New Year Reflections
Snowy New England Morning
This New Year’s morning, I woke up to a beautiful snowfall—the kind that quiets everything and creates space to think. It felt like the perfect backdrop for reflecting on the year ahead.
When I reflect, I tend to read, listen to podcasts, or revisit TED Talks. This morning, I chose the latter and rewatched a few favorites that have stayed with me over the years.
Luvvie Ajayi Jones - Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
Lesson: Comfort is overrated. Speak hard truths, take action, and don’t be afraid to disrupt the status quo.
Wendy MacNaughton - The Art of Paying Attention
Lesson: Don’t let your mind show you only what it expects to see. Look beyond it.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - The Danger of a Single Story
Lesson: Think critically. Challenge assumptions by seeking out stories beyond the one already formed in your mind.
Angela Lee Duckworth - Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
Lesson: Embrace a growth mindset. Knowledge isn’t fixed—it’s built through effort, learning, and perseverance.
Cheryl Ferguson - Motivating People to Excellence
Lesson: Community and belonging elevate us all. We get better together.
Grace Killelea - Making the Jump: A Year of No Fear
Lesson: Fear doesn’t disappear. You move forward anyway.
Tim Urban - Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator
Lesson: Procrastination isn’t just about deadlines—it’s about holding yourself accountable to the next step only you know you need to take.
Together, these talks reminded me to stay curious, look deeper, challenge comfort, and lean into discomfort. They felt like exactly the right messages to begin a new year.
So I embraced the moment, bundled up, and went outside to clear the snow—starting the New Year by doing something small, necessary, and grounding. Sometimes that’s exactly how progress begins.
Stop Procrastinating and start shoveling
