Tag: Goals

January was Gently Jumping into the New Year – 2025 Month 1 Reflection

In January I enjoyed a reflective and celebratory staycation, lots of teaching, trying new things, and planning an extraordinary 2025!

My intention for a “Gentle January” held true, even as a new cycle of teaching, coaching, and experiences began.

We had a festive Silvester/NYE into a restful and reflective New Year’s Day, played Fussball/Soccer Billiards with friends for the first time, saw lots of pretty Snow (the snowiest winter so far since I moved to Germany), returned to learning Tango, and attended Live Art at a local gallery.

Protests leading up to German election began and would continue in February, important times to defend democracy and human rights!

Twenty 25s in 2025: Analog Project Planning & Action Tracking, Creative Bullet Journal Style

Post author By Blythe Stephens
Post date 27. February 2025
Categories In Creative Living, Reflective Practice

Having enjoyed the benefits of tracking “Twenty-three 23’s in 2023” and “Twenty-four 24’s in 2024” actions in my Bullet Journal collections, I’m back for more in 2025!

Arranged according to my 8 major focus areas; Read, Write, Create, Practice, Serve, Connect, Sustain, and Adventure; in this way I get a somewhat holistic picture of my intentions and goals for the year. I focus on actions I can take, then see what results occur. Then I reflect, recommit or change direction, and carry on creating!

Float in 2025 – Word / Intention of the Year

“Twenty Twenty-Five
so good to be alive,
finding me floating,
spreading wings to fly.”
My 2025 Word of the Year is FLOAT!
This year I wish to ride the momentum forward that the bravery of leaping and strength and resilience in climbing has built. There’s still work to do, but we are now at a height to soar, with the perspective to see more than ever before.
This intention is supported by images, poetry, music, and other media.

Leaps & Bounds in 2024 – Reflecting on a Year’s Highs & Lows

2024
quantum leaps in store
into creativity
joy + love galore!

That’s the poem I shared when I declared my Word of the Year and practices to make it so.

It was indeed a Leap Year, and that extra day in February, plus a powerful intention-setting and planning process and aligned daily habits created quantum leaps in many areas of my and my clients and students’ lives.

Here I’m reviewing my goals and intentions, highlights and lowlights, joys, lessons, and challenges of 2024, in order to move powerfully into 2025.

December Engendered Completion & Celebration – 2024 Month 12 Reflection

In this month of festivity, my Ballet students successfully passed their Royal Academy of Dance-style examinations, so proud of their progress! I continued to create and publish while starting the process of reflecting on the past year as a whole and dreaming and planning the next.

So fortunate to be blessed by feasts of celebration and rituals marking the Winter Solstice, Christmas, my girlfriend’s birthday, and Silvester/New Year’s Eve and to have a period of processing and rest after an eventful year.

Winter Wonders & Warmers: a Bucket List for Dark but Festive Times / Solstice – Return of the Light

Happy Winter Solstice, arriving in late December in the Northern Hemisphere (June in the Southern), a time of celebrations of light in many cultures.

The stark, bleak, dreary days are here in Cologne and strings of lights, candles, treats, and traditions help to warm the cold of winter. It can be a difficult time for many reasons, so be gentle with yourself and make exquisite self-care and kindness for self and others a priority.

November was for Being Grateful & Grieving- 2024 Month 11 Review

November featured the full Beaver Moon, our last gasp of Autumn’s colors, art and culture at Museumsnacht Koeln, and a parade of birthday celebrations.
Cooler temperatures even brought the first snow of the season, the earliest I’ve experienced since moving to Germany!
It being the month of American Thanksgiving, I still took time to be grateful for my life and everything in it and hope you had a lovely feast if you celebrate.
Mom’s knee surgery was a success, the U.S. Presidential Election not so much…

Dealing with Difficult Developments – 15 Ways to Cope with Challenges & Setbacks

Hard times come to us all, so how can we bounce back and recover? Here are the tools that work for me when I need to cope with difficult developments and which I share with clients and students to support their commitment to what’s important in their lives despite setbacks.

Leaning on them now and curious to hear what you find works best for you!

Boo October is Through – 2024 Month 10 Review

October was an extra-long, very action-packed, fun, and also anxious for various reasons. I managed to vote in the US Primary Election and was worried about the outcome, as well as various other concerns personal and professional.
A short visit with family members I haven’t seen in ages was lovely. Our weekend escape to Mendig with friends was a refreshing adventure. My new fountain pen hobby provided creative diversion.

Pen Friends – Inky Adventures in Writing

This is for my true Pen Friends, people who are nerdy about their writing tools and creative gear, and for my future self as I reflect on my journey, from the grand themes to the minute moments of beauty like those when pen meets paper.