much peace and comfort to the word if all humans could embrace them. I hope you had a peaceful and joyful Christmas xx

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  17. That sounds like such a fun new tradition! I do find that traditions are sometimes started rather unexpectedly and I try not to take them for granted while they last since sometimes they can be rather fleeting. It sounds like you had some really wonderful and powerful words guiding your year!

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    1. Hi, Joanne – I greatly agree with you about traditions. Many of them are begun unexpectedly and they each last for various amounts of time. I hope that your MIL is doing well and that your cruise plans are still sailing ahead!

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  19. Donna, this is a beautiful post. I hadn’t thought about the practice of choosing a word for the new year, but thanks to you and I am now pondering. Wishing for you and yours a 2024 filled with good health and the gift of being happy in your daily.

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    1. Hi, Bernadette – I originally wasn’t sure that a ‘word of the year’ would be my kind of thing. I was surprised and delighted with how well they have worked — this year especially. Keeping my word private helped me to keep the focus internal – that wouldn’t be for everyone but it greatly helped me.

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  20. December – “It invites us to reflect, to celebrate, and to close the cover on the past so that we can refresh and begin anew….nudges us to connect with one another.” Yes & yes. I’m a little pagan in my regard to Christmas celebrations but I do revel in the end of a year & the anticipation of another; in the celebration of the coming of the light; in the opportunity for reflection beginning with the condensed Christmas letter to those close to me. The winter solstice is a highlight for me, celebrated with an outdoor fire. Follow that with my son’s birthday on Dec 25. I remember distinctly what I was doing on Christmas day 47 yrs ago! I had announced the pregnancy to his dad with “Guess what you’re getting for Christmas!” The 2023 WOTY was FORWARD in response to the sense of neutral I experienced coming out of the pandemic restrictions. Did I fulfill that intention? 6 of 11 items on the to-do list were accomplished. In the words of my SIL, there’s always a list of things left undone; better yet, to be continued. I worked on some personal growth issues. I’m coming to terms with my aging mother’s decline & being the main caregiver/advocate. It’s been an interesting journey. Isn’t life. So, to be continued. Happy New Year to you & Richard, Donna.

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    1. Hi, Mona – I love learning more and more about you through your detailed and beautifully written comments. Our eldest son is also 47 years old (birthday in April) and our youngest son in 35. I agree that items left on the list simply reminds us to continue the good that we have begun. After all, isn’t each of us a work in progress? Wishing you a wonderful year ahead!

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  21. My wife and I always enjoy December. The celebration of Christmas with family is the highlight of the month. It is a great time to reflect and thing of the new year. By the end of December, we are tiring of Christmas and put all the decorations back in the attic and look forward to the new year. Happy New Year!

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  23. Lovely post, lovely Christmas tradition, lovely word(s) to live 2023 by. Thank you for your friendship and connection – here’s to more of the same in 2024.

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  24. Thanks for this lovely reflective post Donna. All best wishes to you and family for 2024. I can see how giving or paying attention to ideas or words or constructs gives them energy. The only word uppermost in mind for me right now is peace. ❤️

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  25. Hi Donna, I love your three words ‘Connection, Forgiveness and Kindness’ and the way you kep them in your pocket until now but used them each and every day! That’s what WOTY are for to guide us along -whether we shout them from the rooftop or keep them quiet within us – they help us focus. Your post is lovely, just like you! Thanks for all your support and I greatly value our friendship. xx

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  26. Those are some lovely words to focus on during the year. You’re right that December is a lot about connection and reflection – connection with friends and family, and reflect on the year that passed. The thought of closing the cover of the past is wonderful!! I’ve had a rough year this year so it feels very relevant and comforting to think of it like that.
    I wish you the best as the new year begins!

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  27. Donna,
    The hilarious video reminded me of the old Johnny Carson joke he told often. Johnny told us that there really is only one fruit cake, and it gets passed around the world every year at Christmas. I’ve given away a few in my time. Your post is lovely. Helen and I send you and Richard sincere wishes for a healthy and prosperous New Year. Please stay in touch. Joe

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    1. Hi, Joe and Helen – You know, I always believed that Johnny was right about Fruitcake. It’s completely plausible to me that there really has only ever been one Christmas Fruitcake and it keeps getting passed on from person to person. I certainly pass mine on!
      Wishing you both a very happy new year ahead!

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  28. Hi Donna, Lovely post and words of the year. December is a month of transitions and festivities to me: Transition from fall to winter, from current year to a new year, from short to longer daylight hours, and several cultural celebrations. Happy New Year to you and Richard!

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  32. Donna, like you I enjoy December and the togetherness it brings of family and friends, the moments of celebrations and joy of giving and receiving. Your three words for 2023 are wonderful and I am glad that they gave you so much focus and serenity during the year. Wishing you a peaceful and Happy 2024! hugs, Annika xx

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    1. Hi, Janet – When I gave my friends each candles (along with the SNL video clip) I never realized that one friend would make it an ongoing tradition. That significantly added to the pleasure of the candle giving. ‘Peace’ was my WOTY for 2022 and served me well. I have a brand new word for 2024.

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  34. Hi Donna,

    I’m glad those three words worked so well for you – and now you have a fourth one to focus and reflect on.

    My life is going way too fast and is way too busy. While I can probably benefit from some reflection, 2024 has now started and I still don’t have a moment to myself – to read, write, or just do nothing.

    If there’s anything I should strive for this year, it’s to take it a bit easier. For that reason, we agreed to run a small campground in Bolivia for a month. But, you guessed it…. Instead of this being an opportunity to sit still, as hoped for, we have added an extra job to our daily lives, as the place has been jam packed and everyone needs help with something.

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    1. Hi, Liesbet – You lead such a rich, full and active life that I am often out of breath just reading about it. ❤ Running a small campground in Bolivia sounds like an incredible adventure. I greatly look forward to following this journey. Sending big hugs to you, Mark and Maya.

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  35. God bless you so much Donna! I would really like to subscribe to blog today because of how much I love the type of points you bring up, and these are points that really lift my spirits in ways that I haven’t felt in a very long time. How did you become such a talented writer?

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