The Quiet Ways We Grow

The end of the year creates a buzz – all the celebrations, the race to finish goals, and a desire to start the new year off right. That buzz used to feel like pressure as it was a reminder of everything unresolved and everything to do. But now I see it differently, beneath all that activity is a shared heartfelt experience, a pause between chapters, a place to feel the heavier movements of the year, and the hopeful possibility of what’s ahead.

As I reflect on my year, there were a lot of transitions that are still in transition. At times, the transitions feel like a prolonged pending state – that’s frustrating and exhausting. And other times it just feels like life is doing its thing. I say that not to minimize the hard feelings and the efforts, but instead to shed light on the quiet ways growth is in fact happening. For me, it means being present – I’m experiencing that as appreciating what’s in front of me, celebrating what’s going well, and taking gentle moments to close my eyes and slow down my breathing.

These are the quiet ways life keeps inviting us to live, and to embrace our growth.

Perhaps this is where our experiences meet. We’re each navigating transitions that don’t necessarily resolve on our timelines or the timeline of the year ending. We have hopes that we can’t see yet but are shaping our days for when they do become reality. And we have seasons that ask us to show up anyway.

So as the year comes to a close and we welcome the new year, I invite you to take a moment with me to reflect – what does being present look like in this season for you, and what are the quiet ways you’re noticing your growth right now, whether at work or in life?

Thank you for being here with me. Writing these reflections and sharing them out is a reminder to me that none of us are navigating transitions alone. I hope this serves as a reminder to you as well. However this time shakes out for you, I hope you find moments of presence and gentleness as we start the new year.