Are you ready to say, “Goodbye 2020” with ease? It has certainly been a year to remember, or is it a year to forget?
A Dual Focus
As we near the end of 2020, there will be a bombardment of the highlights of the year. It seems there was both good and bad in past reviews in the media. Will that be true for 2020?
I’m proposing a different perspective to say “Goodbye 2020” with ease.
Rather than look at the headlines, consider looking inward to your personal experience. The duality of any year retrospective might be:
- What are you grateful for?
- What do you want to release?
I’ve done this before with Connie Chapman’s 21-day end of the year journaling class, but this time was so different.
Intention Within Ritual
Let’s get started:
- Find a quiet place to be alone
- Gather paper and pencil
- Sit upright with your feet firmly planted on the floor
- Close your eyes and place your hands atop your heart
- Take 3 deep breaths in through your nose, out through your mouth
- Say, “I am ready to remember all the good and release all the pain of 2020.”
Open your eyes. Now we begin the actual process by writing a love letter to 2020.
- Start your letter with “Dear 2020,”
- Now write out everything you give thanks for during 2020
- Next express everything you want to let go of from 2020
- Include anything you wish to complete before 2021
- Sign your letter as you would any other love letter
Take your time with this exercise. Close your eyes and wait for the words to come.
What if You Get Stuck?
If closing your eyes doesn’t help, perhaps you need a few hours or a few days of self care. Yes… you are worth it. You can refer to my article on self care for some ideas.
Don’t give up on this. Remember that small steps result in big change over time. If you can come up with only one thing to give thanks for during 2020, that is your first step. It’s okay. Then go to the next step. Perhaps you’ll find ten things to let go of from 2020. It’s okay.
How Did That Feel?
For me, writing the thank you list felt like I was filling my body with sweet gratitude. Then writing the releasing portion, I felt the energy of each declaration physically leave my body. Some were much more intense than others.
There is a ritual I added to say goodbye to 2020 with ease. I tore the letter up, cleansed my area with sage and burned the pieces of my letter safely in a flameproof bowl. To prevent burning my fingers, I used a long butane lighter. Sitting at the breakfast bar didn’t seem right at first. Quickly, I turned away thoughts and focused on feelings. The burning ritual felt peaceful; no anxiety, no joy, just neutral.
Although not optimal, the breakfast bar was good enough.
I am good enough.
You are good enough.
What About 2021?
As you might have guessed, there is another ritual to help prepare for the new year, 2021. Rather than start a second ritual right now, let’s sit with this one a few days.
As always, I invite you to comment below. If you want to be sure to get all my articles, please sign-up for my newsletter
Preparing for a new year,
Dawn
