An end and a beginning. Which do you see?
As the end of 2016 very quickly approaches, I see just that. An end. Finality. The finish line. But is it really? No. So, I find myself wondering.
– what did we do right?
– what did we succeed in?
– what did we make better?
– where did we grow?
– where do we need to do better?
– where do changes need to be made?
– where did we fall down?
– where did we fail?
The end of the year is a natural time for reflection and re-evaluation. But, did you notice that all of these statements have a “we” in them? There is a reason for that. I think of our family as a unit. We are a family and we look to help each other.
Still, what I do well affects others. What I fail at also affects them. So we are moving through this journey together. And when I evaluate and do better at my part in these things, I make our family stronger.
The end is clearly marked by the calendar but what if we took a new approach and looked at it solely as the beginning? This is my beginning. I am beginning a new set of goals. I am beginning a new year. A new outlook. An ending is often a sad time but beginnings are seen as opportunity. So take this new beginning as an opportunity for whatever it is you desire. And write those goals, or desires, down.
I tend to be very visual so I created these two little worksheets to help me think through the good, the bad, the ugly and to plan for where I can do better. I am going to post these in my notebook that I am beginning for Bible time/prayer time so that I see them often through the year and hopefully, it will help me. Remind me. Get me back on track when I wander. And help keep me accountable.
2016 In Review
2017 Goals
I am also tying the 2017 goals into my “one word” for the year – CRAVE. I will share more on that word next week, as I am still trying to work through all the ways I want to apply this in the next year.
Please print these and use them as you can see them benefitting you and your students or family. Please share, as well. All I ask is for you to link back to this page if you share them. Thank you!
At Home.
Linking this post up with the Homeschool Review Crew bloggers’ Reflecting on 2016 linkup.
Tagged: encouragement, free, life, parenting
At Home 
nice printables Lori. 🙂 I have to admit to being curious about what you crave and how you will apply that.
Thank you. I don’t do printables very often but I wanted something for the look back and forward. Crave just jumped at me during a devotional about a week ago and I have thought about it often. I am kind of excited to write about it.
Like you I am absolutely seeing this a beginning. Lovely printables too!
Oh, thank you! Happy beginnings!
Very nice printables! I don’t use printables all that often, but I may need to make an exception for these because I can see how they’d be useful for me. Looking forward to seeing what you’ll share about your word “Crave”.
Thank you. I don’t do the printable thing all that often but for some reason, these struck me as something I would definitely benefit from. Probably because I could see a way to apply them and keep up with them.
The good, the bad, and the ugly -LOL! I try to stop at just the good and the bad.
Definitely a good idea to write out what really happened and where we want to do better. Happy New Year!
The honesty just popped out with that one. 🙂 Happy New Year to you also!
Good question! I see it as both. These are great for reflection – nice job!
Thanks.
[…] my goals. I wrote them down on the printable that I had created and shared with you in my post on The End or The Beginning? Here are my 2017 Goals.At […]