Light Reflections on a Year
Light, dark, books, firsts, and a new year
Way back at the beginning of this year, I chose my ‘Word of the Year.’ I’ve done this for a few years. It’s been a useful tool for creativity, inspiration, and my mental wellbeing. I think about the word during the year, write about it, and use it as a focus for regular reflection.
This year, 2021, my word has been Light.
On reflection, as I sit in my apartment, gazing out over a snow-covered landscape, the irony of choosing ‘light’ is not lost on me. This time last year I had been lamenting the dark. I hadn’t seen the sun since sometime in November. I didn’t know then, that on January 1st the sun would gloriously appear. At that point, I had experienced nearly two months of long, grey, dark days.
This year, it’s a winter wonderland outside. The snow reflects every tiny little bit of light. Even on the greyest of days, the roads, parks, fields, and trees have a dusting of light, white snow. It’s wonderful for your mental health. And mine has certainly needed a boost recently.
One of the great things about taking time to reflect on a year that feels like it wasn’t, is you can revisit the special moments, the light points, the laughter. It also allows for recognising the darker times. Those times where hope felt just a little too far away. The overwhelming feelings of despair that we can sometimes wake up to.
Has my year been light-filled? Yes. In a way. I was hoping by choosing Light as my word, I’d banish the darkness. But like all things, the light would not exist without the dark. The contrast is needed for us to be able to appreciate what the light brings.
I’d been hoping, way back in January, that the Light-filled year might include face-to-face contact with my Australian family - oh the hugs we’d have! But that hasn’t happened. One light-filled moment was the first visit I had to my Australian cousin who just happens to live in Sweden. My only relative living in the Northern Hemisphere. He’s just over the sea by ferry and a short car trip away. Covid has meant that I hadn’t seen him since pre-covid times. So that was certainly a light point of my 2021.
The summer was filled with light. Not just literally with days that never end, but because it was the first summer holiday I’d had since 2018. I spent time by the water, driving around exploring the archipelago with my partner, drinking homebrewed beer, sauna-bathing, swimming, reading… joyous! Filling my cup.
The darker days that come with autumn and winter were chased away by my first travel experience since the pandemic began. We were lucky enough to travel through Sweden, to Copenhagen, then on to northern Germany to see friends. It was our first trip in our electric car, the first time in twenty years I’d seen my friends in Germany. Many firsts. (Firsts are a theme for me!) One of the highlights was just seeing new places - something I’ve definitely missed since we hunkered down. Exploring Åland has been fun, but visiting a big city (I loved Copenhagen!) and seeing the changing countryside along the way was just wonderful.
Another light point has been regular Zoom meetings with a wonderful group of women to talk about books. Every two weeks we meet up via Zoom to share our current reads, books & readings that inspire us, problems and issues, big and small. I’ve connected with women I’ve never physically met, old friends, and women I’ve known my whole life. Supported by the Garden of Neuro Institute, I’ll continue hosting these chats into 2022.
Yoga is definitely a light point for me. During the last few months of 2021, I’ve been lucky enough to be a freind’s ‘guinea pig’ as she trains to be a yoga instructor. Her being in Queensland, Australia, and me living on the opposite side of the planet is no barrier nowadays - thanks to video calls I can stretch, move and contemplate with her. What a wonderfully warm light-filled time!
On this last day of 2021, I will contemplate my word for 2022. I’m in no rush. Part of reflection is slowing down, giving yourself time, feeling what comes up and what is happening in your body. I’m fairly sure that within the next week, my word will emerge, as the new year emerges.
I am extremely grateful that there are people out there on the planet willing to read my strange monthly ramblings as I make my way through life. This little experiment has been just that, an experiment, so the option of activating a paywall for exclusive content to subscribers is not something I’ve enacted. The possibility is there, though, and like many writers, the idea of being financially rewarded for something so enjoyable is a light point. One day!
I wish you all a wonderful 2022. May it be light-filled. May you read all the books, see all the great series and films, hug all your favourite people, eat your favourite foods, visit your special natural spaces. May you have the courage to try new things, the opportunity to see new places and faces, and take regular time to contemplate and reflect.
Stay well,
Lisa xx
Other Light Points & Looking Ahead:
I read 77 books this year. Two of them were audiobooks, a first for me, and the rest were a mix of e-books and actual physical paper books. My intention had been to read 70 and I passed it, so maybe a goal of 80 for 2022 is in order? Reading has always been something I’ve loved - I mix up fiction and non-fiction. This year, I focused on female authors and Indie authors, with poetry and short stories a highlight this year. I borrowed regularly from the library (luckily my library has an amazing English book collection - even ordering them in for me!) and finished several books in Swedish. I have a ‘to read’ list as long as my arm plus a few library books on my bedside table. So there’ll be lots more reading in 2022!
I practise yoga regularly, particularly since finding Yoga With Adriene. Every January she and her team have a 30-day yoga journey (which can be started anytime) with a focus. New videos are released every day of January. January 2022’s focus is Move. Will you Move with me? Check it out.
My favourite podcast this year has been Brenè Brown’s Unlocking Us. She never fails to wow me with her insights and vulnerability, and I’m even getting used to her Texan accent, y’all!
I’m studying at the moment. My course is called Inner MBA and it’s supported by Sounds True, LinkedIn and Wisdom 2.0. It’s been an amazing journey since September when I started, connecting with ideas, philosophies and practises that align with my vision for the future, as well as with some incredible people. I have another six months to go, so that’s certainly going to be a highlight of 2022.
Books, Yoga with Adriene, photography-all favorites of mine as well. Thanks for the wonder captured in words and images.
Lovely writing Lisa, as always. ❤️