Traditions, Collections, & Questions for the New Year

TRADITIONS
Each New Year's Eve Natalie and I attempt to go on a little date and spend some time remembering and dreaming. We each take a piece of paper and write down a list of things we're thankful for from the previous year. We then take turns sharing those with each other. We also take another sheet and write down our hopes for the coming year and then share those. It has been a sweet tradition and thanks to Nat's organizational prowess, we have all of our lists from the past 5 years. We believe that "creativity is just forgetting where you stole it from" so feel free to be creative and "steal" this tradition if you are so moved. : )
COLLECTIONS
When I was a kid, I collected sea shells. In middle school I collected baseball cards. In high school, I collected girl's phone numbers. In college, I collected funny skit clothes for Young Life and the Annual Franklin St Halloween Party. After college, I started collecting books (I was getting older and more boring I guess). Over the past few years, I've started collecting something a little different..."good questions." In honor of the coming new year I have posted some of those good questions below. (You might have read some similar ones I posted last year.)

If you attempt to answer all of them, you'll probably drive yourself crazy, but I'd encourage you to take some time (either alone or with someone who knows you well) and think through some of these questions. Remembering...celebrating...dreaming...they are all very spiritual practices. I hope these questions are as helpful to you as they have been to me.

Special thanks to our friend "White Lightning" for reminding us to remember!

Questions for the New Year
2009 (time past)
-The most fun times you can remember:
-Your greatest flashes of creativity:
-Memorable things you heard people say:
-People you came to appreciate in a new way:
-People who were pure, unbounded fun:
-Times that music touched you deeply:
-In what ways did you change?
-Movies that impacted you:
-Things that books taught you:
-People you found especially interesting:
-The most compelling philosophical insights you encountered:
-Times when you entered a place of mystery:
-People who came through for you:
-Ways you messed up:
-Ways that you were magic:
-Times that God took you by surprise:
-The most stimulating discussions:
-Things you remember that you'd rather forget:
-The most difficult times:
-People who poured out their souls to you:
-Ways you were challenged to be a better person:
-Times when you entered a place of mystery:
-Your choice for time person for 2009:
-Terms you would use to describe yourself in 2009:
-When everything was going wrong and suddenly turned out right:
-People who disappointed you:
-If you were to give a title to 2009:
-Your most significant accomplishments:
-What spiritual practices generated the greatest benefit to your soul
-Was there any anger, guilt, greed or jealousy that needs to be resolved
-Did you love your wife as Christ loves the church
-Did you honor God with your finances and give generously?
-Did you cultivate your prayer life?
-How did you do as a father?
-As a husband?
-As a son?
-As a grandson?
-As a brother?

2010 (time future)
-What apprehensions do you have about the coming year?
-What journeys would you like to take?
-What daring and potentially thrilling things would you like to do?
-What would you like to change about yourself?
-If 2010 is to have a title, what do you want it to be?
-If you knew now that 2009 would be your last year on earth, what would you do more of? Less of?
-What major things do you want to accomplish this coming year?
-Who do you want to get to know better this coming year?
-Any wild predictions about what will happen throughout this nation and the world?
-Who are the top ten relationships you intend to influence in 2010
-How will you be more effective with these people than in 2009?
-What one change could you make in your behavior that would help you to live in greater alignment with your values?
-What has to happen in 2010 for you to label it “your best year yet?” (life, marriage, family, work, church...)
-What is the wildest, most unconventional thing you could do this next year to live with more passion?
-What out of the box thinking could you do in your job/ministry?
-How will you honor God with your finances in this next year?
-In what specific areas will you give more generously?
-Who will hold you accountable to be at your best this next?
-What are the most purposeful daily habits you could develop/upgrade over the next 12 months?
-Identify specific messes or clutter projects you’d like to clean up in the next 12 months
-Proverbs 22:1 says a good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. Identify 3 qualities you’d like to see associated with your name as well as how you’d define each quality.
-How will you take better care of your health in this next year?
-What will you do to daily renew your mind?