The Year in Review - 2025

 

 The Year in Review - 2025

The month of December marks the end of the year on the global Gregorian 1582 calendar. It ushers in a season of pause, reflection, celebration and marks the beginning of a future that cannot be suspended or delayed. There is usually much to be thankful for, if you have enjoyed a year of divine providence, provision and protection– even if you do not deserve it. The people of America dedicate the fourth Thursday of November to observe a day of thanksgiving. Great attention is paid to family and turkey. In Africa, thanksgiving is the expression of gratitude to the creator for life’s graces, a mark of good character and sound upbringing.

However, while every end of the year brings with it a season of festivities, these celebrations are preceded by personal reviews. The answer to the question; “What did I do with this year?”, is a nagging conscious duty that many people try hard to delete with busyness, drown with noise, or kill with forgetfulness. The question demands that we account for our time, our actions, our money and demands public accountability as one of the reasons for an end year celebration. For employees, it is a double accounting matrix; “what did you do for your employer?”, but more important, “What did you do for yourself?”. What you did for your employer may justify keeping a job next year, but what you did for yourself lays a firm foundation for your future!

I took a personal hike last weekend to reflect on; The Year in Review-2025. It was a tough and emotional year for me. There were environmental setbacks on my journeys path that popped up at odd junctions. Many unpredictable events happened in my space, beyond my control or influence, that slowed me down. I failed to make the wisest use of opportunities that came my way. I did, however, get three things half-done. The sum of these happenings amounted to a distressing score of 23.07% accomplishment. I know because I set those goals. It seemed like the universe conspired against me in my worst performance in years!  I take responsibility for this outcome. Giving excuses helps nobody - least of all me. That crucible of a weekend cried out for a complete examination of my purpose, re-engineering of my pursuits, revision of the substance of my goals, in-depth soul searching of my life intentions, and a fundamental shift in my future activities and personal engagements. I could not follow through with these later thoughts on the same weekend, but the year in review was a vital first step.

If you are an employee reading this article, taking a well-earned rest from the years’ labors, I suggest that you evaluate what those labors have amounted to. Have your labors brought you prosperity and the anticipated life outcomes you envisaged. In spite of the environmental setbacks, unpredictable life events and failures on your part, did you take full advantage of all the opportunities your employment offered you to prosper during the year? Are you, as I was, uncomfortable with your below-par performance. Did you supersede your goals and perform beyond expectation in making a name for yourself in certain spaces and places? How has this success positioned you with respect to; where you were last year and where you want to be in future? Take some time to think about these things before you begin the seasons celebrations. The Year in Review can open doors to your future success, may stop you from continuing on a questionable path, or keep you from making promises you could not possibly deliver.  

You could choose to forget you ever read this article. But, if you want to chart out a new future, the Year in Review will be an imperative beginning. You don’t have to take a hike or do it alone. You could spice it up by doing it with a good friend, colleague or coach. Other trusted persons can enrich us to see perspectives different from our own on a given matter. Take a step to make meaning of the year in review so that as you enjoy the roast, toasts, thanksgiving, celebrations and season of festivities you can still consciously prepare for the year ahead. It is all up to you.

Allan Bukusi