This new year’s practice is one of Honeybee’s most requested, so we share a reprise here, with best wishes for a plentiful year to come.

“And now we welcome the new year,

full of things that have never been.”  

         – RM Rilke

Like many people, my year end used to be shadowed by “should’ves”. I would reflect on resolutions from years past, and instead of feeling great about all that had transpired, I’d end up focusing on the leftover items on the list – work un-done, trips un-taken, marathons un-run.

Then, a few years ago, I tried flipping this process around. I spent an hour reviewing my calendar from the past twelve months, noting all of the things I was glad to have done. Some entries – family reunions, long-anticipated vacations, big professional events – naturally were already top of mind. But what surprised me were the smaller moments that jumped out – afternoon tea with a long-lost friend, a free evening to read a whole novel in one big gulp, a blissful autumn hike.

I looked at the calendar for the coming year, with all of its promising white space, and started gleefully filling it up, based on my joyful list from the year before. I added placeholders for some big things, like those trips and family events…

and then I stopped.

Because I also wanted to protect the ability to have that tea, or read that book, or visit that relative. Against all of my natural tendencies to over-plan, I wanted to intentionally leave a bit more blank space. It turns out that “carpe diem” does not actually mean, “schedule each moment, squash it all in.” As we look ahead, we have a chance to choose not just more, but different. Better.

Dear friends, as this fresh new year dawns, I wish you the joys of plans well made, and the joys of spacious surprises. May both be plentiful.

*****

In case you missed it during the holidays, here is our winter book list!

Honeybee Book List – Winter 2022