Sticking to Gratitude: How Post-its Changed Our New Year's Eve
I never go out on New Yea'r’s Eve, and here's why: it's when my husband and I dive into our favorite annual tradition.
Several years ago, we began a simple ritual.
Every Sunday, during our family meeting, we reflect on the week's high points. We jot down one moment each on a post-it, sharing it with each other before tucking the note away in a ziplock bag.
This practice, though brief, has become a weekly touchpoint for gratitude and reflection.
Come New Year's Eve, these Post-its transform our living room floor into a roadmap of memories.
We dump the whole bag out on the floor and take turns reading them one by one, reminiscing about the year's highlights. This ritual isn't just about remembering; it's a vivid re-experiencing of all the best parts of the year.
At the end of the evening, we review the entire map and choose a few top highlights for the year. Sometimes we narrow it down to one or two (although that is rare)!
Here’s why I wouldn’t trade this for any other New Year’s tradition:
It's a written mosaic of the best parts of our lives over the years.
It fosters a weekly habit of gratitude.
It motivates us to create memorable experiences.
It sets the perfect tone for planning the new year.
It shifts our focus from the negatives to the positives.
Plus, it's a whole lot of fun — even our cat gets involved, chasing around the post-it notes!
This has become my ideal way to ring in the New Year — staying in, sipping champagne, surrounded by a year's worth of joy sprawled across the floor.
PS. I’m sharing this story now so you can get a head start on implementing this practice with your own family for 2024!