Richelle Hofer

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginnings end.” Lucius Annaeus Seneca (or Semisonic for all the 90’s rock fans.)

As one year winds down, a brand new year awaits.

Around this time every year I look back over the year that’s drawing to a close. I review the “commitments” that I set for myself and reflect on the lessons I learned… the things I did well, the places I fell short.

Then I get out a brand new notebook, I write the new year in big bold, colorful letters at the top of the first page and I start setting new intentions/commitments for the year ahead.

I’ve been following this process since I was in high school.

I try to build my intentions around all the areas that make me “me” – my personal relationships, business, health, spirituality, etc. At this time last year I set the following intentions:

1. Read 1 non-fiction/business book each month
2. Lean into hard/uncomfortable conversations
3. Be more involved in church
4. Be more intentional with my devotions
5. Give the funds to build a home for a Haitian family

I chose the word “Balanced” for the year 2022.

As I looked back at my notes from this time last year all I can do is shake my head and chuckle. The years almost never go how we think they will… and this year was no exception.

I remember what I was thinking and how I was picturing things as I wrote these intentions. The year turned out nothing like I had planned: a good friend of mine passed away, our pastors left to take a church in another state, I lost contact with a lot of friends.

For a minute I thought to myself “why do I bother with this exercise when I have no idea what the year has in store for me?” and yet having set my intentions really held me true to myself. It was like the anchor for my year.

In May of this year I started writing down my “wins” each week… the little progresses that I made towards the intentions that I set at the beginning of the year and the new intentions/commitments I made as the year unfolded.

In spite of some devastating moments, 2022 was a pretty great year.

• I read 25 books (see my blog on my 10 favorites)
• I completed a Harvard Online Business course called “Disruptive Strategies”
• I finished 4 classes of the ChFC (a financial planning certification)
• I took a road-trip with an old high school friend (I have to say “old” high school friend since we graduated TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO THIS SPRING – ugh!!)
• I took a road-trip with my husband for our 19th anniversary
• I volunteered at Royal Family Kids Camp
• I listened to 81 episodes of the Bema Discipleship podcast
• I joined a Bema Study Group
• I went to 4 plays
• I lead a Bible Study
• I volunteered in the pre-school Sunday School class (this might be the highlight of the year)
• I wrote almost 50 book reviews
• I became our church bookkeeper
• I attended 3 concerts
• I started this blog

and in spite of our financial situation changing, our family was able to give the funds to build the home in Haiti. What an honor.

Life never looks like we think it’s going to. Plan anyway. I am sitting down with my fresh new notebook right now looking ahead to 2023… I can’t wait to share the journey with you.

Cheers!