Dear reader, I can’t believe it, but I’m writing this almost 6 months later! Yes, it’s been a long time, but my blog is always in the back of my mind. Been busy with work, busy with life, ugh… In the summer, June to be exact, we traveled from Houston to Pittsburgh for a Taylor Swift concert, which was amazing.You can read more about this here, this is the last article I write, and I’ll be back with another one before the end of the year. Summer is very busy. After the trip to Pittsburgh, my sister and family came to visit us from Canada for a week in July. Immediately afterwards, we set off for a trip to India. It was a short but refreshing 17 days trip where we visited Faridabad in Haryana and Leh in Ladakh. Today’s post includes my reflections and learnings on 2023 and heading into 2024, so read on!
background
Let myself think back to everything that happened to me in 2023. We spent the New Year in Calgary, Canada, where we spent the December holidays.You can read about our winter vacation in Canada here. We visited Waterton and Banff National Parks as well as Lake Louise, Edmonton and Drumheller. The highlight of the trip was seeing the Northern Lights and of course spending quality time with the family. Then in March, my post was about the Houston Rodeo, which is a big event for any Houstonian or even Texan.For more information about the Houston Rodeo, see here.The next article is at the end of April Raise grateful children In it I give 5 simple tips to practice gratitude towards your children. June marks the third travel post of the year. Our next trip was to India where we spent a few weeks with family and it was so refreshing and wonderful!
holiday season
Since it’s that time of year when we’re wrapping up one year and starting a new one, I wanted to highlight (to myself and others) the true meaning of the holidays. The holidays are a time of hope and the perfect time to give back to your community, spread some love, and spread joy through volunteering, donating, or helping others.
Giving back to the community can be in simple, small ways, using your time, resources or efforts to make a small difference around you. As an individual, you may be lucky enough to be able to do something around you, but as a community member, when many people come together to help or assist with any donation drive this time of year, it can have a huge impact on families and the community at large. You can volunteer, donate, visit, run or organize. Volunteer at a local church, hospice, orphanage, or animal shelter; whatever is closest to your heart. Donate to a local organization or a global one, it doesn't matter because your hard-earned money is making a difference. Visit a children's hospital, library or community center and ask how they can help. You can host or plan an event such as recycling, trash collection, food donation, clothing, toy or book donation. You can organize, lead, or participate in any event happening anywhere in your city, county, or state this time of year. There are countless ways to give back, especially this time of year, so just do it!
Welcome the New Year 2024: A time full of hope
The New Year is a time of hope, anticipation, planning and goal-setting. I don’t make New Year’s resolutions, but I know a lot of people do. Whatever your heart desires, you can do it to welcome the new year. My favorite is reflection and gratitude. You can celebrate small victories and look forward to new beginnings and changes.
Here are some New Year’s quotes that I find inspiring –
Here’s to a new year that gives us another chance to get it right.
Oprah Winfrey
Celebrate endings – because they precede new beginnings.
Jonathan Huey
Welcome the new year with determination and look for the opportunities hidden in each new day.
Michael Josephson
No matter how hard the past has been, you can always start over.
Buddha
Now we have a new year. Full of things that have never been.
Rainer Maria Rilke
As a new year begins, let it be the year you try new things, learn new things, and develop your inner potential.
Theodore W. Higginsworth
New Year's Day is every man's birthday.
Charles Lamb
New year, new harvest, new harvest.
Leila Gifts Akita
As we look forward to the new year, let us resolve to recommit ourselves to our shared values.
barack obama
Take a leap of faith and start this amazing new year by believing.
Sarah Ben Bresnak
The new year is before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting for us to write.
Melody Betty
What the new year brings for you depends largely on what you bring for the new year.
Vernon McClellan
Lessons learned. Living in the moment. Hopefully tomorrow.
albert einstein
wrap up
Finally, I wish all readers a happy ending and a happy beginning in 2024. I challenge each of you to reflect and end the year strong. I would like to encourage everyone to start the new year with hope, joy, enthusiasm, positivity and love! Wish everyone all the best in the new year 2024!
Please share your favorite quotes and anything specific you're looking forward to in the new year.
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Quotes to Make Your Holidays Brighter
