As the year draws to a close, most of us focus on what we didn’t do—resolutions, goals unmet, habits we hoped to form. But what if, instead, we paused to notice what did go well? The small victories, the quiet joys, the fleeting moments we overlooked.
Reflecting on the past year doesn’t have to mean a grand audit of success or failure. It can simply be an invitation to honour the ordinary and the overlooked. Here’s how to create your own “little celebrations” list—a gentle, uplifting way to close out the year.
1. Set aside a moment for reflection
You don’t need a fancy planner or a quiet cabin in the mountains. Just carve out a few minutes—morning coffee, evening wind-down, or even during a short walk. Give yourself permission to pause, breathe, and think back over the past 12 months.
Ask yourself: What brought me a small spark of joy this year?
The key is to start small. Perhaps it’s a fleeting moment: a child’s laughter, a sunrise you caught, a compliment that stuck with you. You’re not judging the moment; you’re simply noticing it.
2. Break it down into categories
Sometimes our memories feel like a blur, so it helps to create categories to prompt reflection. Here are a few suggestions:
Personal Wins: Moments you handled well, even if quietly. Maybe you managed a tricky situation with grace, finally finished a long-delayed project, or simply made time for yourself when you needed it.
Connections: Times you strengthened bonds—with family, friends, or even a new acquaintance who left a mark.
Kindness Given or Received: Acts of generosity, big or small, that brightened someone’s day—or yours.
Small Joys: Things that made you laugh, feel inspired, or simply made life feel lighter—a perfect cup of coffee, a walk in the rain, or a song you couldn’t stop humming.
Moments of Growth: Skills learned, challenges overcome, or even tiny mindset shifts which improved your perspective.
Once you have your categories, jot down whatever comes to mind. Don’t overthink it—this isn’t about perfection.
3. Examples to inspire your list
To help get you started, here are some real-life “little things” people often forget to celebrate:
Completing a book you’d been putting off.
Reconnecting with an old friend after months or years.
Taking a moment each week for self-care—morning stretches, journaling, or a quiet cup of tea.
Learning to cook one new recipe that actually turned out.
Smiling at a stranger and noticing they smiled back.
Finally finishing a DIY project you thought you’d never start.
Appreciating nature—a blooming flower, a bird singing, a cloud formation that took your breath away.
Moments of courage, like speaking up in a meeting, sending a difficult message, or trying something outside your comfort zone.
Notice a pattern? These aren’t headline-grabbing achievements—they’re ordinary, human victories which matter because they mattered to you.
4. Make it visible
Writing your list down is one thing, but seeing it can make it feel real. You could:
Keep a dedicated journal or notebook for your “little celebrations.”
Use sticky notes on a wall or mirror—one note per moment.
Create a photo collage or digital slideshow of your memories.
Share your list with someone else, perhaps as a conversation starter or a festive reflection.
Making it visible reinforces the impact of these moments, helping you step back and really see the year you’ve lived.
5. Reflect on themes, not just events
Once your list is complete, take a moment to read through it. Do you notice any recurring themes? Perhaps gratitude, persistence, connection, or curiosity stood out. Recognising these themes can give you a sense of continuity and personal growth without needing to frame them as resolutions.
For example, you might notice small acts of kindness—giving or receiving—appear frequently. That pattern tells you something valuable about the year you’ve lived: you’ve nurtured relationships and created moments of joy, both for yourself and for others.
6. Celebrate your list
You’ve done the work. You’ve noticed what went well. Celebrate it! Pour a special drink, light a candle, play your favourite music, or simply take a quiet moment to breathe and acknowledge your year. This act of recognition transforms ordinary memories into meaningful reflections.
The beauty of this exercise is it’s entirely your own. There’s no need to compare, judge, or quantify. It’s simply about noticing what went right, however small or fleeting, and giving those moments the appreciation they deserve.
A gentle end-of-year ritual
Creating a “little celebrations” list can become a New Year’s Eve ritual of gratitude and reflection. It shifts the focus from what we haven’t done to what we have experienced—allowing us to step into the new year with awareness, appreciation, and a touch of quiet joy.
So tonight, instead of drafting resolutions, grab a notebook and start listing. Celebrate the little things. Because sometimes, it’s these tiny victories, unnoticed by the world but meaningful to you, that make a year truly memorable.
Join the Discussion
Type out your comment here:
You must be logged in to post a comment.