At the start of each new year, do you look backward or forwards? I encourage you to do both!

With the passage of time moving more quickly the older we get, it can seem as if the year that just ended occurred in an instant! But, of course, that’s not true. We live 365 days and 52 weeks each year, and experience multiple events throughout those 12 months.

As you tally what 2024 meant to you, it’s as important to remember the emotions you felt, as much as the events that occurred. As Maya Angelou said, we are in control of how we think about what happens to us. The ability to weather challenges often comes down to relying on our connections as a support system.

When I think back to last year, I reflect both on what happened, and how my connections – and being a connector — got me through.

Here’s an example of the events 2024 held for me, and how connecting made a difference:

• An unexpected death in my immediate family. My ex-husband’s death this past October came as a shock. I immediately became my daughter’s only surviving parent and was unprepared for all the ways I needed to step up. Frankly, I am still grappling with the complexity of my emotions and hers, and the many tasks yet to be managed. What has made an enormous difference is the support and friendship of longstanding connections and friends. From hugs, to notes, to in-person visits, their encouragement has been life-giving for me and for my daughter.
• A slow start to adding clients for my nonprofit consulting business. I began January, 2024 with the surprise loss of two clients and no prospects to fill in during the first quarter. Yes, it was discouraging! But after a few weeks of worry and stewing, I doubled down on asking for referrals from connections I value. Fast forward to the second quarter, I had acquired new clients and re-engaged a lapsed one. With my dance card now completely full for 2025, I have the challenge of figuring out how to allocate my time while providing quality service to everyone.
• The news that a dear friend received a multiple cancer diagnosis. As a cancer survivor myself, I know the difficulty of receiving such a difficult diagnosis. I have offered time, listening, and being there to make the journey a little less difficult for my friend. I am the connection she needs to count on. And I am happy to play that role.

 How to evaluate 2024 to inform our 2025 planning

If you want a guidepost for how to make the new year as successful as possible, consider creating a written “year-end report” for yourself. To determine where to focus your energy and talents for 2025, ask yourself these questions about 2024:

• What were your relationships which grew the most last year? Where did you build unexpected new connections? Who gave you the most support? Who did you give the most support to?
• What behaviors were you able to change or let go of? What new ones did you adopt? What negative patterns did you successfully break?
• What are you most grateful to have learned or experienced last year?
• What are the projects that you are proud to have completed? What would you change if you had to do them again?

Once you have taken inventory of last year, you’ll be more thoughtful about what you want to accomplish in 2025.

Your focus for 2025

A year from now, what do you want to look back on as your greatest 2025 achievements? To figure that out, ask yourself these three questions:

• Who matters most to me and how should I show it?

What relationships do I want to invest the most energy, effort, and emotion into? What connections do I want to make, build, or enhance?

 What do I want to accomplish at work, home or in the community?

How do I organize myself to achieve my goals? What are the roadblocks that might keep me from succeeding? What solutions can I think of as a workaround?

• What experiences would I like to have?

What would I like to learn? Where would I like to go? What would I like to do?

My best wishes to you and your family for a happy, healthy, and safe 2025. Please share what excites you most about the New Year by writing to me at Ann@AnnLouden.co