Musings Vol. 192

All That Was

With a new year approaching, there can be a quiet urgency to move on, to leave the old behind as quickly as possible. Yet there is wisdom in lingering a moment longer, allowing space for the fullness of what we lived. When we do not pause to remember what was difficult, to grieve what was lost, and to integrate all that moved through us, we also dull our capacity to fully feel the joy, love, and victories. To be human is to be present with the whole of our experience. We are meant to feel all of it and life is not meant to be easy at all times. What unfolded this year may or may not have been our choice, yet it shaped us. It expanded our capacity to hold more, to meet life more fully.

This week, allow yourself to linger with the fullness of this year. What are the moments that felt heavy, and which were steeped in sweetness and joy? How did each one shape the way you meet life now? In what ways were you strengthened, softened, or expanded by what you moved through? Before the new year opens, give yourself permission to feel it all, without rushing toward what comes next. Each experience is a meaningful part of your journey. As you look back, see the version of yourself who stood at the threshold of this year. You carried yourself through every season, and now, you are emerging wiser. As the new year approaches, remember that this life, in all its complexity, is meant to be lived. And that, in itself, is a privilege.