10 end-of-year reflection questions
Whether you’re just carving out some time to journal solo or gathering with some good people to reflect (you can print these out, tear them up, and throw them in a bowl), here are some prompts to help you along…
What did you pay a lot of attention to this year?
What was one of the best conversations you had this year? What made it so memorable?
What wasn’t yours to do that you did anyway? What is yours to do in 2024 that you are excited about?
Where did you feel stuck? Where do you crave to have an adventure—whether literally or metaphorically?
How did your relationship to change, change this year?
What are you grieving? How could you carry that grief more collectively?
When did you feel courageous this year?
Who made you feel most safe this year? Who pushed you in ways that helped you grow?
What was a thing you had a hard time admitting to yourself this year?
When did you feel more free this year?
If you’re inclined, put answers in comments. I’m sure you will find solidarity here among our reflective crew.
And if this newsletter has nourished you this year, consider giving a subscription to someone else?
Trigger warning: these responses to Courtney's inspiring questions are NOT likely to inspire or even slightly interest anyone. However, I take all of her assignments seriously, so I'll hazard the following:
1. Attention paid to politics because as a former political science prof., I'm deeply engaged in the current political scene. However, this profession has its limitations when pol. science academics actually believe that there's a "science" to politics. To the contrary, we study it to address Plato's overarching question in The Republic: "What course of life is best?" and any thoughtful consideration of that query merits the study of politics. Among my top students, Courtney ranked as the finest, always attuned to this question, so I read her Newsletter faithfully.
2. If you're still with me, then I'll proceed by saying that my best conversations this year were with my oldest granddaughter, Mia, who came out as a lesbian and subsequently introduced me to Queer Theory, especially the writings of black feminists that I should have read long ago by Audre Lorde, "Uses of Anger", Angela Davis and Kimberle Crenshaw, brilliant sources that critique our sexist society. Mia and I have spent many hours talking about this theory and its implications.
3. Re: Courtney's superlative book, "Do It Anyway" (still my favorite), I participated in several protests for various causes, particularly Portland teachers' strikes for higher pay, abortion and gay rights, and anti-war marches provided they are staunchly nonviolent. NONVIOLENCE is always the test of legitimacy. I'm excited in 2024 about engaging in nonviolent civil disobedience campaigns associated with the War Resisters League, an organization that I joined in 1968 and remain an ardent member. I urge others to join, IF they choose to commit to the principled practice of nonviolent action.
4. At age 85, I feel stuck physically because I'm losing my physical capacities to travel. This inhibits me from returning to India and Nepal, where Sharron (spouse of 62 years) lived for 5 years. Our adventures there have been milestones in our marriage since we met in Kathmandu in 1960, and we yearn to renew them. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
5. My relationship to change didn't change this year. It's consistently been to creating a fundamental transformation of our capitalist/militarist system through civil disobedience. This is in accord with my War Resisters League pledge that's self explanatory. I'm very fortunate to have worked with advocates of such change like Barbara Deming, Dave Dellinger and Dan Berrigan, whose writings I strongly endorse for effective change to occur here. Our model is King's leadership that converted me to pacifism during the Montgomery bus boycott.
6. I'm still grieving the loss of my younger brother from early onset Alzheimer's at age 72, a terrible blow that comes especially on holidays like Christmas that we celebrated throughout his life. I've had years of psychotherapy with a superb analyst to deal with this affliction. I intend to continue and want to express it here more collectively, if anyone has suffered a somewhat similar tragedy.
7. I haven't felt really "courageous" for years, so I'll skip this response.
8. I've felt "safe" by engaging with Sharron who has guided me through numerous crises, including a heart issue and long haul Covid. Our relationship is indispensable in ways that afford us both a sense of security in these dangerously violent times. We hope that our conversations help us to grow. We're both in our mid-80's so it's difficult not to feel hubristic when considering a commitment for growth. Is this really possible at our age with set habits of behavior? We both rely on Courtney's wisdom and read Parker Palmer avidly.
9. After I turned 80, I've had a truly difficult time admitting my physical limitations. I can't walk in our nearby forests nearly as far as before and this is a daily exercise that is vital to maintain my health. As I said, I wish that I could return to India to publicize my latest book there and see old friends.
10. "Freedom" is a concept that I've devoted my life as a scholar to grasping it through lifelong analysis. This sounds deplorably pedantic but I did choose to write my Ph.D. dissertation (1965) on the Indian idea of freedom, a sign of how consumed I am with the subject. Moreover, the best book that I read recently on any topic is by Anthony Lewis, "Freedom for the Thought We Hate." This year I've felt inspired by examining various dimensions of this thought, including free speech on college campuses. This search allows me to explore even more 20th century Indian thought that I treasure. Gandhi is my focus and his theory/practice of freedom, called "SWARAJ" contains the secret to understanding the meaning of social/economic/individual freedom, so I firmly believe that investigating his life is of ultimate value. Yet books by Thich Nhat Hanh come a close second. His whole existence is a marvel to behold.
Enough!
Thanks for this opportunity to vent and sincere apologies to those who find my verbiage boring. I'm sure that others will give us all more rewarding lessons. Happy New Year! DD
Question # 9 -- What did you have a hard time admitting to yourself this year? -- is one with which I struggled during 2023. I had to face up to the fact that I am 84 years old and must work hard to keep the mobility I have. After two falls in the past year, I did PT focused on balance for 7 months. I now use my rollator and quad cane even inside our small house. I am grateful that my husband is in much better physical shape and helps me when we go places. And I do as many things as I can -- help with meals, fold laundry, etc.